A little challenge for you**UPDATED with an answer***

ivwshane · 01-16-2006, 12:14 AM

Let's see what you guys are made of. I don't know what the answer is but I should find out tomorrow.

I believe it's incorrectly connected power switch connectors (power switch to motherboard pins).

Taken from http://www.overclockers.com/articles1290/

Quote:

SUMMARY: Motherboard - Dead or Alive?

It was a dark and stormy night.

I was in California visiting my sister-in-law and one of my nephews anxiously awaited my visit. He built a PC some time ago and the motherboard died prematurely. He received a replacement, mounted it into the case and it would not boot; the board lit up and the CPU fan ran, but the board would not boot.

He sent it back for another board and got the same thing. He tried everything he could, but no joy. He then sent it back for yet a third board and same thing. He tested each component on another PC and they checked out OK.

As soon as I arrived, he filled me in on his problem. He did all the right things, but the board would not boot. I went to his room to check out the scene.

I switched on the power supply and the board powered up; strange, it should not do this. Thinking that perhaps this was a BIOS issue, I cleared CMOS and flipped the PS switch again - same thing.

The I did the ritual "reseat everything" routine - the system was stripped to its essentials (CPU, RAM and videocard), everything removed and reseated, power up and get the same thing. Thinking that perhaps the case power button was shorting out, I removed all the case connectors, powered up and got the same thing.

Now, I figure the odds against getting three defective motherboards in a row are pretty high. The only thing I did not try was another PS, so we scavenged one from another PC, hooked it up and the same thing.

OK, now I'm intrigued. I remove the motherboard from the case, place it on a non-conductive surface, hook up the PS, RAM, CPU, mouse, keyboard and videocard and get the same thing.

Now, dear readers, a challenge:

The motherboard and all the components are fine. What caused the problem?

bbsmitz · 01-16-2006, 12:18 AM

California power sucks?

ivwshane · 01-16-2006, 12:21 AM

LOL

It does but I don't think thats it.

Tacdriver · 01-16-2006, 12:26 AM

Quote:

OK, now I'm intrigued. I remove the motherboard from the case, place it on a non-conductive surface, hook up the PS, RAM, CPU, mouse, keyboard and videocard and get the same thing.

You also said it died "prematurely" which means it worked at some point in time. What is it NOT doing now? Will it not boot? Do you see a Windows, Linux, OSX screen? Does it just sit there and beep?

Chair · 01-16-2006, 12:26 AM

i hate diagnosing shit without being able to physically play with the machine... although he already checked the power button for shorts (disconnected it and shorted the pins on the board)

basketofkittens · 01-16-2006, 12:58 AM

Even though he took the motherboard out of the case I would say that EM interference is still a possibility. Maybe they're right next to a microwave oven or something

.

ShabazKillaX · 01-16-2006, 03:56 AM

CPU/motherboard incompatibility? Ram voltage issue?

Was the motherboard replaced with the exact same model? Same revision? I've seen some early Pentium 4s that are not compatible with newer revisions of motherboards. They exibit the same behavior described.

HoldenBurn1000 · 01-16-2006, 04:20 AM

I blame society......

SoulAssassin · 01-16-2006, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShabazKillaX

CPU/motherboard incompatibility? Ram voltage issue?

Was the motherboard replaced with the exact same model? Same revision? I've seen some early Pentium 4s that are not compatible with newer revisions of motherboards. They exibit the same behavior described.

The CPU/Motherboard combo is my guess. They tried components in another machine(s) but never said if they tried the exact cpu and mobo at the same time. Dead cpu's and motherboards cause the problem described...hell it's even possible they're hooking up the power switch,reset, hdd led, etc wrong.

Sweatervest · 01-16-2006, 05:54 AM

Damn I wanna see the answer now, because I'm having the same problem :X

Torx · 01-16-2006, 06:02 AM

he checked most of everythign except the videocard.

he needs to put that videocard in another pc and check that.
take that heatsink off and reseat the cpu, replace heatsink, and make sure any mobo jumpers are set correctly.

replace the ram as well. he didnt mention the ram, ive had many instances where ram was the culprit.

ivwshane · 01-16-2006, 08:35 AM

Torx might be on to something.

I don't think it's the motherboard, he said that he replaced the motherboard through warranty three times.

The real question is why did his original motherboard die in the first place?

MSP · 01-16-2006, 08:41 AM

The power switch on the case. I've seen this sort of thing before.

hans5849 · 01-16-2006, 09:02 AM

i said the monitor wasn't plugged in.

