Bootup Problem

mcgovern

I need some help with a hardware problem I just cant fix please

After re-installing windows (XP Pro), I went to automatic update, installed whatever it looked for, and re-started pc as asked.
Since then, it won't boot up at all.
It doesnt BIOS/POST, and monitor just displays self test.
The fans do spin, if I plug in a DVD/CD drive, it does power on, but hard drives don't seem to spin up.

I've replaced (in this order):

Motherboard: was MSI K8N Neo, now ABIT AV8
PSU: was Q-Tec PSU ATX 550W Dual Fan, now Hiper Type R 480W
RAM: was 2x Corsair Value S. PC3200 DDR-DIMM 512MB, now 1x Corsair Value S. PC3200 DDR-DIMM 512MB (brand new)
CPU: was AMD 64 3200+, now brand new AMD 64 3200+
GFX: was Sapphire Radeon 9800 Atlantis PRO 128MB, now old AT Radeon 64MB

I tried booting it outside of case on non-static surface, tried with minimum possible config (just 1 stick of ram, CPU and GFX card).

mcgovern

I guess everyone else is as lost as I am

Have also tried a different monitor now (known working one) to rule out that...

jcoote

is your botherboard/bios sitting correctly

djmarkus

so you've replaced nearly every part and it still doesnt go?

stevenmu

I think the Abit has a diagnostic LED somewhere ? The MSI definitly does, it's a backing plate thingy you can connect to the motherboard with 4 little green/red leds ( and two usb ports but don't bother connecting them for now) try it with that connected and see what you get.

XT_Dweezil

Have you made sure that you have connected the power connector and the reset connector the right way around?

Cuz if the reset is in the power connector on the motherboard nothing will happend.

I would start out with checking all cables to the motherboard. Make sure that you have turned on the powersupply (some of them have a power button on the psu)

Next step is to check that they hdd, optical units are connected properly

mcgovern

jcoote
is your botherboard/bios sitting correctly

As far as I can tell, yes. Two different boards tried, one brand new out of the box.

djmarkus
so you've replaced nearly every part and it still doesnt go?

Every part that is plugged in has been replaced, yes.

stevenmu
I think the Abit has a diagnostic LED somewhere ? The MSI definitly does, it's a backing plate thingy you can connect to the motherboard with 4 little green/red leds ( and two usb ports but don't bother connecting them for now) try it with that connected and see what you get.

You're right, I had forgotten about the MSI one, as I'd never used it. I'll give that a shot tommorrow hopefully before work, thanks for reminding me!
The Abit one indicates power on, then power off. After searching the web, the only fault for this seems to be PSU, so thats why I bought a new PSU which met Abit's specifications.

XT_Dweezil
Have you made sure that you have connected the power connector and the reset connector the right way around?

Cuz if the reset is in the power connector on the motherboard nothing will happend.

I would start out with checking all cables to the motherboard. Make sure that you have turned on the powersupply (some of them have a power button on the psu)

Next step is to check that they hdd, optical units are connected properly

Power supply is visibly turning on, as its fans spin, as well as all other fans and DVD drives and fan controller if I hook these up. However, at the moment, nothing other than bare minimum is connected, as I am just trying to get POST/BIOS.

All cables have been checked and swapped to make sure, but this was working for 6 months before after a reset during a windows update, the system would not boot back up.