PC Won't Start Up!

ixoy

I attempted to install new memory (1GB DDR RAM) today in my PC and went through the apparent process of putting it into the motherboard (ABIT KN8 SLI), alongside the existing 1GB DDR RAM (neighbouring slot as required). I did the usual touching against the metal chassis to discharge as I did this.

I powered back up - but it didn't work. Power's flowing through, the LEDs on the motherboard are lighting up, but I don't get the first system beep and there's no output to the monitor. I assumed it was a memory problem with the new memory chip and powered down the system and removed it, restarting with the original configuration.
Same problem.
I then powered down and did the whole CMOS clear-thing with the jumper as recommended by the manual (although not sure how that's meant to work with the power off).
Restarted - same problem.

So now effectively my PC starts up but given there's no system beep, it's not going anywhere. What is the possible cause of this? It was working (relatively) fine beforehand and certainly never had an issue like this: does it sound like the machine isn't seeing any memory? Would that cause these symptoms where you see absolutely nothing? What should I do in that case: replace the old memory chip with the new one? Or have I potentially knocked something else out?

DonkeyStyle \o/

I'd start with just one ram stick in the first slot... if it still doesn't boot, re-seat the video card.
With the cmos reset, did you leave it jumpered for a few seconds? (definitely works with power off btw)
If you're using 4 sticks of ram, you might need to set one of the memory timings (don't recall which one, but you'll know) to T2.

ixoy

DonkeyStyle \o/ wrote: »

I'd start with just one ram stick in the first slot... if it still doesn't boot, re-seat the video card.

There's currently only one (the original) in the first slot. No real change.
I jostled the video card but, as it doesn't budge, it appears secure (there's a locking arm too that's pushed down).

With the cmos reset, did you leave it jumpered for a few seconds? (definitely works with power off btw)

Left it for longer than that with both sticks plugged in and then when there was just the one stick in. Didn't appear to make a difference.

Gadgetman496

In the initial operation to install the second stick of RAM could you have upset any of the other cables by moving them out of your way or anything like that.

Look closely at all your cable connections & double check that they are all well seated.

Also make sure you are seating the RAM modules fully home, the little plastic clips at either end should actually snap into the locking position when seated correctly.

ixoy

Had another poke around and I can't see anything that looks disconnected - all the cables appear firmly in.

When I stick the memory module in, the plastic clips snap home. I've tried the original memory stick in its original slot and the new memory stick - no result. I then tried the original memory stick in the third DDR slot - no change.

Upon powerup, the only peripheral making real noticable noise is the old DVD drive. The lights on the keyboard fail to light up and the HD isn't noticably whirring (although it's difficult to tell but I couldn't feel any movement under my forefinger). The LEDs on the mainboard are all lit up though, indicating power is being supplied to the mainboard. Other than that, and the fans whirling, there's no real activity on the system (such as a helpful monitor output) and no sound (which would indicate a POST I assume).

Connections checked, memory checked: what else is there to try? Is it worth trying to put in really old memory sticks from an old salvaged PC to see if that works? I don't have a graphics card to swap out with but there's a green LED saying "Normal" graphics mode in operation on the mainboard so I assume it's fine (and I hadn't touched that during operations).

Any ideas what to do next? It's only 18 months old and I really don't want to fork out for a new PC!

Gadgetman496

Disconnect the SATA drive power cable(s) both ends (If your drive(s) are SATA) & re-seat them.

Imported but

gadgetman496 wrote: »

In the initial operation to install the second stick of RAM could you have upset any of the other cables by moving them out of your way or anything like that.

Look closely at all your cable connections & double check that they are all well seated.

Also make sure you are seating the RAM modules fully home, the little plastic clips at either end should actually snap into the locking position when seated correctly.

Three things I can think of here:
1. Last weekend I did a similar upgrade and when I tried to restart the PC I got nothing - it didn't post, just a quick whirr of the fan and then nothing. Then I noticed I'd forgotten to plug a smallish connector back into the centre of the mainboard (inbetween the CPU and the system chipset I think)... which had been somewhat in the way when I was trying to get at the RAM slots. Maybe your mainboard has a similar cable and maybe it's loose? Worth double-checking.
2. I see (from the Kingston site below) your mainboard has 4 RAM slots and it can implement dual channel memory (where you have to have *matched* sticks in pairs) Actually your machine is quite high spec for its age. It could be that the new stick is incompatible, it needs to be 400 MHz DDR, and older RAM will probably not work. All the same it doesn't explain why you can't get the machine up and running on the original stick, unless (as already posted) it's not seated properly. In practice you might have to insert it with one end in slightly further than the other, lock in that end (with the white clip) then push the other end home and lock that too - the sockets are often so tight when they haven't been used that you can't get the stick to go down fully if it's perfectly 'square on' (unless you really lean on it and risk flexing the mainboard), rather, you have to get one end in first and lock it.
Do check at the Kingston site (http://www.kingston.com/ then select the ABIT then the model of board) as it seems quite detailed about compatible memory. I've heard you are best to use slots up from the centre of the board first (or at least the slots closest to the chipset), with the largest chips first, by the way, but this doesn't apply if your using Dual Channel where all the stick must be the same size (I think).
3. There's an outside chance that your PSU partially died when you tried the new RAM (it will have drawn a little bit more current)... though that would be really bad luck. #1 is the most likely imo. Good luck.

