HELP spent loads and at my wits end!!

It all started the other day when my computer stinkily blew up.
I assumed it was the PSU and swapped my Antec Smartpower 500 for a brand new Tagan 700.
The computer wouldn't POST -the fans would twitch but that was all.
So I assumed I'd fried the mobo.

SO I replaced my old Asus P5W DH Deluxe + E6600 + 2 x 1 GB 533 DDR2 RAM
with an Asus P5QL-E + Q9550 + 2 x 2 GB 1066 DDR2 RAM

and still the bastard won't POST.
I've tried getting it to POST without Graphics card and without RAM - but still all I get is a moment of power as the fans twitch and then nothing.

Yes I have checked that both the 24 pin and the 8 pin power connectors are connected correctly.
I have tried booting with all fans disconnected too.

What do you reckon I should look atg now?

ORIGINAL: techead

I've seen that happen with EIDE cables for EIDE hard drives or EIDE CD/DVD devices plugged in backwards.

Not in this case.

It won't get to POST even with no drives connected.

So you have replaced the motherboard, and the power supply, and tried various memory and video configurations. Does not leave much except the CPU in the computer itself to cause the problem. Might be worth checking the voltage on the socket the computer is plugged into. If you can borrow a compatible CPU you can try it in the MBs. You have already effectively tried the current CPU in another MB, so that is probably going to be a waste of time unless you have the severe misfortune to have two bad MBs. A short between the motherboard or PS and the ground (case) might cause this. Check the standoffs and make sure there is noting loose in the case that might cause this.

no backup

I feel your pain.

This sounds really expensive. Swapping the logic board might work, but it seems more likely that there is a short if it is shutting down the power supply, and that would more likely be in the spindle motor than on the board.

You might take it in to get an estimate on HD recovery. It's expensive, but if there's nothing physically wrong with the platters, it might not be too bad.

got news for you. you are doing what you should have been doing all along
a new OS drive and a fresh install.

the right way to do it....

is there any way to do this other than a reformat, remove all other drives and start again?

Erm, there are, but you don't want to know - it's certainly not faster.

You might want to change it even if it's a pain, on grounds of some apps preferring C:, even if they shouldn't give a hoot, officially.

It'll only be more work, later on.

I always do some physical excercises during installs (take it into my 'dojo') one of the few things that combine surprisingly well, and don't feel like a total waste of time. Reading a book don't work for me, and ogling the screen all the time is just plain crazy.

I spent last night during the install hunting for driver cds and application keys and stuff like that.

I hear you - took me a whole day a few months back for my main machine that I was dismantling and replacing.

People should check if they don't have all their stuff in one place, maybe - like having the only copies of passwords and registration codes on the same disk as the software - only.

All your eggs in one basket, is the expression, I believe.

Sounds like a bad capacitor.

Corey