Below is a list of common problems experienced while assembling a
PC. Please check the list which could have the possible solution to
your problems.
Problem: The PC does not boot, the power and HDD LED does not come on, there is no display on monitor.
Solution: Check that your main power cable is plugged into the ATX power supply. Make sure you have connected the ATX power connector to the motherboard. Check if the cable for the power switch at front of the PC is connected to the correct pins on the motherboard.
Problem: The power LED comes on but the PC does not boot, there is no display on monitor.
Solution: Check if the processor is firmly into the socket. Check CPU jumpers to verify if CPU frequency is correctly set.
Problem: The PC does not boot, but is beeping.
Solution: Different BIOS manufacturers use various number of beeps to indicate faults with various hardware. In an Award BIOS motherboard you will get following beeps:
1 long 2 short: Graphics card is not securely into place, or faulty.
1 long 3 short: Graphics card is not securely into place, or faulty video memory.
Continuous beeps: No memory, or memory not securely into place, or could be faulty.
Continuous high/low beeps: No CPU, or CPU not securely into place, or could be faulty.
Please refer to your motherboard manual to confirm what the beeps are trying to tell you.
Problem: The PC boots but the CPU speed is incorrect.
Solution: The CPU frequency jumper setting is incorrect. Refer to your motherboard manual to set it correctly.
Problem: The HDD is not being detected by the BIOS.
Solution: Check if you connected the IDE cable to the motherboard correctly, is pin 1 on the IDE cable connected to pin 1 on the IDE sockets on both motherboard connector and HDD connector. Check if the HDD jumper is set to master and any other device sharing the same cable is set to slave.
Problem: I can not access my CD/DVD-ROM in DOS mode, hence can not install Windows.
Solution: CD/DVD-ROM device driver is not installed. Install the manufacturer supplied device driver. If you do not have a device driver disk, you can use the windows boot disk which will provide access to your CD/DVD-ROM, so that you can install Windows.
Problem: The PC does not boot, the power and HDD LED does not come on, there is no display on monitor.
Solution: Check that your main power cable is plugged into the ATX power supply. Make sure you have connected the ATX power connector to the motherboard. Check if the cable for the power switch at front of the PC is connected to the correct pins on the motherboard.
Problem: The power LED comes on but the PC does not boot, there is no display on monitor.
Solution: Check if the processor is firmly into the socket. Check CPU jumpers to verify if CPU frequency is correctly set.
Problem: The PC does not boot, but is beeping.
Solution: Different BIOS manufacturers use various number of beeps to indicate faults with various hardware. In an Award BIOS motherboard you will get following beeps:
1 long 2 short: Graphics card is not securely into place, or faulty.
1 long 3 short: Graphics card is not securely into place, or faulty video memory.
Continuous beeps: No memory, or memory not securely into place, or could be faulty.
Continuous high/low beeps: No CPU, or CPU not securely into place, or could be faulty.
Please refer to your motherboard manual to confirm what the beeps are trying to tell you.
Problem: The PC boots but the CPU speed is incorrect.
Solution: The CPU frequency jumper setting is incorrect. Refer to your motherboard manual to set it correctly.
Problem: The HDD is not being detected by the BIOS.
Solution: Check if you connected the IDE cable to the motherboard correctly, is pin 1 on the IDE cable connected to pin 1 on the IDE sockets on both motherboard connector and HDD connector. Check if the HDD jumper is set to master and any other device sharing the same cable is set to slave.
Problem: I can not access my CD/DVD-ROM in DOS mode, hence can not install Windows.
Solution: CD/DVD-ROM device driver is not installed. Install the manufacturer supplied device driver. If you do not have a device driver disk, you can use the windows boot disk which will provide access to your CD/DVD-ROM, so that you can install Windows.
