New computer build won't start

[=GG= Mr Moe]

Damit

Well, finally got my backordered video cards in, then installed them in the computer. I double checked everything (connections, etc), put it all together and closed it up. Hooked up mouse, keyboard and monitor and plugged it all in.

Turn it on and all I get is one blue light come on inside the case on the motherboard. Hit the on button on the case and an orange light comes on next to the blue light. Absolutely no other activity on the board, fans, sounds, power supply fans etc. I get nothing on the LED Post Codes indicator (it doesn't display anything)

Open it all up, triple check all my connections etc, repeat process above four times, no luck.

Am I missing something or is it possible something is messed up (bad part) or both? Any suggestions are welcome...

PS: This is my first build from scratch.

Parts Reference:
-------------------

Case:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Motherboard:
EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel
PSU:
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad
CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
Memory:
2 - Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Hard Drives:
HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 HDS721075KLA330 (0A35154) 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
- and -
2 - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KSRTL 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
Optical Drive:
ASUS Black 18X DVD+R etc... 2MB Cache PATA DVD Burner with LightScribe
Video Card:
2 - XFX PVT88PYDF4 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready
Sound Card:
Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty
Case Fan (for side):
Thermaltake A1926 120mm Blue LED Case Fan
Keyboard:
Logitech 967740-0403 Black 104 Normal Keys 8 Function Keys USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard

 

[LogisticEarth]

You said the power supply fan wasn't even going? You mean the fan that's integral to the supply itself? If so that might indicate a problem with the power supply itself.

Usually if something is drastically wrong, your motherboard will emit some sort of code through beeps. If all you're getting is one LED on the board, I'm not sure. Either your power supply is defective, or you've got a problem with the board itself.

Absolutely double check to make sure the main power connector from the power supply to the motherboard is plugged in and has the proper number of pins and such.

 

[BuddyLee]

If it is not the PSU...

Try starting up with 1 stick of memory at a time, then adjust the voltage in BIOS.

Sometimes computers go retarded after configuration changes, is this a completely new build? or have the MoBo and master HD been configured before?

I have the exact same problem with my old ASUS box. I think it is the PSU.

 

[BuddyLee]

Also, you probably did, but... have you connected the 6-pin plugs to your 8800GT's?

 

[SiFi]

Also, some motherboards have an additional four prong power plug that is required. I know you said you checked everything, but on my first build I missed that one.

 

[Nimsky]

More importantly, did you turn on the PSU?

 

[=GG= Mr Moe]

I double checked the number of pins, ok.

I don't need the 4 prong, only the 24 and the 8 prong which were properly plugged in.

Never even get to the bios, only indication anything is happening at all is one or two tiny lights. No psu fans, no drives turning, no post indicators or beeps...

Yes, the psu was turned on

------------------

I found this on the PSU site: http://www.pcpower.com/support/ATX_troubleshoot.htm

I followed the steps and did not even get the fan to run in step 7. It seems as if it is the PSU

 

[User Name]

A mistake I made on my first build was not putting the brass spacers between the motherboard and the case. Mine did the same thing your's is doing.

 

[fiftyone]

If the Psu fan is not turning, there lies the problem !
Unplug every thing from the psu and try running it, on it own, see if the fan turns or not.
In my humble experience.

 

[Sgt.Rock]

If none of those suggestions work, check your power button connections again. I know you said all connections are plugged in right, but I thought the same thing when I built mine, you could't believe the disbelief I had when it wouldn't start when all said and done.

But its the power button cord, its the low voltage looking one, about 6 of em (atleast on mine) and they plug in near the bottom (on mine as well). I plugged mine in sideways instead of up and down.


One more pass, just to make sure

 

[=GG= Mr Moe]

I do have the brass spacers in

The PSU fan does not turn on its own.

As far as power button/reset/hd led, I do have them plugged in vertically as shown in the manual. Now, I do have them plugged in as if the black wire on them is the ground...

 

[Reddog]

Double check the connection to the power button of the case and the mainboard, it's very easy to mess that area up. Also I know it's a pain but double check your spacers and also check the grounding stud.

To me it sound like either your power button is plugged in incorrectly to the mainboard, or you aren't getting a proper grounding with the case.

 

[=GG= Mr Moe]

The grounding stud? Seems fine.

I checked those connections again. The only way they could possibly be wrong were if the the black wire was NOT the ground.

 

[Floyd]

Don't just check your physical connections, be sure and take them off and reseat them.

Try a diff PSU.

Try booting with only the bare essentials. One video card, one stick of memory, one DVD/CD drive, and one H/D. If its still no joy, swap them. You did not mention a mouse. Would it be a Razor by any chance? or some other new gaming mouse? If so, try a generic one from another computer. The idea is to determine if its the M/B or some other peripheral.

If you are using one of the USB connections on the M/B to power a case mounted USB port, try unplugging those. (I had to RMA a board one time when I hooked those up wrong).

If those are SATA DVD's be carefull pluging them in. The connection offsets don't work as well as they should and its fairly easy to reverse the plug on the DVD end. You'll instantly fry the DVD.

My son has the exact same case. Its, nice but a little tight by the drive bays (at least for my fat fingers).


This may not be the case here, but I had a similar problem on my last build (this comp). This case has a slide out M/B tray and a short extension cable connection between the M/B and the power/reset buttons. The cable was not keyed and allowed me to plug it in reveresed. All of the usual connections (speaker, hdd light, power, reset, etc) were on this connection. Asus tech support had me "short" the power pins on the M/B. Voila! It powered up. As this is your first build, I suggest waiting until you're at wits end and have exhausted all other avenues, but then you might take a small bladed screwdriver and complete the connection across the power pins on the M/B.


Its a shame you are having boot problems on your first build. Usually its getting all the peripherals and drivers loaded that are the headache.

Good Luck.

Floyd

 

[SheepDip]

I'm going with everyone else, PSU problem. Got a spare you can hook up to the mobo to check if stuff starts?

 

[Capt.Marion]

Well, if your PSU doesn't run on its own, its a no-brainer. Try it with another PSU. Also, I had a similar situation, but the PSU worked, nothing AT ALL came on the screen. I had fried the motherboard.

 

[=GG= Mr Moe]

Rechecked and reseated all connections and ran the troubleshooting tips from the PSU's website. The failure of the troubleshooting seem to indicate the PSU.

I do have a running PSU in my current computer, but am hesitant to pull it out because of the work required with everything in the current case, so that is out.

Those two lights still bug me though....

 

[fiftyone]

Four screws behind the case and four for the block, disconnecting/connecting to the MB and of you go...

Connection compatibility permitting.

 

[SheepDip]

Pulling out PSUs is very simple, like 51 says, usually 4 screws on the back, then just unplug it from your current board.

 

[Capt.Marion]

If you don't want to pull your PSU, (I don't blame you) just go pick one up from the computer store in light of the fact that you will either use it and return the other one or return the new one...