This Question is Answered
Re: Building a new pc
I was thinking of my normal trick in some of the taller cases of putting the CD/DVD in the bottom bay, but that won't work on your case as the bottom two 5 1/4" bays are internal bays. It also appears that the 3 1/2" internal bays at the bottom as well as the top group of bays have a screwless drive retaining system. The 3 1/2" bays in the middle (I can't tell if they are internal only or not) use screws.
The tech is partly right in that the standard cable is about 24" long. However, longer cables are available. Here is a sample from Newegg. There may be a different solution though. With the CD/DVD in the bottom most external slot, and with the HD in the topmost slot that it will fit into. What are the following measurements:
A. From the MB IDE connector to the back of the CD/DVD?
B. From the back of the HD up to the back of the CD/DVD?
I am trying to figure out if a 36" cable would work ok. Another option is to get a bracket like this would be a better option. While normally used to mount 3 1/2" floppies in a 5 1/4" bay, I have used them in the past to mount 3 1/2" HD in a 5 1/4" bay. (Without removing the case bland and without the floppy bezel attached). I am curious in that you said the HD screws would not fit when the drive was in one of the middle bays. Was it the screws, or that the holes would not line up?
Now you know why we like SATA so much. One cable, one connection. And they come with right angle connectors and in short, medium and long lengths.
The tech is partly right in that the standard cable is about 24" long. However, longer cables are available. Here is a sample from Newegg. There may be a different solution though. With the CD/DVD in the bottom most external slot, and with the HD in the topmost slot that it will fit into. What are the following measurements:
A. From the MB IDE connector to the back of the CD/DVD?
B. From the back of the HD up to the back of the CD/DVD?
I am trying to figure out if a 36" cable would work ok. Another option is to get a bracket like this would be a better option. While normally used to mount 3 1/2" floppies in a 5 1/4" bay, I have used them in the past to mount 3 1/2" HD in a 5 1/4" bay. (Without removing the case bland and without the floppy bezel attached). I am curious in that you said the HD screws would not fit when the drive was in one of the middle bays. Was it the screws, or that the holes would not line up?
Now you know why we like SATA so much. One cable, one connection. And they come with right angle connectors and in short, medium and long lengths.
Re: Building a new pc
Hey, Dumbo74, if my memory serves me correct, you have onboard video. With onboard video you do eliminate the question of bad video card or motherboard. That being said, the very first thing you should get when you power on a system for the first time (I always call it my "smoke" test) is the Motherboard Logo and then comes the Post, then the options across the bottom of the screen.
But you are not getting beyond the power on of the monitor. If you are not seeing the ASUS power-on screen, then you are not getting video, which leads to the conclusion of a dead MB, or a bad Power Supply. Whether you have any devices or not, the MB should go through the check routine and inform you that there is no boot device.
If you have already made arrangements to return the board, then go ahead and do so. If the board fails their inspection they will inform you and send you a replacement. If it passes their test, you will inform you of that and probably send the same board back to you. I have only had one bad mobo in the time I have been building PC's, and fortunately it was not my first. I didn't have the help of the PCW community back then (early 90's). Be as cautious as you can be when removing the CPU, heatsink and fan. Clean the thermal paste off and return them to their original shipping containers (you did keep them right?). Again, do not touch the underside contacts of the CPU.
Remember my friend - adversity builds character. We will get through this, and you will have learned a great deal in the process. In the meantime, have you solved your IDE cable problem, or is that one still out there?
But you are not getting beyond the power on of the monitor. If you are not seeing the ASUS power-on screen, then you are not getting video, which leads to the conclusion of a dead MB, or a bad Power Supply. Whether you have any devices or not, the MB should go through the check routine and inform you that there is no boot device.
If you have already made arrangements to return the board, then go ahead and do so. If the board fails their inspection they will inform you and send you a replacement. If it passes their test, you will inform you of that and probably send the same board back to you. I have only had one bad mobo in the time I have been building PC's, and fortunately it was not my first. I didn't have the help of the PCW community back then (early 90's). Be as cautious as you can be when removing the CPU, heatsink and fan. Clean the thermal paste off and return them to their original shipping containers (you did keep them right?). Again, do not touch the underside contacts of the CPU.
Remember my friend - adversity builds character. We will get through this, and you will have learned a great deal in the process. In the meantime, have you solved your IDE cable problem, or is that one still out there?
QUICK LINKS:
cheap laptops
cell phones
laser printers
HDTV reviews
LCD TV Plasmas
digital cameras
laptop reviews
security antivirus
windows vista reviews
digital camera reviews
inexpensive desktop
LCD wide screen monitors
tech news tech blogs community & forums laptop prices software reviews downloads
tech news tech blogs community & forums laptop prices software reviews downloads
