New M/B, Unable to Post.. help needed

[Teddy Rocky]

hi there,

 

just got my UT 250Gb motherboard and got stuck trying to get it to boot

 

i took the board out of my casing, tried to determine the problem by adding only the necessary components to run it

1. Initially just with PSU, CPU + HSF, 1 stick of Ram on slot 1 or 3 (tried both, no joy), ps/2 keyboard, mouse, no VGA card ---> no beeps at all, Power LED flashes intermittently

2. Added VGA card on AGP slot, same result ---> no beeps at all, Power LED flashes intermittently

 

i did the CMOS reset procedure uncountable times as recommended in the Sticky eg remove power, remove battery, reset CMOS jumper ( i waited for periods more than 1 hour before putting the jumper back to normal position and did this a few times) replace battery, add power.

 

i changed to a different PSU, same result. Both red LEDs would light up, fans work normally, CPU HSF and NB would feel warm to touch to indicate that they are functioning.

 

i also changed to a different AGP card that has been tested to be working in my other rig, but the monitor still stays blank on powering up.

 

i dismantled the XP-120 HSF, tried with the stock A64 HSF, still no joy.. looked around the board and i didn't notice any visible damage to caps, no shortage marks etc.

 

i am just curious as to why they aren't any post beep sounds, although i attached a working mini-pc speaker. Only thing i haven't tried is using a different ram, as i only have a brand new Mushkin P3200 2-2-2 Special matched pair (2 X 512mb) that i bought together with this m/b. I tried both of them, using only one at a time on either slot 1 or 3.

 

i am really stumped on what to do next.. should i rma this board? i would greatly appreciate any help or recommendations here, thanks!

[e268]

Did you try to go into bios by depressing the key, as soon as you turn the power on?

[Teddy Rocky]

the screen remains blank on power up and i know it's not a graphic card problem bcoz i used 2 different AGP cards that was tested to be working on my other rig. ( i made sure all the connections to the card was correct, power & monitor connections)

 

yes, i have tried pressing 'Insert' as well as 'Del' key as i power up ( i just kept pounding on them, lol) but still no joy

[e268]

There was another poster here that has problem cold booting, it might be a dead battery. It's worth a try if you have one or take it out and measure the voltage.

[Teddy Rocky]

just checked the battery on the voltmeter, readings are ok.. i replaced with a new CR2032 battery just to be sure..

 

same, screen still remains blank, both led lights come on but no post beeps, which i feel is kinda weird.. maybe the board is really dead :confused:

 

 

:sigh:

[strife]

man, i also had lotsa problems with my NF3, though i managed to install WinXP and all, but i still cant shut the com down properly!

 

Weird huh, you cant power it up, and here i am, unable to shut it down even after Start->turn Off. i have to switch off the main PSU supply to shut it down. Strange huh....:confused:

[Popcicle]

Here's my take.....

 

Wish you had a stick of 'ol plain vanilla memory of some

kind that you could plug in to get Sista to post for that

first trip.

 

There's been cases with the original BIOS where a guy

had to use the "3 Trip" method to get Sista to boot.

Power up and power down 3 times. On that 3d one....

let it set for a few and Sista would POST.

 

One thing I've noticed.... after changing out some RAM

( doing testing etc ) the first boot after changing will take

what seems like a long time to give me that first screen.

From then on it's quick. This is caused by BIOS making its

adjustments if I have a lot of stuff set at AUTO in there.

 

Man you have eliminated every thing but memory with your

excellent troubleshooting! And the Mboard of course.

 

I don't know how much you want to keep this particular

Mboard and not go thru the hassle of RMA but if I were

wearing your Nike's here's what I'd do.... if possible I'd

hot flash that BIOS chip with another NF2 or NF3 board

and go from there. Belive me, I realize the end user should

not have to do this. But I'm stubborn and this is just me. I

don't post this as a blanket statement but I feel like you

have been around some and know what you are doing.

And I'm going to get some flames for even bringing up the

subject. I guess it all depends on what a guy's frustration

level is.

 

With the AWARD type BIOS system now days the beep

codes are almost a thing of the past. One long one for

either Video or Memory is about it. You are getting nada

so BIOS isn't playing the game somewhere.

 

When I put my first Infinity together it took me a while to

figure that one out. There isn't a beep code for for the

successful power-up/POST.

 

 

Good Luck.

 

 

Pops.

[RGone]

:angel: me man>>>we do NOT flame in the forums. Hehehehee. You by and large over extended periods of being a helper, always tend to interject sanity into a paniced thread and as such I both thank and congratulate you sir.

 

You are now returned to your regularly scheduled programming.

 

Sincerely, RGone...:cool:

[RGone]

...my guess is in this order for your problem.

 

1. Memory incompatible for some wierd@ss reason.

 

2. Power Supply & make sure you have the P4-like connector hooked up.

 

3. Motherboard.

 

So if you are tired and out of resources as I know you tried another powersupply but it is not that the power supply does not work that is the cause to change it but "how" it works that is problematic.

 

Like "Pops" said the one different kind of stick altogether is a good thing to try. You don't have it? RMA the board and quit fooling around. Contact where purchased and get the ball rolling. The next one may not have this same sensitivity in it.

 

@strife........I have only seen your problem due to a bad bios flash and hence minor corruption or setting in windows is off because the chipset drivers were not all loaded correctly or are corrupted.

 

Sincerely, RGone...

[Popcicle]

I drank some more coffee and read your post 3 more times

slowly.

 

There is one thing that is bothering me about your Sista.

And that is.... the power LED is flashing intermittenly.

 

So I took a deep breath and thought about this one. Gives

me a bad feeling.

 

Can you box Sista up and send 'er back?

 

 

Pops.

[Teddy Rocky]

Thanks for all your replies, i really appreciate all your thoughts and inputs here..

 

i was close to losing my sanity on this board but maybe what Pops & RGone said is right, maybe i should just pack it up and send her back..

 

i wish i had another stick of RAM but i think i would rather leave that to the guys @DFI. I am too stressed out already. I tried very hard to get this one working to avoid the hassle of RMA but maybe returning it may just be the best option afterall.

 

I just hope to get it back soon and one with less problems. Thanks again for your replies, this forum is so much better with you guys around.. Cheers!

 

 

TRocky

[strife]

Originally posted by RGone

 

@strife........I have only seen your problem due to a bad bios flash and hence minor corruption or setting in windows is off because the chipset drivers were not all loaded correctly or are corrupted.

 

Sincerely, RGone... [/b]

 

Hey i reinstalled the chipset drivers and the problem is fixed. The DFI board works like a rock now. Thanks RGone.

 

But i still have problems with no-joy on SATA 3. Maybe i really really have to do a fresh reinstall of WInXP to solve this one?