Unfixable Problem!

[makojin]

I seriously will paypal someone 10$ to fix this problem which NO ONE on the internet has been able to answer. And you will have self-gradification for being godly.

-Computer Specs-

Motherboard: Asus A7N8X-Deluxe
Memory: Samsung 2x512 pc3200
Processor: AMD AthlonXP 1700+ (1.3ghz)
Video Card: Ati Radeon 9000 pro
Hard Drive: 120gb Seagate SATA
Power Supply: Antec 430 true
Monitor: 17" Samsung Syncmaster LCD
---------------------------------------------------------------

-Introduction-
After cleaning the computer out with alcohol and a toothbrush on SOME parts, the rest just air-dusted, i reasembled the computer.

-Problem-
When i boot up, the monitor doesnt respond. Blank black screen, but everything is clearly booting up, it seeks the Disk drives, but im not sure about the hard-drive.

-What i have done already-
1- Reset CMOS Battery. (nothing happened)
2- Took out CMOS Battery, and switched CMOS jumber to disable, booted, turned off, switched jumber back to enable, put CMOS battery back in, booted. (still nothing)
3- Swapped a ATI Radeon 9800 pro AGP in. Booted. (still nothing)
4- Swapped monitors with a 19" CRT . (still nothing)
5- Tried a Nvidia Video card WHICH WAS PCI. (still nothing)

At this point i unplugged all unnescisary components like IDE cables, fans, etc.

6- Used an eraser on the gold ribbons of all conponents with them.
7- Took out all memory except 1 stick. Booted. (still nothing)
8- Took different pc3200 RAM and put it in. Booted. (still nothing)
9- Installed an AMD AthlonXP 2500+ Barton. Booted. (still nothing).
10- Swapped PSU's with another and Booted. (still nothing)

At this point i began testing MY memory, processor, video card in another computer with an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe. (this is the computer i was getting all the test parts from)

11- Tested my RAM in the other computer, works fine. Tested my processor in the other computer, works fine. Tested my Videocard, powersupply in other computer, works fine.

At this point.....i was leaning towards "wow...my AGP + PCI slots are totally dead ? There is something broke within the motherboard that signals the VGA for the monitor ? (remember i had already tested 2 monitors, both monitors worked fine on another computer.

----------------------------------
Now....i ordered a new Motherboard + CPU from newegg.com
-Current new items-

Motherboard: MSI NeoPlatinum2 Nforce3
Processor: A64-bit 3000+ (1.833ghz)

1- Installed everything.
2- Booted.................NO VGA. The monitor still is blank, still black, and the green monitor light just blinks.

I reset the CMOS battery, tested different video card, different ram, different PSU.

I then almost threw the computer against the wall.

----------------------------------------------------------

SO. What magical trick did i forget ? What is wrong ? Do i have 2 bad motherboards ? Or are both motherboards just fine, and there is a different problem ?

***important Note*** i did unplug the harddrive, reset CMOS battery, and leave the HD unplugged. and booted up just trying to get to BIOS, but still not monitor.

IF YOU CAN FIGURE THIS OUT, i swear i will give you 10$ and maybe just send you this Asus a7n8x-deluxe motherboard for free.

[MDS]

Sounds like the motherboard is either:

A. shorting out to the case. If that's the case place it on a book hook up the power supply one stick of ram and the video card making sure it is seated really well. jumper the pwr switch pins for a sec being sure not to short anything else and see if it will boot into bios.

B. Video cards are toast due to a shorted motherboard. If they work in another system then that would be ruled out.

BTW never use alcohol and a toothbrush to clean computer componets. Alcohol is OK to clean thermal paste off heat sinc's but must be completely dry before reinstalling. You could have shorted the motherboard out as even unpluged there is still power stored.

[axel_2078]

Have you tried hooking up the new motherboard to a different monitor? Are your computer and monitor hooked up to the same surge protector/outlet? If so, try hooking up one to a separate outlet if possible. I don't know if it's a power problem, but it can't hurt to try.

I've experienced the same problem before, but in my case it was because my motherboard failed. I ordered a new one and it worked fine (after I bought different memory). I wouldn't think that your brand new board is a dud, but it is possible.

Make sure you post this problem to other computer forums too. People don't post to this one much. Scroll through some of the other topics and you'll see what I mean. I've seen questions go unanswered for months.

[n7vxj]

O.K., you said you tried testing all of your stuff on a different computer, but I didn't see where you said you tested YOUR monitor on the other machine.Have you done that? It could be that when you powered your system down the monitor just decided not to work anymore.

