Build an HTPC by The Geek

Author:The Geek [Geek, The]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-06-24T22:00:00+00:00

Testing The PC

The first step in testing the PC is to power it on and see if it will post (power-on selftest). If you recall, we only installed those components which are absolutely required in order to get the power to come on. No drives have been installed at this point. Let’s review what is

absolutely necessary.

• The mainboard has to have the correct power cables attached.

• The case connectors have to be connected to the mainboard.

• The processor and heat sink have to be installed.

• Memory has to be installed.

• Either install a video card or use built-in video.

Connect a mouse, keyboard and monitor to the case. These are clearly labeled on the back of the PC on the I/O shield where all of the ports are located. Make sure AC adapters are connected to both the PC power supply and the monitor. Power the monitor on. A small light should appear on the front of the monitor indicating power. Press the power button on the front of the PC. What happens?

If you don’t see any smoke, things are looking good. Do you hear any beeps? Does an image appear on the monitor? Is the power supply fan and the processor fan spinning? If the board powers on but the processor fan is not spinning, power it off immediately as this could damage the CPU! Look for power on LEDs somewhere on the mainboard. Few today come without an LED to indicate a power-on state.

You should see the PC post on the screen. If nothing happens, quickly power the PC off, unplug it and check all your connections again. Verify that if the power supply has an on/off toggle switch, it’s in the on position, usually indicated by a small I - O is the off position. Check your case connectors once again and make sure they are properly connected to the mainboard.

If the PC didn’t post, did you hear any beep codes? These will typically tell you where the problem lies. Check your manual to determine which vendor makes the BIOS for your mainboard. Several common vendors include Phoenix, Award, and AMI. Here is a website you can check for specific beep codes and their meaning:

http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm If you do get beep codes, often all it takes to resolve the problem is to remove and reseat the ofending component. If you are troubleshooting issues with memory and have multiple sticks, remove all but one or two. If you have onboard video, remove any

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