It could also be a bad video card, he never said he changed it out.

And it can't be anything in the case because they took it out of the case and it did the same thing.

SoulAssassin · 01-16-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torx

he checked most of everythign except the videocard.

he needs to put that videocard in another pc and check that.
take that heatsink off and reseat the cpu, replace heatsink, and make sure any mobo jumpers are set correctly.

replace the ram as well. he didnt mention the ram, ive had many instances where ram was the culprit.

I've never seen memory or a video card stop the POST. Beeps, activity,etc will still happen with either of those two being bad...it's probably something he's doing vs a bad part if what he says of tests are true.

trancosrt · 01-16-2006, 09:59 AM

Beats me?
As far as I know, bad mem, vid card or no/wrong CPU will beep. Maybe there is a problem with the CPU-Mobo combo. Strange things happen with electronics :S
He mentioned he tested the components in different rigs, so I assume he tried the vid card in another Mobo, so I'm discarding it as the issue. Could it be an underpowered PSU?

MSP · 01-16-2006, 10:08 AM

But has he tried another case? I'm telling yah, it's the damn button.

basketofkittens · 01-16-2006, 10:31 AM

It might actually be the cpu fan rpm monitor. Maybe the motherboard isn't letting itself boot because it thinks the cpu fan is broken, when in fact it's only missing the rpm sensing wire.

ivwshane · 01-16-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tremblay

It might actually be the cpu fan rpm monitor. Maybe the motherboard isn't letting itself boot because it thinks the cpu fan is broken, when in fact it's only missing the rpm sensing wire.

That sounds like a possibility.

Nothing. · 01-16-2006, 11:18 AM

Make sure when he is mounting his motherboard to he case, use those spacers. That could be fucking it up.

MSP · 01-16-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSP

But has he tried another case? I'm telling yah, it's the damn button.

Uhh, I just noticed that he mentioned trying another case...

Are we sure he's plugging the CPU fan into the correct header? Sometimes there are two near the CPU and if you're plugged into the wrong one the motherboard senses that as a no-CPU fan situation and won't boot.

ivwshane · 01-16-2006, 11:36 AM

He didn't try a different case, he just took it out of the case.

He also removed the power connectors and manually turned on the case (bridging the power pins).

The reason I think that the power connectors or installed incorrectly is because I had the exact same situation happen to me.

After reparing a mobo's capacitors I connected everything up (using all known to be good equipment) and then I hooked up the power switch connectors and as soon as I hit the ps switch (not the case switch) the system turned on. No matter how I connected the case switch it would do the same thing. Finally I took a screw driver and started manually touching any two pins together. After several tries I finally found two pins that worked and connected the case switch power connector to it and it booted as normal.

Looking at the silk screening on the motherboard there is no way anyone could have hooked it up correctly.

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01-16-2006, 12:18 AM	permalink #2
bbsmitz Optimus Prime Jan 2005 Last Seen: 07-04-2008 Posts: 816 (#95) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x2	California power sucks?
	We're unfunky and we're obsolete, and we're out of time, gonna take your funk and make it mine.

01-16-2006, 03:56 AM	permalink #7
ShabazKillaX It's a series of tubes. Jan 2005 Last Seen: 07-03-2008 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,663 (#55) Thanked 2x in 2 posts x25	CPU/motherboard incompatibility? Ram voltage issue? Was the motherboard replaced with the exact same model? Same revision? I've seen some early Pentium 4s that are not compatible with newer revisions of motherboards. They exibit the same behavior described.
	Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. -- Ronald Reagan

01-16-2006, 04:20 AM	permalink #8
HoldenBurn1000 Mines bigger Jan 2005 Last Seen: 06-18-2008 Location: England Baby! Posts: 1,216 (#74) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x0	I blame society......
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01-16-2006, 12:21 AM	permalink #3
ivwshane Dont mess with old school Jan 2005 Last Seen: Today Location: CA Posts: 3,760 (#15) Thanked 2x in 2 posts x40	LOL It does but I don't think thats it.

01-16-2006, 12:26 AM	permalink #5
Chair Tweak Minion Jan 2005 Last Seen: Today Posts: 1,555 (#57) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x0	i hate diagnosing shit without being able to physically play with the machine... although he already checked the power button for shorts (disconnected it and shorted the pins on the board)

01-16-2006, 12:58 AM	permalink #6
basketofkittens Senior Member Jan 2005 Posts: 1,301 (#69) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x0	Even though he took the motherboard out of the case I would say that EM interference is still a possibility. Maybe they're right next to a microwave oven or something .

