KT7A won't boot

edited August 2003 in Hardware
Hello there,

I am in need of assistance with my KT7A that I've had for years now. I just upgraded my main computer so I thought I'd give my older computer an ugrade by putting a KT7A w/ 1.2 Ghz Tbird in it. Well I got everything installed correctly, reset CMOS, and tried booting it up but I'm getting no signal from the graphics card and there are no beeps to indicate it booted up correctly. It just comes on and hangs. I've tried several graphics cards, reseeted all the connections from the peripherals to the motherboard and still I get nothing.

Help me Icrontic forums, you're my only hope...
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Comments

  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    The KT7A won't boot unless a CPU Fan is plugged into the CPU monitoring outlet.

    One of the 3 pin plugs is for the CPU and one is for PSU Fan - try both
  • edited July 2003
    Yea I remember having that problem before... and I tried both slots. But it's not behaving like that problem did. When I had that problem it would start to come and then just turn itself off. This time everything is coming on and staying on but there are no diagnostic beeps... so I dunno what it means.
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    This may sound wierd but...

    remove the CPU and boot the computer (without the CPU)

    Then replace the CPU and see if the system boots normally.
  • edited July 2003
    Yea did that... they behave the same ways... everything comes on and hangs. It almost leads me to believe that the CPU is busted but I kno it was just working not too long ago. I really don't want to have to find another tbird... ugh.
  • edited July 2003
    Originally posted by Valkyr
    Yea did that... they behave the same ways... everything comes on and hangs. It almost leads me to believe that the CPU is busted but I kno it was just working not too long ago. I really don't want to have to find another tbird... ugh.
    Forget the T-bird and throw in an XP1800. They are cheap, easy to find and run cooler. Got one running just fine in my KT7-R. :)
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    Tbred 1700+ $44 shipped from Newegg. Most of them will do 1.8-2.1ghz @ default voltage. And cranking them up from v1.5- 1.85 is well within the KT7A ability :)
  • edited July 2003
    Wouldn't I have to update the BIOS first before I'm able to use an XP? I'm almost positive the KT7A I have didn't support XP processors...
  • edited July 2003
    Also.. is there any way to test whether or not the Tbird I have is in fact dead before I go purchasing one and finding out that really wasn't the problem?
  • edited July 2003
    Only way to REALLY test it is to put it in a known good board.
  • edited July 2003
    Originally posted by Valkyr
    Wouldn't I have to update the BIOS first before I'm able to use an XP? I'm almost positive the KT7A I have didn't support XP processors...
    No it doesn't have "Official Support", but they work just fine. I don't know if BIOSs have any bearing on the workability or not. As long as you have one of the newer BIOS's you will be in good shape.

    As for the T-Bird, you might try holding down the Insert Key while booting. That will reset the CPU. Failing everything else, try it with the mobo out of the case.
  • edited July 2003
    Could it have something to do with the fact that my PSU is only 300W (160W combied)? Cuz I don't think it's getting enough power...
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    You need a 400w PSU that can deliver 200watts on the 3.3v & 5v rails.

    I recommend the Powmax 400w. I use these PSUs in every computer I build for family, friends & co-workers.
  • edited July 2003
    Twelve bucks? that's redicucheap... you're sure it won't fry out on me within the first year?
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    Originally posted by Valkyr
    Twelve bucks? that's redicucheap... you're sure it won't fry out on me within the first year?

    I just grabbed two Powmax cases that contained the PSLP8800D for $30 bucks each this past Sunday at a computer show.

    Thats $30 for the case AND PSU! case description and pics here

    As I said I use these PSU on every computer I build and sell. And that includes 3 Tbird 1400 systems (75watt CPUs). I also ran a dual 2100+ system for two weeks with this same 400w PSU. I run 600watts in my main systems now.
  • edited July 2003
    Alright man... I trust your judgement... thanks so much for your help Omega!
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    you'll be pleasantly surprised. :)
  • edited July 2003
    really interested to know if the new psu fixes it for ya Valkyr.
  • edited July 2003
    Still didn't fix it... ugh... I guess the mobo is fried or somefin... this is urking me big time...
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    Maybe it's time to consider an upgrade to an NF2 Ultra mobo.