Taildragon

It might be worth trying resetting the BIOS to factory defaults

From the user manual on the MoBo manufacturer's website:

Q: Do I need to clear the CMOS before I use a new motherboard to assemble my new computer system?
A: Yes, we highly recommend that you clear the CMOS before installing a new motherboard. Please move the CMOS jumper from its default 1-2 position to 2-3 for a few seconds, and then back. When you boot up your system for the first time, follow the instructions in the user’s manual to load the optimized defaults.
Q: If my system hangs when I update the BIOS or set the wrong CPU parameters, what should I do?
A: Whenever you update the BIOS or if the system hangs due to wrong CPU parameters setting, always clear CMOS jumper before booting up again.
Q: Why does the system fail to boot up again right after a mechanical power-off?
A: Please keep a 30-second interval between each mechanical power On/Off.
Q: Why does the system fail to boot up and nothing displays on the screen after I did some overclocking or non-standard settings inside the BIOS? Is the motherboard dead? Do I need to return it to where I bought from or go through an RMA process?
A: It should not cause hardware or permanent damage to motherboard when BIOS settings were changed from default to over-clocking or non-standard status. We suggest the following three troubleshooting methods to discharge CMOS data, recover the hardware default status, and then making the motherboard work again. There is no need to bother returning the motherboard to where you bought it from or go through an RMA process.
Step 1. Switch off the power supply unit and then switch it on again after one minute. If there is no power switch on the power supply unit, disconnect its power cord for one minute and then reconnect.
Press and hold the <Insert> key on the keyboard, and press the power-on button to boot up system. If it works, release the <Insert> key and hit <Del> key to enter the BIOS setup page to apply the correct settings.
If the situation remains the same, repeat the procedures in Step 1 for three times, or try Step 2.
Step 2. Switch off the power supply unit or disconnect the power cord. Open the chassis cover. Locate the CCMOS jumper near the button battery. Change the jumper position from default 1-2 to 2-3 for one minute to discharge the CMOS data, and then put it back to default 1-2 position.
Close the chassis and switch on the power supply unit or plug in the power cord. Press the power-on button to boot up system. If it works, hit <Del> key to enter the BIOS setup page to do the correct settings.
If the situation remains the same, try Step 3.
Step 3. The same procedure as Step 2, but while discharging the CMOS data, pull out the ATX power connectors from motherboard and remove the button battery during CMOS discharge.

ixoy

Hey - I tried all the suggestions above and it's still the same. I went over the mainboard carefully and nothing is disconnected (I know the connection "Imported but" is referring to and it looks fine).

What I'm wonder is, is this a possibilty:

3. There's an outside chance that your PSU partially died when you tried the new RAM (it will have drawn a little bit more current)... though that would be really bad luck. #1 is the most likely imo. Good luck.

I have an Antec Sonata II and, from googling, I've found that their PSUs can be a little dodgy. For example this post here or this one here sounds somewhat like what I'm seeing. The RAM could have pushed it over the edge.
Is it possible that a dodgy PSU could also have caused the issues I saw a few weeks back URL="http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055173131"]link[/URL? A poor PSU would potentially draw the wrong voltages on a GFX card and trigger an alarm, no?
I don't want to go racing up a wrong track, but is there a possibility this is now the issue?

ixoy

*bump*

Anyone think my above theory has any credibility? Looking to move this along for my own sanity, but don't want to fork out on PSUs, etc. if it's a dead end.

FRM

I'd take a stab that the memory is not compatiable..... had this is a number of servers and clients over the years....

ixoy

FRM wrote: »

I'd take a stab that the memory is not compatiable..... had this is a number of servers and clients over the years....

That woudn't explain why the original memory now doesn't work though. I also checked it against Komplett's Crucial memory selector so I know it should work with my my mainboard.

Slow Motion

Have you considered you may have blown both mem sticks ? Can you get one from a working machine or put one of yours into another machine, had this problem last year !

ixoy

Slow Motion wrote: »

Have you considered you may have blown both mem sticks ? Can you get one from a working machine or put one of yours into another machine, had this problem last year !

I did think of this alright but I've no easy way to test it out. My old machine's memory is probably incompatible with this mainboard (I'll have to double-check to be sure, but I believe it is) so there's no handy way of testing. I don't see why I'd have blown my old memory stick when I didn't touch it or move it though.

Slow Motion

ixoy wrote: »

I did think of this alright but I've no easy way to test it out. My old machine's memory is probably incompatible with this mainboard (I'll have to double-check to be sure, but I believe it is) so there's no handy way of testing. I don't see why I'd have blown my old memory stick when I didn't touch it or move it though.

I know, but I was doing a bit of work last year which involved cannibalising and upgrading, and had this happened a few times, when I didn't even touch the original, we had a ram tester (don't know if that's the proper name) which basically was a bank you could fill up with ram sticks and it would tell you what worked and what was fcuked ! Might be worth giving Pete's or the Computer DR a call and see if they have one of these doohickeys that could check the memory for you, cheaper than replacing the machine or the board methinks if they have one.

ixoy

Fair point SlowMotion - I was thinking of leaving it in with Marx Computers who, from what I can determine, are the best of a bad bunch.
Any thoughts on if it might be the PSU itself given that it's from a notoriously faulty range?

Slow Motion

ixoy wrote: »

Fair point SlowMotion - I was thinking of leaving it in with Marx Computers who, from what I can determine, are the best of a bad bunch.
Any thoughts on if it might be the PSU itself given that it's from a notoriously faulty range?

Hard to say without having the ram checked first !