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Assembled computer, can't get to bios

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Pythagoras

Guest
A friend and I built a computer for another friend last night. I have built 5 computers myself, so I was familiar with the construction. This was however my first Intel MB and processor. We put the whole thing together, everything looked great, pushed the button, it turned on. Looked good. However, the Pentium 4 screen comes up (at the bottom says to hit Tab for post screen or Del for Setup) Tab does nothing, and when I hit delete, it says "Entering startup..." for about 15 seconds before shutting itself off. Whether I push nothing, tab, or del, it always turns itself off after 20 seconds or so. I've never had such an awkward problem. We tried various things.
I tried changing the RAM slot, trying different RAM, checked CMOS battery, all the connections, even disconnecting the heatsink and processor. This thing still isnt running. I need some help as to what might by problem. Even some direction as to what part may be the flaw here. I have a feeling it's something with the motherboard. Here's what's in it:

I865PE Albatron PX865PE/PE PRO
Intel P4 3.0C with stock heatsink
ADATA 512 PC3200 RAM
WD 80GB HDD
Radeon 9600PRO
In a Antec Solution Series case with 350W PS

Any ideas would be helpful. I'm fresh out.
 
I reinstalled the processor and tried it again. If I wait about 7 seconds before I hit tab, then it goes to post screen. It stopped turning itself off, which is a positive sign. However, now it's getting stuck at the end of the post screen. It detects processor, RAM, HD, and CD drive, but it will stop right after this. As before, if I hit delete here, it refuses to go into the bios screen. "Entering setup...", then it freezes there. I reset CMOS data and unhooked the floppy drive just a for couple other ideas. Still not getting there yet, but I'm so close.
(I have XP CD in the CD drive, but it doesnt get to where it boots anything)
 
Hrmm... you know the pins on that processor are supposed to go down right? LoL jk

Try booting it up out of the case with only the bare essentials needed to run. Borrow somone elses processor and try it in there. Try different ram, say a stick out of one of your machines. Try the processor in a different mobo. Narrow down the problem by process of elimination, and then RMA whatever is messing u up.
 
Try removing and reseating the video card and any other peripheral cards.
Also remove and reseat the RAM.

Something as simple as a slightly warped case will do this to you if it doesn't allow the cards to seat all the way into their slots.

Luck.
 
reset the CMOS

remove all connectors

remove as much hardware as possible
 
I tried about everything I could think of. The keyboard I'm using has a USB - PS/2 adaptor, and I was using it. I tried resetting CMOS. I reattached everything. I'm pretty much convinced that the BIOS chip on the board is dead. There's no other logical explaination.
 
Note: I did say LOGICAL explanation. I finally figured out the problem and it was anything but logical. I was about 20 seconds from dissassembling the whole computer and boxing up the motherboard, when I decided to try a couple last ditch efforts. I tried changing the HD jumper from Master, which is where it should be, to Cable select. It worked... The CD-ROM was also on Master, but it was in IDE slot 2, so there shouldnt have been any interference. It may just be something with the hard drive, but yes it finally does work. Thanks for the replies, I'll remember those ideas if I have future problems.
 
try another keyboard, my logitech usb keyboard and mouse dont boot up right away but if i use a ps2 slot it works fine.
 
You mean you _didn't_ already start disconnecting thiings from the mobo?
 
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