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First-Time Build Problem
Raughn
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Well, my first-ever build is assembled. I power it on, all of the fans hum, the power LED lights up, the 4 phase LEDs on the mobo light up, the monitor is on and...blank. No video. I tried both DVI ports. I can't see the BIOS to confirm or adjust.
Also, there is no power going to my keyboard and mouse, and the mobo did not make a single beep.
My spirits are too dashed to search for a pic of one of the Oundan/EBA characters shouting for assistance, which is probably good since everyone is likely sick of that by now.
So...little help? Much appreciated if anyone can take some time to bail me out.
Also, there is no power going to my keyboard and mouse, and the mobo did not make a single beep.
My spirits are too dashed to search for a pic of one of the Oundan/EBA characters shouting for assistance, which is probably good since everyone is likely sick of that by now.
So...little help? Much appreciated if anyone can take some time to bail me out.
Raughn on
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Thanks! That was most of it: The 12V ATX wasn't connected (in my noobness, I thought the final four main power pins were the ATX when I was reading my instructions/guide). But the keyboard (USB) still isn't powered/recognized, and it wants me to hit enter after inserting the system disk. Any ideas?
One last BIOS question: I set my CPU heat warning at 90 degrees. Anyone think it should be lower?
I hit another snag. I started the Windows XP set-up, allowed it to format the HDD, then it loaded a bunch of Windows files, then said it would restart and resume set-up. It restarted, but only goes as far as a disc read error, then directs me to reboot, leading to the disc read error, repeat. I tried booting with the installation disc to start, but that runs the installation from the beginning, which stops once set-up detects the already mostly installed OS.
Anyone know how I can fix this?
I don't know your hardware set up, it would be helpful if you posted that. But if you have a new machine and are trying to install XP using an XP install disc that does not have Service Pack 2 on it, you might have the problem you are encountering.
If you only have an original XP disc (like me) you can use nLite to slipstream SP2 or 3 and your Motherboard drivers right into the install (plus do other nifty things). This might get rid the problem you are having. You can find nLite here http://www.nliteos.com/
My XP install disc has SP2.
In regards to my hardware set-up, I'm not sure how much detail would help. These are the components, and I'll provide any additional info, to the best of my knowledge, upon request:
500W PSU
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800 GT
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 Conroe 2.33GHz
2 X 2GB DDR 800 Mushkin RAM
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s HDD
ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner
Paranoid question if anyone has a moment: Is the any negative trade-off to using the "(quick)" option to format the HDD for the Windows file system? I was so burned-out when I wanted to see if my change worked that I decided to just rush it.
Holy shit posting from my working first-ever build!!!
Grats on your first build. Not really as hard as they make it seem is it. It's just little quirks the one you ran into that can trip you up.
To answer your question about formatting, the quick format option does not check for bad sectors or format the sectors, it just rewrites the file allocation table. If you have already done a normal format then you have nothing to worry about.
I am sad to report that things have not gone well since I thought the machine was working.
Late Friday night, I started to run into XP stop errors that Microsoft's support site lists as assoicated with memory. I tried removing the sticks and placing them in again, same problems. I made a Memory Test boot CD and the error counter was flying.
I suibmitted a RMA request for the memory and shipped it this morning.
Now I wonder if I wasn't too hasty.
If the errors were that plentiful, could the motherboard have been the problem? I really should have found out how to isolate error codes and write some down. I was just so damn deflated that my brain stopped working and I just gambled on the easy answer. Looking at Newegg's reviews, it seems that memory is RMA'd the most, so hopefully the odds are in my favor that I took the right step.
I guess another possibility is the memory not getting enough juice, but looking at my parts and power supply (a few posts above), I can't see how that's possible (again, unless it's a mobo defect). Is my thinking on the right track here?
I just looked into how I would do that and, yeah, I definitely should have adjusted those settings before sending the memory out. I really wish I had kept my patience and just asked for help before completing the RMA.
Thanks for the suggestion. When the memory comes back I'll definitely test it and make adjustments before I even start the OS install.
Also, I think I'm going to start drinking when I work with this stuff. Need to stay calm. 8-)
Good to know, thanks!
Still waiting on my replacement RAM. UPS took a week to get it to Newegg. I might as well have tied it to the back of a turtle and kicked it toward the setting sun.
I only had the two 2GB sticks, though, and I thought that for dual-channel memory to be read correctly, I needed something in both channels. But then, I'm also a total sytem-building newb.
Well, I don't want to jinx myself, but the machine appears to be working just fine. I got the RMA sticks today, ran memtest first-thing, with no errors. I have been running it for hours with none of the problems experienced after just 40 minutes with the old sticks.
Also, I think I may know what the problem was. When I received the first set, the sticks were loose inside a large plastic disc case. I thought this was rather odd and clumsy, but I also never bought memory before, so I figured that this was just how memory manufacturers rolled.
When I got my RMA sticks, they were securely locked into place in the case, using tiny clips that I did not even notice when I examined the first case. I'm thinking that the first sticks tumbling across several states, connectors rubbing against heat-spreaders, sides of the box, etc., may have done some damage.