Dead MB maybe?

[Sabbath]

I bought a Aopen AX5T 2Rev. motherboard. When I installed it and turned it on I received nothing at all on the monitor just a black screen. Here is a list of the trouble shooting I have already tried:

1. I double checked the connections to make sure they were secure.
2. I double checked the jumper settings.
3. I tested the monitor on a different computer (checked out ok).
4. Pulled everything but the video card, ram and processor (still just a blank screen).
5. Changed out the ram.
6. Changed out the video card.
7. Changed processors and jumper settings.
8. Tested power supply voltages.

Even after doing all these things I still receive just a blank screen when I turn the power on. I am leaning towards a dead board but am not sure how to or what checks to make/take to come to a concrete decision about the integrity of the board. The processor is receiving power (it is heating up) when you supply power to the board.

System Specs
Aopen AX5T 2Rev MB
AMD K6 233
3G WD HD
256K PC100
8M PCI Video card
3.5 Floppy
32X CD
NO SOUND CARD
235W power supply (ATX)

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

God Bless http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[gyoung]

Do you have any beeps?

If you don't have any beeps when trying to boot it usually means either a dead MB or CPU.

If you have another CPU try it to see if it is the previous CPU.

[Sabbath]

That's what I was afraid of. No, I don't get any beeps. I switched out the cpu and still didn't get any beeps.

How can you track down what may be causing the board to be bad. I am currently in school studying EET and this seems like it would be a good hands on training lesson for myself. Where would/should I start?

God Bless http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[NDD]

double checked the jumper settings.

Did you try to reset CMOS by moving near-battery jumper to it's second position ? Another way to do so is to remove the battery for couple of hours.
If nothing of it helps, you got bad mobo <IMG SRC="http://www.kamrad.ru/forum/bad.gif" border=0>

Best Regards ...

[Sabbath]

I will try resetting the CMOS tonight.

Give me a quick computer lesson on why I would need to reset the CMOS, or I guess what resetting the CMOS actually does.

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[Gimpcomp]

Resetting the CMOS will set the BIOS to the factory default setting. You can do this by removing the battery for 2 to 5 hours, or setting the clear CMOS jumpers. Here’s a link to your MOBO’s jumper settings. The “clear CMOS” jumper settings are at the bottom of the page.

Jumper Table Summary of AX5T-2 (http://www.aopen.com.tw/tech/jumper/ax5t-2/default.htm)

[vidogame]

When I got my new computer from Dell, the first time it started up I just got a blue Dell screen and nothing happened... I called tech support and they had me take out everything except the video card, ram, etc. and it still just got a blue screen, so they replaced my motherboard and it worked. Your problem sounds like mine except you just have a blank screen, so maybe check your video card on another computer and if that's ok I would guess the motherboard is busted. Also, when my motherboard wasn't working one of the LEDs on the back of my case changed color... if you have LEDs on your case, check them.

[Petro89]

Um, I know this is a bit late, but the answer to your problem is your memory. Well, specifically the size of it. The maximum installable memory for this board is 256MB-IF you're using SIMMS. The maximum is 128 for PC100 DIMMS.

I tried cramming in 2x128 sticks, and had similar problems. I swapped them out for 2x64 sticks and everything is now fine.

So you can only have 128MB, and the biggest size you can have in each slot is 64MB.

Good luck:cool:

[Brangwen]

If Petro's response doesn't pan out, definitely clear the CMOS via jumper blah blah. I spent a few hours working on a box: nothing. Tried all you did: nothing. Cleared CMOS: "Ta-dah!"

Also, same has happened with me when mobo was "touching" case thereby shorting it out. I put mobo on cardboard box, it fired right up.

Good luck.

Brangwen ;)

[sKiT]

if all that fails still and you want to try to trouble-shoot the mobo yourself.....Unless you can aquire a schematic(and know how to read it) from the manufacturer, you will just be chasing your tail really as pc mobos are multilayered PCB. A good visual inspection for solder bridges on ICs and flat pack resistors is about all you will be able to accomplish. Just because there is a spot for a component on the board and its not there, doesnt mean its missing components. Not to mention you would need an O-scope & multimeter. good luck

[MaxVal]

Doubt that this is your problem, but I came across one system with no boot or beeps that had a shorted reset switch!
Cross fingers, remove reset switch plug from MB, then boot!
MAX

[outlaw_revolver]

Try taking the battery out of the mobo. Take the O shaped battery out and wait 10 mins then put it back in. If it still dont work after that is might be dead....

[Sabbath]

Thanks fellas for all the responses. I have gotten rid of that board and replaced it with a gigabite board that is still going strong today. All of your responses where very informative.

God Bless:)