Edit: Nevermind now I see where you tested the monitor on the other machine.Have you tried a different hdd, and ide cable for it? Maybe one or both of those went bad.

[Shyguy]

He said he tried a different monitor (19" CRT) on teh problem system, so if that didn't work then its most likely not the LCD (Note I said MOST LIKELY NOT the LCD, not ruling it out, but...).

But yeah Try what MDS said, place it on a book (out of the case) & try it, a large Phone book will do fine for this. It really sounds line its some sort of Short?

Just curious, you aren't using anything between your monitors cable & motherboard, example a VGA extension cable or KVM or something? reason I ask is if a Pin in the extension cable is broke, that may be the issue right there?

[makojin]

Thanks for the replies. to answer some of the questions.

My girlfriends computer is the one im ripping parts out of to test things with. She is pissed already cause shes playing world of warcraft lolol. Back to the point.

ALL her stuff is in working order. Her video card is working in her machine, and my videocard is working in my machine. ALSO, i tested my monitor with her machine, its fine. And her monitor obviously is working fine with her machine.

BUT, i really am interested in the factor of my case being the issue, the reason being... I have seriously ruled out EVERYTHING but the case now, UNLESS i received another faulty mobo.

Before u posted "a short" in the case, i seriously thought "theres a ****ing ghost in my case". Im doing this now, i will rpely when i get back.

[makojin]

computer booted up from outside the case, just all on a table. still no VGA

[roadtech]

Sound like you got a bad run of luck on motherboards

[makojin]

Dont you think the coincidence is too high for me having the EXACT same problem on my brand-new mobo as i did on my old.

[MDS]

did you try both mobo's on the table? old one and new one? That is something I do with all new mobo's before going to the work of putting them in the case to make sure they fire up OK. Are you getting any beep codes?

[makojin]

Maybe i ESD'ed both mobos causing the same error ?

Im going to plug in headphones and listen for a voice error-post.

im also going to try an IDE HD.

***news*** the SATA HD is infact seeking and running.

[makojin]

I just got word from my friend, he says its all my PSU lol.

Says get a forton, and run it. I think im going to travel 2 hours north to his city, and hook his PSU up. But please offer more suggestions or opionons. Anyone know alot about the effects that a PSU has on the motherboard's VGA ?

[roadtech]

did you try the other psu on the new board and what is the wattage. I wouldn't use less then a 350 in it.

[MDS]

He list a Antec 430 true in the specs which I have the same PSU running my main box XP2500+

"10- Swapped PSU's with another and Booted. (still nothing)"

what size PSU was it?

[makojin]

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA I PWN LIFE!

Ok, this is what i did.

1- Plugged in a IDE harddrive (with OS)
2- plugged in headphones
3- booted. (as i listening for a voice error post, i heard the IDE hard drive booting.
4- Nothing happened, black screen.

5- I unplugged the IDE HD, and plugged back the SATA, i then took the ram from DIMM-2 slot, and moved it up to 1nd slot. booted. and the monitor is on.

Please be advised, i moved memory around from slot to slot before while my computer was in the case. But now i just went back to DIMM-1, and the monitor is on.

So, i would have to put my computer back in the case, and try this step again to rule out the case being the failure. Or maybe it was just luck of switching the RAM around.

[MDS]

LOL sounds like the ram wasn't seated right or one bad stick but
"7- Took out all memory except 1 stick. Booted. (still nothing)
8- Took different pc3200 RAM and put it in. Booted. (still nothing)"

so I ruled it out. Good luck

[roadtech]

Hmm, funning I had that same thing happen around 2 weeks ago. Changed to faster memory than no video. Changed it back to the ones I took out. no video. Played around with it. Booted and worked. Not sure what happen........????????

[makojin]

WOW....when i thought life actually let me off, i get screwed again.


I cant get past the post screen.

"Press [TAB] to post, Press [DEL] to enter Setup."

tried a ps2 and usb keyboard.

[Win2Kuser]

Is the keyboard in the right socket? USB keyboards won't run in BIOS/DOS unless the 'use legacy USB' is enabled in BIOS, chances are it isn't anymore after resetting it.

Try resetting the bios, then try again with the PS2.

Do the lights (one each for CAPS, Num, and Scroll lock) flash during the initial powerup?

[davidw]

I was considering IRQ conflicts.

[n7vxj]

Dude, after all this, once you get it going again, don't EVER take it apart again to clean it!! Just go get 3 or4 cans of air, and give a good blowing out!!! :rolleyes: ;)

[Shyguy]

or a small air compressor & hose/nozzle & just use that instead!!!!:D