After first OS install computer will not start. Compaq Pro EN series MOBO

[James B]

I bought four Compac Pro EN Series MoBos, All with 500 MHz CPUs.
I hooked one up and installed WIN XP PRO.
Windows rebooted as always and the install was complete. I always run the Tour Windows so I can see how the graphics look and stuff on a new install.
All was fine.
I let Windows shut down the computer.
The computer will not start again.
I have power to the Mobo as I can see the aug LED light on the Mobo.
I used several on off switches and the same thing,nothing!
This has done the same thing to two of the four mobos.
I let the BIOS reset itself to default settings at POST both times.
The only problem I had at POST was two short beeps as the time and date were not set correctly. I set that in the OS after the OS install.
Does anyone have any idea as to what I did wrong?
Did I destroy the Mobos? puke:
I cleared CMOS and reset the jumper, but I probably just erased the time again doing that, but it did no good eather.
I am truely stumped. Tried another power supply and memory to no avail.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Dead battery comes to mind (the little silver round one).
If the mobos are all the same, set the switches identical to one that works.

You may be able to save the BIOS from a working mobo and flash that onto a non-working board (but save that BIOS first as well, if you can).

 

[James B]

Yes, dead battery, Hence the time and date.
That accured to me.But the mobo should start, should it not?
As far as flashing the BIOS, I cannot get the Mobo to POST.
They are completely unresponceive to starting the Mobo.
The thought of flashing the BIOS accured to me but once the BIOS is damaged,
how can I flash a dead board?
I will change the batteries in the other two boards before I do anything with them,but how to flash the dead ones.
They might make nice clocks. :haha:
There are no jumpers except for the CMOS.
There is one set of switches but since I can't run any software on the boards to find out exactly what they are, I have no manuals to tell me what the switch settings are for.
All I know is they are Compaq EN series P3 boards. As you know Compaq had so many versions of their Mobos and "NO" markings on the boards.
Is there a way to bypass the Power Switch and get the power supply to fire up the board.
There should be a way to make a jumper on the ATA plug to bypass the Power Switch.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Standard procedures: reseat CPU, memory, any cards, any cables.
If there is a fan on the CPU, does it work when you power up?

 

[James B]

Standard procedures: reseat CPU, memory, any cards, any cables.
If there is a fan on the CPU, does it work when you power up?

Yes I have done all that. Tried differant memory and power supply.
This is a two board issue, not just one board.
I have had to jumper the soft switch on Aopen boards before until the BIOS was changed,but there are no soft switch jumpers on these Compaq boards.
So it is not a jumper issue. It's not a hardware issue. It has to be in the BIOS settings.
There has to be a way to put power to the board working around the Power Switch.
No CPU fan on a 500 MHz. Slot 1.
There is no power up. The power switch will not power the board after WIN XP install.

 

[James B]

Dead battery comes to mind (the little silver round one).
If the mobos are all the same, set the switches identical to one that works.

You may be able to save the BIOS from a working mobo and flash that onto a non-working board (but save that BIOS first as well, if you can).

How do you Flash the BIOS on a "NON" working board?
Replace the chip.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

That's an idea. If those boards are identical, swap BIOS-chips.
If a 'bad' chip goes on a 'good' board, it might boot.
if a 'good' chip goes on a 'bad' board, it might boot.
You do the maths.

 

[James B]

That's an idea. If those boards are identical, swap BIOS-chips.
If a 'bad' chip goes on a 'good' board, it might boot.
if a 'good' chip goes on a 'bad' board, it might boot.
You do the maths.

Yes, that might be one way of flashing the BIOS on the dead motherboards.
I beleave I have some more Compaq motherboards of the same series that are bad. Chances are the BIOS chips are good. :bounce:
I own a business and have not had time to mess with the motherboards again.
But I may have a few hours this weekend.