2 computers that wont start up!!

[Redmage]

hi i need some help. and friend and i both got the same mother boards and we swiched our stuff into the new towers we know that his did work because i used it on teh net for a while but after we put in the hard drives new processers and video cards they wont start when the monitor is not pluged into it there is a display then i plut it into the video card and it will go to a shut down mode. when i start the system the monitor will flicker once then go back to shutdown mode the harddrive starts and everything else will start but i cant get any video both systems are doing the same thing. i double checked my processers and even put the original with setting back to the way it was and still the same thing. mine is running a nivida geforce 5200 ultra with a +1600 processer with 17.V, 10.5 clock and 133 fsb all pins and setting where they need be the other dosnt have any pins for the settings. the mobo dosnt have any video of its own and need the video card. can anyone think of what i am missing. and i am useing the same mem and harddrive in tower that i am on now. thanks for the help

[Cogar]

First, let me suggest that you make your post using fewer run-on sentences. It would be a lot easier to understand that way. :)

Did you change anything besides the case? It seems that you also changed processors and possibly video cards. You need to list exactly what hardware changed. If you changed something, you will have problems, since all the drivers will be set up for your old hardware. To get things running, you need to put the hardware back in the exact same configuration in which it started (except for the case, which should not matter). Once it is running, check with the manufacturers of the various hardware devices for their recommendations regarding how to upgrade their hardware component and change one thing at a time.

As an alternative, you can wipe out your hard drive and start over as though it was a new computer build. Of course, you will lose all your data and applications when you do so.

[Redmage]

ok i got one of them up an running insted of useing auto for the processer core volt i put it to the listed 1.75 and it booted.

the other computer is has tower, mobo (socket A), video card and 300 W. power suply they are all from the same setup. we downgraded the processer from 1.4Ghz to 1.2Ghz there are no jumpers to make changes. the mem was pulled from a running system with his harddrive for the new setup it also has cd rom, dvd rom, and network card.

the monitor picks up that it is pluged in to the tower and flickers when the tower is turned on but wont go any ferther than a flicker.

let me know if there is anything else you would like me to try and find or look at. thanks for your help

[Redmage]

i now have another proublem i have a enhanced WD 120Gb hard drive when i put it on the new tower that i have running it will pick it up in bios just fine when booting i get an error can not read drive. when i put it as a slave drive windows will make it to the loading screen but go no further.

what do you think

[Ioman]

What motherboard do you have? Can you send a link to it please. When troubleshooting a PC I would recommend putting in the bare minimum and then adding the extras one piece at a time. So for example, start with one stick of memory, video card and hard drive. Keep the soundcard, nic etc out. If it then boots up fine and let you into windows, try adding the second stick of memory, then if thats fine, the soundcard etc.

I would not mess with the CPU settings, most motherboard recognize the processor automatically and this usually works. If you are not getting video, is there a beep code the motherboard is giving you? It might be something as simple as the CPU not being mounted correctly on the motherboard.

[Redmage]

all i can tell you is that its a socket A and this is the # i got from the boot screen before we put my friends harddrive and mem into it 6a6lmd4fc but i cant find a page for it.

[Cogar]

Well it appears that you made some progress. Regarding the motherboard, a brand name and model number should be screen printed somewhere on the top of the board. The same is true of the other items. Not knowing the brand of the motherboard, video card, and memory will keep us from going very far, since without any hardware specs it is anyone's guess regarding what it might take to get things running. Even once everyone knows what they are, the process can still be difficult. I am guessing the processor is AMD, since you mentioned socket A.

Changing the processor may be OK, but it may not, depending on the BIOS of the motherboard. In other words, if it can handle the different processor (say two different speeds of socket A Thunderbird processors), you should be OK. You might wish to give us the history of the two processors and the reason for change.

Regarding the memory, just because it worked in another system does not mean it will work correctly in this one. After you determine the make and models of the motherboard, you need to do a search and determine if it supports the RAM you are using.

[Redmage]

well to let you know i got one of the two compleaty up and running i found out what was wrong with the hard drive i didnt have the ata100 turned on to boot at startup in my bios. i will get you all the info on the other tower proubly tomarow i still cant get that one to load and i have no clue. now i have another proublem i have a windows activation code for xp off of a laptop that i had got from a friend but there was no disk and i wrote the code down and pealed off the sticker so i could keep the activation code and sold the laptop now i dont know what version of windows i need for the serial number is there a way to tell

[Cogar]

Well, legally speaking, if you sold the laptop and it still had Windows XP installed, the installation belongs to the laptop.

