Follow up to advise on mobo that wouldn't shut off.

[Callas]

Thanks to everyone (8) that gave advise on mobo that wouldn't shut off or boot up. You were right about holding the switch button until it shut off. This is a great PC case. It's an Enlight 7237. It costs a little more, but it's worth it. All the drives slide in and out with no screws. As for the MOBO not booting, it turned out to be the video card. The help info at the FIC site said to try another video card in case the one I was using was not compatible. It worked! Maybe this info can help someone else. In the meantime... my deepest thanks to everyone that tried to throw me a lifesaver. Peace of Christ to you.

[Joel Kleppinger]

Oh, and one more thing that I don't think was mentioned in the other thread. You can actually fry an ATX motherboard by pulling the power cord or shutting off the power supply. I haven't ever had it happen on the first try, but I've fried 3 boards myself (2 in a row.. my first two ATX boards) because I couldn't get the ATX off to work right (heh) and so I turned off the power supply instead. Less than a day of that and the board was dead.

I also have assisted others that I warned this would happen to and it did indeed happen. So I advise caution when turning off an ATX board with something other than the ATX power switch. Do it a lot, and you're likely to be burying your board out back behind the woodshed.

[KillerBug]

That is stupid, the ATX design should have safe-guards for power outages, a few brown outs and your comp. is a paperweight!

[Callas]

Thanks Joel. I guess I lucked out. It's still working. I've learned to come to Sys Opt for help before I go too far with things I don't understand. Sure would be nice though if they'd warn a guy about these matters. What do the mobo mfg's do when you fry one and send it back for warranty?

[Joel Kleppinger]

Well, I've never lost anything in a PC to power fluctuations, but only when I'm mucking around with it. I can't explain why it happens - my only theory is that the motherboard expects to be in control of the power and when the power supply is shut off itself or unplugged, it's somehow different that a regular power outage. Of course, that's not exactly a technical theory. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

At any rate, I just recommend to people to be careful, and they won't have problems.

Oh, and for the record, I absolutely love ATX. It's a great design and there's nothing I really don't like about it (other than the fact that finding slimline ATX cases is VERY difficult (car mp3 player http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif). If they'd figure out this little problem, it'd make us all happier...