D900K/m7700a bare bones build--can't boot to bios

Hi there. I've just finished installing all the parts for my D900K (Alienware m7700a) bare bones build. When I turn the machine on, however, I get a blank screen: no BIOS. And no way to install the OS. There's a slight clicking/beeping noise that repeats at intervals, the fans come on, and the screen seems to be getting power, as I can see it backlight slightly, but that's it.

I installed an AMD FX-60 cpu and replaced the heat sink using thermal paste; set 1 GB of RAM in place (in the lowest socket); installed a 100 GB SATA HD (unformatted); and a 7950 GTX video card. I doubled checked to make sure everything is seated well, and am now at something of a loss. Most of the hardware is brand new (the chassis and mobo are an eBay barebones kit, but unused), so I don't imagine it's bad hardware (at least I hope not).

I remember reading about needing to "flash the BIOS" when installing this particular video card; could that be part of the problem? If so, how do I remedy it without access to BIOS or the computer not POSting? Is there something else I should try first instead? Any help would be appreciated!

Apologies for being such a newb...

 

I could really use some help with this. Anyone out there? Gophn? Chaz?

 

If there is a beeping, then that could be RAM.

Try to remove the HDD(s) and try to boot up

Do you have any other DDR SO-DIMM to test?

 

Or is it that the D900K doesn't natively recognize the FX-60?

 

I don't have any other RAM to test, unfortunately. It beeps once after I power it on, which really sounds to be the DVD drive, then the fans kick on. I will remove the HD (only have the one right now) and try to boot again.

 

Same problem after removing the HD... definitely no continuous beeping upon powering up.

 

I got that beep before... when one of my RAM sticks went bad. And it would not POST

then i switched out one and booted off the good one... it worked fine.

I recommend to switch RAM slots. And make sure its securely seated.

If that does not work, go borrow someone's DDR SO-DIMM

 

I switched slots, to no avail. I see in the Clevo manual also that if only one stick of RAM is installed it should go in the lower slot, which is where I had it initially. As it turns out I have another stick of RAM that I know works, but its DDR PC2100 266MHZ, not the PC3200 400 MGZ that the d900k takes. Will it still work for testing purposes?

 

I know this is not what you want to hear but I am thinking it is your hardware that is problematic. If you're not seeing a POST screen then that is bad.

Have you tried hooking up an external monitor to see if you get any picture on there?

 

Okay. Replacing the RAM with different SODIMMs has no effect. So, possible CPU or motherboard problem, right? How can I tell which? I don't have another AMD 939 processor to put in and see if it boots; I assume that if I did, and it still wouldn't post that that would leave me with a bad motherboard. I don't have a desktop, so I have no monitor to hook it up to. I'll see if I can rustle up some SVGA cables and try hooking it up to my TV. Any other thoughts as to diagnostics?

 

The easiest way to test this, from what I have been hearing... is to get another SO-DIMM DDR400/333 from anywhere that you know works, and test it in your system.

 

Does that barebones have a warranty? It should if you bought it new.

 

So the SODIMM 266 wouldn't be expected to work then? (That's what I tried before.) And a 333 would? 400s are had to find around here, but 333 can be had down the street at a TigerDirect retail outlet.

The barebones is of eBay, so there's a limited warranty (it's been sitting here for a while while I accumulated the other necessary parts); plus, I purchased a SquareTrade extended warranty with it.

 

the videocard might be causing an issue if the BIOS revision is too old to even recognize it.... but that should not be the case usually... since it should still POST.

But from the beep codes.... that I have experience with my D900K.... (last week in fact)... that sounds to be memory.

I had to go to Kingston's HQ near to me and got a new stick (warranty swap) and booted the system there... worked fine again.

I would also recommend to remove everything that is not essential for it to POST:
- battery
- wi-fi card
- tv tuner
- HDD(s)
- optical drive(s)

So it will come down to:
- CPU
- RAM
- Videocard
- Motherboard

all of those can be test with another component... but the CPU and RAM is the easiest of the 4. If its the videocard or motherboard, you will have a problem testing since those are not standard parts that can be found readily.

 

If I remove everything but the CPU, RAM, video card, and motherboard, then power up the machine... nothing happens. No beeps, no whorls, etc. But, the screen backlights slightly (near the bottom), and the funs kick on automatically and quickly ramp up to full speed. This occurs regardless if whether I put the RAM module in the lower or upper slot.

If I then remove the RAM completely, I get nothing at all. No screen backlighting. Not even any fans running. The power bar at the top of the notebook lights up, then, after several moments flickers, goes off, and then looks to be trying to restart. It continues this loop until I depress the power button fully to turn it off. Shouldn't the notebook be beeping at me in warning at the lack of RAM? (All I hear is the buzzing of the power brick.) Or is this an indication that the RAM, when installed, is fine and working as it should? Is it still worth running out to get a cheap 333 SODIMM to test with?

FYI, the video card is brand new. The motherboard came with the chassis, and the entire package is "refurbished" (all new parts by the looks of them; plastic still on all scratchable parts of the chassis). Could the motherboard be installed incorrectly/incompletely? Could it be the lcd/inverter? I haven't hooked it up to the tv as I would need an s-video to 3-RCA cable, which I don't have, assuming that the notebook would even recognize the s-video out port in its current state.

 

If the BIOS were really old, in addition to the video card problem, it might be the the FX-60 is not being recognized, no? This link on Eurocom's website ( http://www.eurocom.com/support/drivers/bios/d900k_bios.htm) suggests that prior to the second public release of the BIOS, the AMD 64 3500 wouldn't boot, and the FX-60 couldn't be "identified". Any thoughts on this? I can certainly go down the street tonight and pick up a cheap 939 socket CPU (just not the 3500!), in addition to a RAM module, install it and see if it POSTs. Of course, then I'm left with a CPU I no longer need and cannot return. But, it's still cheaper than other options.

 

Yeah, pick up a cheap-o 939 and another stick of RAM. That would be the best way to test. If it does work and you update the BIOS, just sell the older CPU on eBay and say it's only been used once to test a system.

The power supply is buzzing? That doesn't sound like something that should be happening, and if you're not getting good power to the system it won't boot either.

 

If you have a local computer store near you, you can pay them a bit (like $30) to borrow their CPU and RAM and test it.... do it all in the store (so they wont think that you are going to steal it).

 

Wow, you have computer stores like that near you?

If I were to try to do that here, I'd get laughed out of the store.

 

local stores... not the lame Gay Squad or Fried Electronic losers.

I was a lead technician in a local chain called PC Club (parent company to ClubIt.com)

 

I was over a TigerDirect last evening, and the tech there allowed me to swap out a new stick of 333 ram to test in my laptop. No POST. Same thing as before. I'm going to call them up again today when they open, and see if I can do the same with a socket 939 processor, and/or see if they have a socket 939 machine I can swap my processor into. That way I'd know if it were the CPU or motherboard. If I'm unable to do either, I may just buy the cheapo CPU and see if I can POST. If that fails, I likely have a dead motherboard, right?

 

if all of those components are swapped and the system does not POST... then you need to get a refund or exchange.

 

What he said.

 

Well, I obtained another CPU to install for testing purposes (a 64 X2 3800+), but the result was the same as before: a blank screen, no POSTing. I've contacted the company I bought it from and they are looking into getting a new motherboard for me. If they can't find one, I'll be requesting a refund and looking to buy elsewhere.

 

where did you buy the barebone kit?

 

Ebay. So far they've been very communicative, though it may be a while before a replacement board is available. I may have to consider getting a different machine in the meantime.