[AppyPappy]

I tried to post this in chat. If it gets somehow to News, would the moderator slap it back into place.

[Phantom Lord]

I have a motherboard problem recently. Try disconnecting everything that is connected to the computer other than the keyboard, mouse, and monitor. If it works that way then turn it off, add a device, and turn it on. Keep doing this until it doesnt work. Then you will have found the problem device. This is a problem that happens when you 'daisy chain' things. If you are doing that. If you are not doing that and this trial doesnt fix your problem then someone who knows what they are talking about will have to help you.

[Brett66]

Sounds like your video card. Did give any beeps when you powered it on?

[tacticalogic]

Does it run the POST tests? You should see it flash the lights on the keyboard, and access each drive in turn as it tests them. From your description, I'd suspect the video card first, although it could be any of the other cards or drives. Since everything spins up, it sounds like the 12v side is OK, but if you've go something shorted out in the 5v side the power supply would detect that and refuse to power the logic circuits.

[ShadowAce]

Does it have onboard video? Try plugging your monitor into the onboard video connector and see if that works.

[eraser X]

Have you tried to reseat the video card and memory?

[scouse]

http://pcmech.pair.com/

This site should help you.

[tophat9000]

First rule of troubleshooting...."Break it down to a minimum system"

In the case of a PC a minimum system is:

Power supply, mother board, (not mounted in the case but set on a non conductive surface ..the top of the MB cardboard box is great) CPU (with cooling fan VERY IMPORTANT WITH THE Athalon… they will cook in a heartbeat), and memory(minimum amount)only

..this config, if it comes up, should give you beep codes…. but get your Motherboard manual first(go to the MB makers web site) and CHECK YOUR SETTINGS FIRST including you memory config (what dimm slots)... do not alway trust what is labled on the MB this is sometimes wrong

… if you do ger beep codes in the minimum system power down and add the video card only… power up and see if you get a display … if you don’t do you still get beep codes? if no beep codes the video card could be hanging the bus/holding the system down

[firewalk]

These are the things I've done when this happened to me:

Removed/replaced video card

Removed/replaced memory. If I only had one stick, I changed the slot I put it in.

Lastly, I cleared the bios (CMOS) and put all the settings back in.

Each worked on different boards for me. Good luck!

[backhoe]

Look here:

http://support.tekramusa.com/support2.nsf/c521b34a1d4c33298825684c007fadf2/154287ac9b7238ba882568550019e993?OpenDocument

[Zathras]

They are hard to find, but try and locate a POST card.
This will display the Power On Self Test codes which are sent to the diagnostic port on the ISA bus.

The idea to unplug everything except the graphic card is a good place to start but if you are having memory or CPU problems, you won't pass POST and you won't light the CRT.

[Steve0113]

I've encountered this twice. The first time it was the keyboard, of all things, that prevented booting. It caused the POST to hang.

The second time it was the voltage at the power outlet. It was just slightly too low for the power supply to turn on the chip-enable line. Check the outlet with a meter, or move the computer to a different room.

[Bush2000]

A few suggestions:

1. Make sure that there aren't any extraneous posts -- the connectors which attach the motherboard to the case -- underneath the motherboard which are causing a short-circuit.

2. Unplug as much stuff as possible. That includes all cards except for your video adapter, IDE cables, SCSI calbes, etc.

3. Make sure that your processor is seated properly. Most of them have a little notch in the corner which tells you how it's supposed to be aligned.

4. Make sure that the power connectors are in the right place. Some motherboards will refuse to POST if you don't have the CPU fan connected to a specific power connector on the motherboard.

5. Speaking of power, make sure that you have a power supply that is approved for your CPU. New Intel and AMD CPUs require a new 300W, 12V power supply.

6. Make sure that the motherboard jumpers are set properly (most settings should be set to Auto).

7. Make sure that the connectors from the case to the motherboard (power switch, reset button, etc) are set up properly -- with proper polarity.

8. Do you have the thermal protection connector attached? Is it faulty? Your machine will refuse to boot if it thinks the temperature is too high. If you think the temperature is cool enough, remove it temporarily.

9. Is the memory seated properly? Have you tried replacing the memory with known-good sticks? Try only using one. Maybe one of the slots is bad.

10. Is your video card bad? Try putting it in another machine to test.

11. Generally speaking, if you've done all that and you still don't boot, you have (a) a faulty CPU, (b) a faulty motherboard, or (c) faulty memory. The only way to tell for sure is to use them in conjunction with known-good components.

[tophat9000]

Any luck AppyPappy ?

[remaininlight]

Your case may (may) have a strange short out or other ghost in the machine. Are you using the same case? Pull your hard drive out and let it hang somehow externally... I have done this no big deal.  Do not have a CD Rom plugged in. Reseat everything even 2 or 3 times. Use different IDE cables. These cables can go bad.

[remaininlight]

Also re-seat and check all those little black pluggies that are for HD LED, for on/off switch, for speaker etc. Even use a minimum of these pluggies.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Try to re-seat the DDR memory chips. Everytime...and I mean everytime I open my box for routine cleaning and maintainence, I have to do this to get it to boot completely from the state that you describe. And my current PC is not the only one I have encountered this situation with.

Just a suggestion. Good luck!

[Paulus Invictus]

The only solution to your PC problem is simple and permanent: buy and happily use an iMAC! I laugh at the millions of PC owners that are into masochistic self-flagellation as they try in vain to deal with their incessant equipment and software failures. Har de har har! It's all in fun, guys...

[chilepepper]

Sounds like a grounding problem to me.Check the MoBo connection to the chassis...

If the power supply ISN'T 300W, THEN you should STILL get something, particularly if you pull out ALL extraneous devices (or unplug their power).

To start off, try running the MoBo w/o hard disk, w/o CD, w/o sound card, etc... JUST the video card and maybe a floppy... you can then run an old DOS disk and a bunch of cool 386 games! (without sound of course)