Note-To-Self: Check Every Part For Failure
I spent a good 2 hours last night, and then I spend another 2 hours again today, debugging a new PC assembly. It wasn't the first PC I assembled this week, and I used the exact same parts as the earlier unit (ASRock GF6100+nF410 S754, S754 Sempron 64 2800+). But every time I powered on the system, it just hung at the POST (power on self test) after announcing memory.
I scratched my head. I unplugged what I thought was everything -- floppy, DVD, header cables, etc... I eventually even re-cannibalized the first assembly to test with a different memory and power supply -- the two biggest offenders. I even threw a 500W ATX 2.0 PS at it. Nothing worked. So then I cannibalized the first system's CPU. Still no go. I literally tried every combination I could think of. So I finally concluded it had to be the mainboard.
Well, I went out to a local PC shop, something I don't like to do given the prices versus mail order. But this was a gift that I needed to finish by tonight, as I'm going to be out-of-town starting the 21st. Luckily I found a really good deal on a S939 Athlon 64 3000+, and a so-so price on a matching Gigabyte S939 GF6100+nF430 mainboard.
So with a completely mainboard+CPU combination, I reassembled and still got the exact same result! What was hanging the system at POST? I mean, it powered up! It started everything. But just hung there -- just like before! What the devil was wrong?
Well, I really looked at the board, and started removing every single header I could find -- even LEDs. Bam! It fully POST'd and responded to the keyboard. So then I went back, one by one, and finally found the culprit.
The simple USB 2.0 header from a Mitsumi F404 Floppy+8-in-1 card reader. A damn $20 part caused me to run out and buy another mainboard+CPU on-the-spot. Damn me for not considering that little USB header -- I just never realized it could totally halt the POST.
So I cannabalized yet another system where I had a Mitsumi F404 in use and replaced it. Sure enough, no more problems. Damn, I had avoided yanking any cables on the Mitsumi F404 because it was hard to get to, and had stupidly concluded that a single USB 2.0 header could not bring down the system. Boy was that a poor assumption!
I would be lying if I said I didn't mind USB -- I absolutely hate it from its ultra-simplistic and system-crippling design. There is no reason a header should hold up the system POST, but guess what? It very well can! It wasn't a polarity or other issue, I had the cable alignment correct. The actual, defective end-device -- an 8-in-1 card reader, attached to the USB header was the culprit -- it literally hung the system entirely at the POST!
Just FYI -- don't be assuming like I was (I know most of you aren't). This one really bites.
I scratched my head. I unplugged what I thought was everything -- floppy, DVD, header cables, etc... I eventually even re-cannibalized the first assembly to test with a different memory and power supply -- the two biggest offenders. I even threw a 500W ATX 2.0 PS at it. Nothing worked. So then I cannibalized the first system's CPU. Still no go. I literally tried every combination I could think of. So I finally concluded it had to be the mainboard.
Well, I went out to a local PC shop, something I don't like to do given the prices versus mail order. But this was a gift that I needed to finish by tonight, as I'm going to be out-of-town starting the 21st. Luckily I found a really good deal on a S939 Athlon 64 3000+, and a so-so price on a matching Gigabyte S939 GF6100+nF430 mainboard.
So with a completely mainboard+CPU combination, I reassembled and still got the exact same result! What was hanging the system at POST? I mean, it powered up! It started everything. But just hung there -- just like before! What the devil was wrong?
Well, I really looked at the board, and started removing every single header I could find -- even LEDs. Bam! It fully POST'd and responded to the keyboard. So then I went back, one by one, and finally found the culprit.
The simple USB 2.0 header from a Mitsumi F404 Floppy+8-in-1 card reader. A damn $20 part caused me to run out and buy another mainboard+CPU on-the-spot. Damn me for not considering that little USB header -- I just never realized it could totally halt the POST.
So I cannabalized yet another system where I had a Mitsumi F404 in use and replaced it. Sure enough, no more problems. Damn, I had avoided yanking any cables on the Mitsumi F404 because it was hard to get to, and had stupidly concluded that a single USB 2.0 header could not bring down the system. Boy was that a poor assumption!
I would be lying if I said I didn't mind USB -- I absolutely hate it from its ultra-simplistic and system-crippling design. There is no reason a header should hold up the system POST, but guess what? It very well can! It wasn't a polarity or other issue, I had the cable alignment correct. The actual, defective end-device -- an 8-in-1 card reader, attached to the USB header was the culprit -- it literally hung the system entirely at the POST!
Just FYI -- don't be assuming like I was (I know most of you aren't). This one really bites.
1 comments:
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