Dead computer: help needed

[fluffymark]

Not having a good week. I have the most expensive jigsaw in the world. But I want it to be a computer. Help! *eeep*

I've spent the last week trying to work out why Stringray (favoured name at the moment, but seems to change every day) refuses to start. Part of my job is putting together computers but I've never had a failure on this scale, so now I'm asking for some advice.

The Symptoms

Motherboard powers on (power light turns on) when PSU switch pressed.
Fans start and LEDs light up when front of case button pressed.

Nothing else. Nothing on monitor. No beeps from beeper (later added when as the case didn't have its own speaker). Not useful for a diagnosis, admittedly. *sigh*

Assuming it was a memory problem (which would cause the above symptoms), I've spent lots *more* money and have tried three different brands of memory now with no success. And so, before I spend more money, I need to decide which next bit to replace. Or if theres anything else I could try and make my computer work. Any suggesting more than welcome! *hopefulsmile*

To add to my poutiness, Trowbridge supposedly sent me a *second* batch of tickets last friday and theres no sign of those either. Am absolutely fed up with the universe at the moment. *pout*

Comments

[razornet.livejournal.com]

Abit board?

Whatever make it is try pushing the RAM in really quite hard, supporting the MB from underneath.

You may be pleasantly surprised.

[fluffymark]

Asus P4S800

I'll try pusing the RAM in more firmly, just in case.

[snow-leopard.livejournal.com]

I asked at work for you and here is the coversation:
Catt**: Mark (housemate) is building a new computer and despite the fact he is usually pretty good at it this one has him stumped!
Catt**: The Symptoms:
Motherboard powers on (power light turns on) when PSU switch pressed.
Fans start and LEDs light up when front of case button pressed.
Nothing else. Nothing on monitor. No beeps from beeper
Assuming it was a memory problem (which would cause the above symptoms), he bought and tried three different brands of memory now with no success.
Catt**: Ideas?
ICGB: :-) i have the same problem with my PC at home at the moment
ICGB: uncanny
ICGB: it could be the powerswitch, thats my next thing to swap out
Catt**: But if its all powering up?
ICGB: it could be the PSU too
Catt**: I think that was Mark's next guess
ICGB: but its not, it looks like it but its not
ICGB: unfortunately my PSU was £100 and i don't want to buy another
Catt**: eeek.
ICGB: i could bring mine into work and try my PSU in another machine, but i don't have the time
ICGB: the reason i suspect its the power switch is because i stripped the PC down and rebuilt it and it worked again, but all the wires were hanging out the side of the case
ICGB: but when i put the LED's and switches back in their homes in the case it didn;t work. So i suspect the switch
Catt**: hmm. Cheaper to replace than the PSU if it is that!
ICGB: true, i'm gonna try and nick one out of another PC, they all have the same connectors to the motherboard, don't care if it has to hang out the side of the case

Is that any help? Anything else you want me to ask?

[fluffymark]

Given that everything is powering on fine, and the power switch works, I really doubt it can possibly be a problem with the power switch and PSU - in fact those are the only 2 things I know that certainly work!

PSUs are not £100!! Usually a small fraction of that, at we have a large unwanted collection of them here at work.

Am still stumped.

[snow-leopard.livejournal.com]

Hmm, okay, not much help then (it was first thing this morning so he was probably still drunk). Shall see if I can get anything more useful out of him this afternoon.