01-16-2006, 05:54 AM	permalink #10
Sweatervest Senior Member Jan 2005 Last Seen: 05-01-2008 Location: Hudson, Ohio Posts: 1,429 (#61) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x0	Damn I wanna see the answer now, because I'm having the same problem :X
	spaghetti legs

01-16-2006, 06:02 AM	permalink #11
Torx Fecal Funsies! Jan 2005 Last Seen: Today Location: Memphis Posts: 6,843 (#3) Thanked 6x in 4 posts x4	he checked most of everythign except the videocard. he needs to put that videocard in another pc and check that. take that heatsink off and reseat the cpu, replace heatsink, and make sure any mobo jumpers are set correctly. replace the ram as well. he didnt mention the ram, ive had many instances where ram was the culprit.

01-16-2006, 08:35 AM	permalink #12
ivwshane Dont mess with old school Jan 2005 Last Seen: Today Location: CA Posts: 3,760 (#15) Thanked 2x in 2 posts x40	Torx might be on to something. I don't think it's the motherboard, he said that he replaced the motherboard through warranty three times. The real question is why did his original motherboard die in the first place?

01-16-2006, 08:41 AM	permalink #13
MSP Globe Trekker Jan 2005 Last Seen: Today Posts: 15,790 (#1) Thanked 5x in 5 posts x60	The power switch on the case. I've seen this sort of thing before.

01-16-2006, 09:02 AM	permalink #14
hans5849 Has Absolutely no life Jan 2005 Last Seen: Today Location: The Gorge, WA Posts: 6,559 (#4) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x58	i said the monitor wasn't plugged in. It could also be a bad video card, he never said he changed it out. And it can't be anything in the case because they took it out of the case and it did the same thing.
	Driving the bus to hell since 1984.

01-16-2006, 09:59 AM	permalink #16
trancosrt floats Jan 2005 Last Seen: 08-30-2007 Location: Deerfield Beach, FL Posts: 753 (#102) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x0	Beats me? As far as I know, bad mem, vid card or no/wrong CPU will beep. Maybe there is a problem with the CPU-Mobo combo. Strange things happen with electronics :S He mentioned he tested the components in different rigs, so I assume he tried the vid card in another Mobo, so I'm discarding it as the issue. Could it be an underpowered PSU?
	You're the real thing, Even better than the real thing.

01-16-2006, 10:08 AM	permalink #17
MSP Globe Trekker Jan 2005 Last Seen: Today Posts: 15,790 (#1) Thanked 5x in 5 posts x60	But has he tried another case? I'm telling yah, it's the damn button.

01-16-2006, 10:31 AM	permalink #18
basketofkittens Senior Member Jan 2005 Posts: 1,301 (#69) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x0	It might actually be the cpu fan rpm monitor. Maybe the motherboard isn't letting itself boot because it thinks the cpu fan is broken, when in fact it's only missing the rpm sensing wire.

01-16-2006, 11:18 AM	permalink #20
Nothing. G-Riot Jan 2005 Last Seen: 09-24-2007 Location: The Ocean Posts: 5,173 (#7) Thanked 0x in 0 posts x2	Make sure when he is mounting his motherboard to he case, use those spacers. That could be fucking it up.
	If I had a shotgun, you know what I'd do I'd point that shit straight at the sky and shoot heaven on down for you ---------- ich ordne ---------- United States Navy

01-16-2006, 11:36 AM	permalink #22
ivwshane Dont mess with old school Jan 2005 Last Seen: Today Location: CA Posts: 3,760 (#15) Thanked 2x in 2 posts x40	He didn't try a different case, he just took it out of the case. He also removed the power connectors and manually turned on the case (bridging the power pins). The reason I think that the power connectors or installed incorrectly is because I had the exact same situation happen to me. After reparing a mobo's capacitors I connected everything up (using all known to be good equipment) and then I hooked up the power switch connectors and as soon as I hit the ps switch (not the case switch) the system turned on. No matter how I connected the case switch it would do the same thing. Finally I took a screw driver and started manually touching any two pins together. After several tries I finally found two pins that worked and connected the case switch power connector to it and it booted as normal. Looking at the silk screening on the motherboard there is no way anyone could have hooked it up correctly.

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