M2N-SLI Not Posting

I just rebuilt a computer, and the motherboard does not appear to be posting
as there is no beep, and there is also no display. I noticed all the fans
are spinning, including the CPU fan and the video card fan.

Specs:
1. Asus M2N-SLI motherboard
2. WD 320GB SATA300 HD with 16MB Cache
3. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+
4. G-Skill DDR2 800 Dual-Channel 2GB (1GBx2)
5. Samsung SATA DVD recorder with LightScribe
6. NVIDIA 8500GT with 256MB GDDR2 128-bit PCIe x16 (Manufactured by
Biostar)

Here is what I've tried (some were just out of desperation):
1. Disconnecting the optical drives
2. Disconnecting the SATA HD and connecting a PATA HD instead.
3. Removing one stick of RAM. Then, removed the other stick of RAM. Also
tried different slots.
4. Reseating the video card.
5. Moving the video card to the other PCIe slot.
6. Checking and replugging power cables and panel connectors.
7. Clearing the BIOS

....And still nothing.

What is most likely the issue? I'm suspecting either the video card or the
motherboard? Thanks.

"Travis" <nothing DeleteThis @none.com> wrote in message
news:fqtg6j$kpe$1@news.netins.net...
>I just rebuilt a computer, and the motherboard does not appear to be
>posting as there is no beep, and there is also no display. I noticed all
>the fans are spinning, including the CPU fan and the video card fan.
>
> Specs:
> 1. Asus M2N-SLI motherboard
> 2. WD 320GB SATA300 HD with 16MB Cache
> 3. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+
> 4. G-Skill DDR2 800 Dual-Channel 2GB (1GBx2)
> 5. Samsung SATA DVD recorder with LightScribe
> 6. NVIDIA 8500GT with 256MB GDDR2 128-bit PCIe x16 (Manufactured by
> Biostar)
>
> Here is what I've tried (some were just out of desperation):
> 1. Disconnecting the optical drives
> 2. Disconnecting the SATA HD and connecting a PATA HD instead.
> 3. Removing one stick of RAM. Then, removed the other stick of RAM.
> Also tried different slots.
> 4. Reseating the video card.
> 5. Moving the video card to the other PCIe slot.
> 6. Checking and replugging power cables and panel connectors.
> 7. Clearing the BIOS
>
> ...And still nothing.
>
> What is most likely the issue? I'm suspecting either the video card or
> the motherboard? Thanks.
>


Asus help facility can step you through the process. However, not all who
would help you go about it the same way, which can be a problem. I ran
through three M2N SLI mobos before I got one to POST.

I had to get a replacement BIOS from Asus with the latest good release.
(Once I got it working, I had to inch up in the Betas to clear some
problems. One beta upgrade was a bad one and I had to go back one. Also, I
had to get upgrades to Asus and Nvidia software before it worked right.)

I'll try to remember some of the things I did:

1. Remove the mobo and put in on an anti-static mat.
2. Hook up a speaker for the beep. Hook up the power led.
3. If I recall right, you need the CPU for the POST to beep.
4. Remove all memory.
5. Hook up the power supply. Be sure to include the main connector as well
as the separate 4-pin.
6. Don't hook up the video.

You should get 1Long 3Short beeps telling you there is no memory or video.

No beep at all means you have a bad mobo, or you are cheating and left the
board in the case and the board is shorting on your old case mounts. Or,
the PSU isn't working (is the green light on the board lit?).

The beep codes were missing from my mobo user guide. A techie gave these to
me (there are more):
One long continuous with initial pause: Incompatible memory.
Ambulance-type hi-lo: PSU problem. I think my notes say the power light
will blink.
1 Long, 2 Short: No memory. There is something else there but I can't read
it.
1 Long, 3 Short: No video adapter.

I bought a low end CPU to substitute. When I had the dead mobos, I got the
same results. I also got a friend in the business to let me try my CPU on a
good mobo he had. Now I had two known good CPUs.

Don't overlook replacing the BIOS, not just clearing it.

Asus gave me a bad time about my PSU. The problem was that I chose the PSU
because it said "SLI Ready," which apparently meant a low-end nVidia 8800.
Though I replaced it, the techie that gave me that bad time was out of line,
because--like you--I couldn't even get it to post without a video card. The
500W PSU I had should not have prevented it from posting. Anyway, I
upgraded. (My nightmare continued: the upgrade PSU was bad, then I switched
brands and it was also bad, and I finally got a no cost upgrade to a 1000W
which is designed for quad video cards instead of the dual setup of the M2N
SLI.) I could have diagnosed my bad mobo with that 500W. But now I am
sure. I also got a substitute PSU which proved nothing.

When I eventually got it to POST, I got the Asus splash and it froze there.
I new BIOS was necessary. Since you can't POST, you cant flash, so Asus
sends you a new flashed BIOS; you pay freight.

It took four months for me to get a working mobo. That was a year ago. It
is working fine now. It has the features I wanted and it is now a solid
performer. I have the M2N32-SLI with AMD 64 X2 5200+.