Regarding activating Windows XP on your computer, the activation code would probably be different for it than for the other computer, since the hardware is different and the activation code is related to the hardware. I do not know what to do in a situation like that except for contacting Microsoft (good luck) or purchasing a new license. Of course, you could also consider installing another operating system like Linux, but that would entail other problems, since Windows programs do not run natively in Linux and vice-versa. If you are just surfing the web, sending emails, and playing CDs that will not be a problem. However, if you do a lot of gaming or run some specialized applications, the transition is more difficult.

[Redmage]

the laptop was sold as parts no harddrive or OS and i went to look up help from microsoft they charge a lot for help so i went back and found the laptop from the brand site and it told me what version to use.
so far everything in the one tower is running at 100 i will get back with the other tower as soon as i can thanks for all your help

[Cogar]

You are welcome. Good luck.

[Redmage]

well good news i found the proublem i was putting in teh wrong clock speed it was a 12 and i was using 10-10.5 that and i finaly found the pin layout for j10 that set teh fsb from 133 to 100 after this it booted and everything worked fine so thands for your help now my only proublem is that i found out that win code that i had was out of date and they wont use it. so now i eather need to spend money i dont have or find another way.

[Cogar]

It is good to learn that you resolved your hardware issues. :) They can be very frustrating.

[Redmage]

hi i am back the first computer that was being talked about on this thread has bit the dust please help me give it cpr. i have tryed different processers different ram different power suply there is nothing hooked up to it no hard drive one stick of 256 ram and the video card. i have tryed 3 processers a 750, 950, and the orignal 1400. when i hit the power the fans will spin just for one sec the power suply fans wont even try to start. any clue what i could do. thanks

[ECA]

BAD POwer supply,
Short on MOBO or in PS, it is sence'd, and its shuts down.
Card is BAD, and system is auto shut down to protect the system.
HD not plugged in correctly
256Meg card isnt SEATED, or is backwards.

[Redmage]

ram only goes in one way and you dont need a hard drive to get to the start up screen. i am thinking short in MOBO but hope not. the computer dosnt even try to boot there is nothing at all

[ECA]

mobo OR ram.
ram CAN BE wrong TYPE, OR not INSERTED PROPERLY.
you dont WNAT THE MOBO TO BE baD OR THE ps.
LOVE the caps lock. MORE booze.
MAKE sure you tap the BIOS KEY on startup, OR it WILL cause an error.
ALSO a Bad KB(keyboard) will POST and error. AND SOME want 1 INPUT device, as a Floppy, or HD...If NO floppy, MAKE SURE its turned off in BIOS.
IF you cant GET TAT FAR(BIOS), CEHCK POWER SUPPLY CONNECTIONS FIRST, THEN the MOBO..
IF YOU GET S FLICKER on the VIDEO..you are safe(MOSTLY)...ALSO, plug a speaker into the MOBO, ONBOARD SPEAKER PLUG...It can give you warnings, IF you can figure them out.

[Redmage]

ok one more time. there is no boot up. i have tryed other power suplys all hooked up corectly and get the same thing the fans will spin around 2 times and stop there is not boot up. its the same keyboard and mouse and monitor i am useing now. nothing is running. there is a light on the board that lights up for mobo power but nothing is running. the fans wont boot up. even on the power suply.

[ECA]

You have a HARDWARE error or failure.
A MANUAL configuration on the mobo, is set WRONG..
A card or HARDWARE is NOT working, and the system check at STARTUP, is shutting it down, BEFORE it causes damage...To many times, TURN ON, MAY damage the Mobo, as its TRYING to tell you something is wrong, on the mobo, or on a card.

OK, thats the answer,
NOW what to do about it.
PULL everything, but the video card, and the SYSTEM MOBO SPEAKER(GOTTA HAVE IT), Turn on system, and it SHOULD BEEP on the speaker, Then go find the error codes.
http://www.pcmech.com/show/troubleshoot/14/
http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/Articles/Motherboard/BIOSbeep.shtml
http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/BIOSBeepCodes.asp
There are a few different ones, DEPENDING on the BIOS you have. this is the OLD system.

[Redmage]

sweet that helps a lot more. thanks :vivi

[ECA]

ALSO, need to know the Mobo company, And the model, It should be on the board.
FIC, or whom ever.
It can really help in telling WHAT, and how much can be on this system.