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Homebuilt computer trouble

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i built a computer from scratch, but every hard drive i put in it stops working, they don’t respond at all, and i can’t format them either. it starts fine, but it says it can’t find an operating system, and after that, the hard drive no longer works.

can anyone help me figure out what i did wrong? thank you.

P.S: it’s motherboard is out of an hp pavilion. but all the small square connectors came off, so i had put them back on as described on the motherboard.

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Clarifications

In reply to Homebuilt computer trouble

Clarifications

RE: [i]but all the small square connectors came off

In reply to Homebuilt computer trouble

What Small Square Connectors?

What you are describing is a improper Voltage going to the HDD and burning them out maybe.

The Power leads should have 2 Black a Red and a Yellow lead going to them unless you have a SATA Connector in which case it then has more.

But the Black are Neutral the Yellow is + 12 V Dc and the Red is +5 V DC.

If you are feeding 12 V DC to the 5 V Connectors that will kill a HDD but there shouldn’t be anything else that will.

What type of Power Supply are you using here?

Col

RE: but all the small square connectors came off

In reply to RE: [i]but all the small square connectors came off

the small connectors i’m talking about are the ones that connect certain pins on the circuit board, also the ones that determine wether or not your hard drive is a master drive or a slave drive. the power box i’m using says “115” on the red switch, and the connectors are the white ones, i’m not sure if they are sata or not but they only have four pins that distribute power to stuff like the disk drives and hdds.

here is what the power box says:
Brand: BESTEC
Model: ATX-250-12E Rev: P7
Input: 100-127V~6A, 200-240V~3A 60/50Hz
Output: +12V/13A, -5V/0.3A
250W Max +5V/25A, -12V/0.8A
+3.3V/20A, +5VSB/2A
+5V&+3.3V 150W MAX
Total current from +5V&+3.3V shall not exceed 27A.
Total current from +5V&+-12V shall not exceed 1.2A.

S/N: 129074-03080423506

the burn in, hi-pot, and test are all labelled “ok”

please help figure out what is wrong, but if it helps, when power is plugged into the power box, it makes an annoying clicking/popping noise.

RE: but all the small square connectors came off

In reply to RE: but all the small square connectors came off

Ok, there are a couple of issues here…

The “small square connectors” as you describe “connect certain pins on the circuit board”, and “determine master drive or a slave drive” are called Jumpers. Improperly placing them on the motherboard (you called it a circuit board) can and will cause issues.

Your power supply is a 250watt (Output: 250W Max) and that sound it makes is very bad. It needs to be replaced.

Did you try using the Hard Drives in another computer?

RE: but all the small square connectors came off

In reply to RE: but all the small square connectors came off

yes. i did. they worked in other computers, but when i put them in this one, they stopped. i already found a new power box. i’m pretty sure the jumpers are on right, placement is labelled right on the motherboard. but the popping power box, is the now only good part the fan? i put in a 110 watt power box, is that okay? or do i need to put in my 350 watt power box?

but is the power box what was causing all these problems?

RE: [i]or do i need to put in my 350 watt power box?

In reply to RE: but all the small square connectors came off

I would go with the 350W Power Supply if not something bigger. 😉

As for the fan well it depends if it works they it’s OK to use but you do need to know that if you mess things up when you connect it to a Working Power Supply you run the risk of destroying the Power Supply. Most PS Fans are soldered tot he Circuit Board in the Power Supply and Do Not have connectors on them so you need to solder them to a suitable plug.

Col

RE: or do i need to put in my 350 watt power box?

In reply to RE: [i]or do i need to put in my 350 watt power box?

yeah, i figured i’d have to do some soldering, and the fan works fine, probably the only part in the power box that did.

OK then as stated previously

In reply to RE: but all the small square connectors came off

Those are Jumpers used to set the M’Boards settings. Though I’m lost when it comes to the Jumpers disappearing off the HDD’s as they are something completely different. Sounds as if someone removed the jumpers deliberately.

As for the Power Supply it’s shot and needs replacing. These are Switch Mode Power Supplies and if they are making any noise the Electronics inside them are on the way out at the very least they will not be supplying Clean Filtered Power at the right voltages and current.

Also as it’s a 250 W Peek Value Power Supply that means that it can only produce 250W for short periods of time and then needs to fall back to a lower Power Output till the Electronics inside it cool down and and for a short time be overloaded again.

If you need to use a No Name Power Supply use one with at least 500W Capacity or if you can afford one something like a Antec 350 W Earth Works will do the same job but the Antec can produce the rated 350W 100% of the time without any problems.

As for the HDD’s provided that the wires where not pulled out of the White Plugs there should be no problems there but to double check try using them in a different computer or open the BIOS and see if they are being shown there.

Also you can test these with their Makers testing Utility to see if they are functional You can get the Makers Testing Utility from this Web Site just click on the Makers Name and you’ll be prompted where you want to save the downloaded file. 😉

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

Col

here is what went wrong

In reply to Homebuilt computer trouble

first of all the connecters for your hard disk
to your motherboard should be properly installed by a technician.

Second of all your hard disk is most likely burnt out.
Get your power supply unit checked out make sure its in good working condition.
your hard disk most likely took on too much voltage which most likely damaged its main board or boot sector.

You have to have your pc checked out by a technician ASAP.
do all of the above and get back to me as soon as you know what happened to your pc.

RE: here is what went wrong

In reply to here is what went wrong

does it cost money to get it checked out by a technician?

Does/Will it cost money

In reply to RE: here is what went wrong

in replacing parts if you dont?

shouldnt cost

In reply to RE: here is what went wrong

a check on your hard ware should not cost you alot.
you just the tell the maintenance engineer to check your hard ware.
he must i repeat he must come back with a reply as to the cost of any replacements of adjustments or repairs.

but getting it checked should only a simple check up fee.

But I repeat ask him to tell you about the cost of any repairs or replacements.
it is youe decision what do to about the end result.

if u need any thing else dont hesitate to email me

“Small square connectors”?

In reply to Homebuilt computer trouble

Could you put in more detail on what these are?
Are they the cables that run from the front of your computer, like the on and off switch?

small connectors are called…

In reply to “Small square connectors”?

jumpers. thats what i’ve been told. when i posted the message, i had forgotten what they were called, so i described them, hoping i described them well enough. but apparently i had not described them good enough.

Start with the Basics

In reply to small connectors are called…

What you should do is first check your CMOS on bootup and make sure the hard drive settings are set to automatic. This tells the motherboard to detect the installed hard drives,if you are not sure how to get into the CMOS or even what the CMOS is talk to one of your friends who knows about the CMOS or ask the local computer shop technician.

RE: Start with the Basics

In reply to Start with the Basics

okay, so then after the new power box, i have to make sure the settings are set to automatic, then my computer should work, right?

Hard Drives Bad?

In reply to Homebuilt computer trouble

I have a hunch that if this is indeed the case, you may not have a properly vented case, or otherwise may be putting it in a spot where there is little/no ventilation. I have a Compaq at home that blew a hard drive every month until I moved it away from my desk. Turns out the desk wall was blocking air from getting to the hard drive.

Just a thought.

RE: Hard Drives Bad?

In reply to Hard Drives Bad?

i’ve considered that, but i put in a new power box, and i have the computer well ventilated, but it still kills hard drives! currently, it has killed 3 hard drives, good thing the last one was only 2GB, or i’d be really mad. i’m beginning to think the motherboard is bad, cause everything else is new.

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