Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : All PCI slots on mainboard fried?
buksida
February 5th, 2006, 08:52 PM
I have built a machine using spares I have in the office, was going to give it to a friend. All seems to work fine however I need to put a LAN card in it for his internet connection.
There are 5 empty PCI slots on the mobo (ECS K7VTA3) and I've tried 3 different cards in all of them. The machine either wont come on at all, or comes on and doesnt recognise the hardware.
I know the LAN cards are good so it must be the mainboard. Is there another way to fit a LAN card without using PCI or do I need to buy a new board?
Cheers.
geeksRus
February 5th, 2006, 09:26 PM
you could use a USB to Ethernet adapter.
BOB IROC
February 6th, 2006, 08:10 AM
I would seriously look into a new motherboard. Who knows what other problems there may be. I wouldn't get another ECS board. They are not good. Of course that is my opinion (based on experience) and I am sure others would agree.
CeeBee
February 6th, 2006, 08:57 AM
The problem could be another card or the config in BIOS. Reset the BIOS and try again with no other card except for video, if it doesn't work maybe it is fried indeed, so get rid of it before it takes everything else with it. Also looking at mobo specs it should have on-board NIC, why not use it?
Ferrit
February 6th, 2006, 10:17 AM
Exactyl what else is in the system for cards ? Like in the other slots
houseisland
February 6th, 2006, 06:35 PM
I would try testing the motherboard and parts out of the case. Take it out. Put it on something non-conductive like a cardboard motherboard box.
You can start the system by shorting out power switch pins with a jumper or the tip of a screwdriver.
Sometimes if the case is poorly made or if the motherboard is not alligned properly in the case, inserting an adapter card will cause the motherboard to short against the case somwhere (and it won't POST) or the adapter card will not seat properly and the system will not dectect its presence.
buksida
February 7th, 2006, 04:58 AM
Thanks for all the suggestions, got it fixed now.
I tried one of the 3 cards again (nothing in all other slots), an old 530TX, which it actually found this time. It wanted to install the driver on bootup so I downloaded one, stuck it in, restarted, and it was fine!
Not sure why it deceided to work this time. I know the board isnt great but its just a machine I built out of a bunch of spares to give away anyway.