Power, No POST, Would Love Critique

[dustman27]

GT5242E
AMD Athlon 64 2.4 GHz 4000+
NVIDIA GeForce 6100 (built in to motherboard)
1 GB (DDR SDRAM)
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Motherboard FIC KTBC51G

This is my first time troubleshooting this kind of issue and I am relatively new to the tech world.

I did my best to research this issue out and hope I didn't miss anything, feel free to offer advice or let me know where I screwed up.

The power is running, fans spin etc..there is no light on the front power button, no video, no bios, no post.

I unplugged the power, hit the power button for 45 seconds, then plugged back in.

I did remove the RAM and put it into another computer, and that computer boots fine with the RAM, I then replaced the RAM.

I verified all connections, reset the CMOS by taking out battery, putting back in, also I moved to the clear side for about 5 mins with the battery in and then out.

I used my multimeter to test voltages of PSU and found the correct voltages are being put out consistently.

I removed all the equipment piece by piece and gutted the whole computer and checked the motherboard for black soot and damaged componets and found everything to be intact at least as far as i could see with my untrained eyes.

I put it all back together and I am pretty sure it is a bad mother board. I think I have done all the tests but before I call my "customer" I thought I'd post here to see if I missed anything.

Also if the mother board is bad is there anyway to use another board that is not an exact replacement or what should be my recommendation?

Thanks!!!!

 

[spehling]

did you diagnose the video card?

 

[dustman27]

hmm

did you diagnose the video card?

I'm not wuite sure how I would do that, there a pci slot of course, but theres not any power connectors to plug into it with another one. But if its no POST and no power light on the power button (normally lights up blue) I figured that shouldnt be aproblem. How should I test the video card on this machine?

 

[spehling]

well, since you already ruled out the ram, <----did you try changing slots if you have them?, your going to have to either buy another video card or take the one you have to a computer place where they can test it. I would actually just take the entire desktop there so you dont run the risk of static discharge, and ruining electrical components. This one is far fetched and I only bring it up because I ran into about 2 weeks ago...Have a look at all your capasitors and verify that none of them are bubbling or leaking black or brown fluid off of the mobo. If this were happening, you may also hear a squeaking from the mobo, just a shot. definately have the video care checked out before you go and throw money around. Hope this helps

 

[dustman27]

vid card

I am going to purchase another PSU that has a power connector and I will insert a working video card later today. I would take it in to a computer place to have it tested but I am supposed to eventually be the computer place for my customers.

So I need to learn to figure this stuff out myself. I did input just one known working piece of ram and tried it individually in each of the 4 slots.

Because the power button light is not coming on, and there is no LED light on the motherboard, and there is no beeps/no post, and the RAM is good, and the PSU is functioning properly (tested with multimeter) I am pretty sure its the M-Board..the 6100 NVIDIA is built into the MB so if it's bad it still relates to the MB

So really the only hope I can think of is to replace the MB, I am wondering if any other MB's can be purchased and substituted for the generic one that came with the computer.

 

[jbearlake]

Try 1 stick of RAM

I'm having a similar problem, but maybe something I found may help.
My rig crashed without warning, no power, no post.
Tries to start, but powers off after 3 seconds.
If I disconnect the ATX12V, stays on, but doesn't post.
I removed all but one stick of ram (out of 4 of 2Gb each)
Now it posts, and I'm using it right now.

no matter what I try, it won't post with more than one stick. Maybe someone here has an answer or suggestion for me, but I was thinking maybe you could try the same thing, to see if it'll post.

I'm thinking MB, but I'm hesitant to give up on it, because it's working right now with the one stick. Any ideas folks?

 

[B00kWyrm]

The power is running, fans spin etc..there is no light on the front power button, no video, no bios, no post.

I had this happen on a machine where the agp video card did not quite align properly with the connections in the agp slot. Cheap card, cheap board.

If you remove everything from the main board... (including ram, pci cards, hard drive...)
do you still get "no post codes"?