[Cialug] New Computer Hardware Issue

[Major Stubble]

Todd,

This seems like a classic case of memory issues.

If I were a betting man, I would say that you probably purchased an  
AM2 motherboard and an DDR2-800 (PC2-6400).  I'll go even further out  
on a limb and say you may have purchased OCZ memory?

This is a common problem I've seen lately, and while I may be very  
far off the mark with your rig parts, I would still bet that it's an  
issue with the RAM.  Specifically, I think it would be the voltage  
for the RAM.

I would check this by getting a cheap stick of DDR2-667 to verify the  
problem and to get the system into the BIOS.  Most boards will auto- 
sense the timing correctly, but will not increase the voltage past  
1.8V.  You will need to increase this by hand (AMI BIOS will color  
coordinate this so that safe voltages will be green, moderately high  
voltages are yellow, and dangerous, part-damaging voltages are red).   
Depending on the memory, you may need to go as high as 2.1V.  This  
can be dangerous, though.  Take it slow, or research the north-bridge  
and memory combination you have for other people's experiences.

It might help out the list if you told us what parts you are using  
and if you are hearing any kind of beeps when you boot.

-MS

Todd Walton wrote:
> Summary
> I have a newly built computer that won't boot.  I have everything
> installed.  It has one hard drive and one DVD drive.  I hook up power
> to everything and press the power button and...
>
> Good
> It seems as if the mobo powers up.  The CPU fan spins and the PCI
> Express video card lights up and its fan spins.  The front LED lights
> up red.
>
> Bad
> The front LED being red probably means bad.  The hard drive and DVD
> drive don't power up at all.  I can't eject the DVD drive and none of
> it lights up.  The hard drive isn't vibrating or making noise.  The
> computer doesn't even get to BIOS.  At least it doesn't show on the
> monitor.
>
> Troubleshooting
> I've used different power connectors and even swapped out the power
> supply to no avail.  It does exactly the same thing.  So it can't be
> the power supply.
>
> I've disconnected and reconnected all cabling to the motherboard  
> and the drives.
>
> Funky Thing
> When I disconnect the IDE cable to the optical drive, but leave power
> plugged in, it'll turn on.  I can eject it and it winks its LED at me.
>  So they must build drives to take input from the motherboard on
> whether it's okay to power up or not.
>
> Question
> Any ideas what could be happening?
>
> Signature
> -todd