Problems upgrading my own computer

Don't know why, but every time I try to upgrade my own computer, it never works. Symptoms: Power to CPU (fan running), no video output (but fan on Video chip running), no power LED, HDD LED on all the time.

This has happened four times already - three times around Xmas time, and once again tonight.

I've upgraded other computers for friends, and haven't run into any problems. What could I be doing wrong ??????

Current system:
ASUS K7M MB
Athlon 700 Mhz Slot A CPU
512 MB RAM
Toshiba DVD burner
Lite-On 52x24x52 CD burner
80 GB WD HD
40 GB Seagate HD
3 1/2" floppy
300W PSU
Full tower case

Tried to install three SOYO Dragon Lite MBs with 512 MB RAM, and XP 2100+ CPU around Xmas, and an ASUS AU13 MB with 1 GB Kingston RAM and a XP 2200+ CPU tonight.

Also note that the K7M MB only lines up with 6 case screws, and the four MBs I've smoked line up with nine.


HELP !!!!!!!!

Firstly, are unused motherboard posts removed if they don't line up? if not make sure they are, is the memory you are using in upgrades PC100? do the newer boards need PC133 maybe, most socket A boards are set to 100 mhz fsb, and may not boot with an XP 133 mhz fsb cpu without fsb being changed on the motherboard, usually by jumper, have you tried a better PSU?, also make sure when you first initalize an upgrade you just use cpu, memory and video, add the rest one by one after a succesfull boot up, hope this helps

Have you tried building it outside the case? This will tell you if the case has issues or not.

Quote:

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Originally posted by TRICKPLAYER
Firstly, are unused motherboard posts removed if they don't line up? if not make sure they are, is the memory you are using in upgrades PC100? do the newer boards need PC133 maybe, most socket A boards are set to 100 mhz fsb, and may not boot with an XP 133 mhz fsb cpu without fsb being changed on the motherboard, usually by jumper, have you tried a better PSU?, also make sure when you first initalize an upgrade you just use cpu, memory and video, add the rest one by one after a succesfull boot up, hope this helps

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No extra posts. The memory is Kingston PC2700, DDR333. No jumpers on the MB to set FSB - supposedly this mB detects the FSB correctly.

Anyway, I'm returning the parts today, and will try again six months from now....

Well, I brought the MB, CPU and RAM back to Fry's. They hooked up the MB, and it POSTed with no problems. Then the guy asked me if I had hooked up the 4 pin ATX power cable. OOPS, my PSU doesn't have one. So, it looks like I'll have to get a new PSU and try the upgrade again.

Guess I've been away from building computers too long..... :)

OK, so I install an Antec 350W PSU.

Do a clean install of W2K, and everytime I try and install the video drivers (Hercules 4500XT), the screen goes blank, and stays that way. Hitting reset is the only way out.

So, after reboot, I go to device manager, and have a "Code 12" on the "NVidia nForce2 AGP Host to PCI Bridge"

How do I fix this ???

It has no resource conflicts, and there is only one listing. There are, however, five "NVIDIA nForce2 Memory Controller" listings, and two "PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridge" I tried deleting all of them, and when W2K reboots, it redetects them all.

HELP !!!!!

Have you been to www.viaarena.com and got the latest hyperion via 4 in 1 drivers and installed them? Via boards must have the motherboard drivers installed to ensure the agp and other peripherals behave.

I don't mean to second guess you noo, but from the error message it looks like it might be an nforce chipset, not via. You might try here:
http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=nforce_udp_win2k_2.03

Doesn't surprise me in the least... had flu all week, only just awake ;)

Quote:

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Originally posted by hudsonsmith
I don't mean to second guess you noo, but from the error message it looks like it might be an nforce chipset, not via. You might try here:
http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=nforce_udp_win2k_2.03

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Will try this when I get home. Thanks.

Well, I got home and d/l'ed the latest nForce driver.

Made no difference, so I ripped out the crappy FIC motherboard, and got an ASUS A7V8X MB.

Works great !!!!


Thanks to all for the help......