V W Wall wrote:
Cyde Weys wrote:

This is not my week when it comes to computers! Argh!

Anyway, my old ECS mobo crapped out for the second time, so I said,
screw this, I'm going with Asus. I bought an Asus A7V8X-X and a stick
of 512MB DDR-RAM, 333Mhz FSB, PC2700. I tried assembling my new
computer, and to put it simply, it doesn't work. As soon as I flip the
power switch (not the circular button on the front of the case, I'm
talking about the 1/0 button on the ATX power supply), the system hums
into action, the fans all turn on, and things start happening. Then, a
few seconds later, the power just abruptly cuts off.

Here are the full hardware specs in case it helps any:
450W ATX PS
2100+ Athlon CPU
512MB PC2700 333Mhz FSB DDR-RAM
Iomega internal 4x/2.4x DVD+RW drive
floppy drive
40GB 5400 HD
56X CD-ROM drive
Radeon 9000 Pro videocard

I tried to keep as many things constant as possible while switching out
the mobo. The only changes I made besides the RAM was plugging in the
speaker/IDE LED/power switch, etc. indicator lights & switches. I
tried, to the best of my ability, to put them in correctly according to
the manual. I don't think that them being in the wrong slots would keep
the whole system from booting - it would just stop those lights from
working, right?

Anyway, I tried taking out all of these little wires except for the
power switch. Still a no-go. Upon flipping the ATX power switch, the
whole system turns ON, which is unusual, because previously this
computer required the switch on the front to be pressed before it
actually turned ON. Could this be the cause of the problem - and anyone
know how to fix it? Thanks in advance for the help.


The power on leads from the MB may be constantly shorted together. This will
cause the "instant on" when you put power to the ATX power supply. The MB
then thinks you're holding the power button on, and shuts down after a few
seconds. Try removing *all* connections from the front panel to the MB.
A momentary short of the "POW-ON" MB connectors should result in a normal
start-up. If this works, replace the leads in pairs, a set at a time.
The MB manual should show the polarity of the front panel lights. If the
LEDs don't lite up when they should, reverse the leads to the MB connector.

It could be a defective power switch on the front panel, but it's more
likely the wrong MB leads were used. Even a LED on the front panel could
look like a *short* to the "POW-ON" connectors at the MB if it were connected
by mistake.

Cross check the MB manual with the actual MB, and look carefully at the
designation on the case front panel leads.

I tried disconnecting all the leads and I still get the same symptoms.
What could cause this computer to think the power button is continually
being depressed, and thus shut down a few seconds after startup?


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