    The Abit NF7-S v2.0 (~$120) is the current champion. And you'll get superior performance even if you run it in single channel mode.
  • edited July 2003
    Well here's the thing, I have nearly 784MB of PC133 RAM... and isn't the NF7-S is a DDR board? Just wondering if my PC133 SDRAM will work in it... I know the 1.2 Ghz Tbird would...
  • edited July 2003
    No because, you see, PC133 is SDRAM but is not DDR SDRAM (this is also true of PC100 and PC66, they are SDRAM but not DDR also). PC1600 is called DDR266, PC2700 is called DDR333, PC3200 is called DDR400.
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    Sdram boards are getting hard to find.

    I recommend the ECS K7S5A Pro as it has 2 SDRam and 2 DDR slots (you can use either or but not both) and supports Athlons up to a 2400+ or 2600+(FSB266 version).

    You can try ebay to find another KT7A
  • edited July 2003
    Valkyr,

    I've got a KT7A-Raid that I would be happy to send you for a nominal sum if you pay shipping just to get it off the shelf. I am in the US and can ship anywhere else in the US. I gaurantee the board and would refund all you paid if it's bad. I apologise for putting this here but I just want to help. dollars and cents can be discussed in a PM or 2.

    S!

    P.S. I have references that I'll send you if you want.
  • edited July 2003
    Here's a Pic:
  • edited July 2003
    Well, For What It's Worth...
    A couple months ago I "retired" my KT7A (it was time for more RAM, and I didn't want to buy the non-DDR that the KT needed - you know the story).
    Oh, so when I looked the KT7A over after removing it, I noticed that SEVERAL of the capacitors were leaking and bulging. There have been stories about this over the past few months. On my board, they were the ones around the RAM sockets. You might want to peek at them (they're the tall round things what would be grain silos if the board was a little city).
    E-mail me if yours are nasty looking and I'll send some suggestions. Or, get a new board.
    By the way, my board seemed to be working ok, but I think I was headed for trouble.
    good luck

    edit: Well, swordsman's offer and board (the post just above this one) look pretty good, and you're familiar with the hardware - maybe that's the way to go! Two of the caps that were leaking on my board are the ones just above the orange sockets in his photo - they look OK on his board.
  • edited August 2003
    First I'd like to thank you all for all your amazing help, without you I'd be completely in the dark.

    Secondly I would just like to make sure that to start a computer and get a some type of boot/cmos screen all you need is CPU, MoBo, PSU, RAM, Vid Card, & Monitor... Is this correct? If so I have concluded that all of the components work except for the motherboard and will need a replacement.

    Swordsman, your offer sounds very enticing, I will PM you for details.
  • edited August 2003
    You are correct about the components needed for a post and visual evidence of same. I await your PM

    S!
  • edited August 2003
    I didn't think the psu would help - I'm rmaing another KT7A at the moment and have gone thru this many times. Test all the parts and ends up being these abit boards from that time period when they had bad formula or just bad production of the capacitors. The way it barely posts or hangs throughout the boot process lets you think it could be some other component but after replacing everything you can be sure it's the board and go ahead with RMA. The RMA might cost you 25 dollars and shipping of board to california but this way you get to use your sdram. Good luck Valkyr.
  • edited August 2003
    I woudl add on some boards, floppy and HD. Some boards lock at post if IDE and\or floppy controller lock and some mobos have issue with no floppy or HD. Even Intel P4 boards will NOT boot or even error beep without a floppy in some series (but are weirdly fine with no HD), and lots of Via boards have this kind of "thing for floppies" also. Plugging either end of a floppy cable in backwards on these baords will cause a no-boot with no beeps.

    Usually, and especially for very very old boards, what you say is right to the exact way you say it, some chipsets need a floppy or HD or both to work. It is a bus controller thing or bridge thing if the bridge does direct bus I\O for floppy and HD, and only happens with some.

    In P4, known, the GBV series and the GE2BV are notorios for this, and soem do not have that feature as it was fixed on some versions with a BIOS update while others needed a bridge chip replacement.

    I know some Viachipset combos need at least one IDE device connected and some need a floppy also in some chip series, so try a floppy next if no boot without and a HD also if still no boot before RMAing mobo or trashing it. But you know it is probably the mobo at this point even without this.
  • edited August 2003
    Valkyr, You do not have a Bad MOTHERBOARD! It only needs 350watts. I build computers as my perfession for Alienware. The problem lies with your CPU, when ever the comptuer hangs no signal its a bad CPU. Replace that and bang it will work. A lot of people mistaken this.
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