Two New Builds, None Will Post

[Ms Mercedes - Trijet Girl]

Perhaps this is a lesson in not getting ahead of myself. As I stated in other threads, I decided to take on two new fun projects. one is an ITX build in an anodized aluminum case in a lovely green, the other is a project in which I make a convertible desktop CPU laptop. I've "completed" both, but have hit a brick wall. Neither wants to post.

 

Specs on the first build:

 

- Raijintek Metis Plus (case).

- Apevia Raptor Series (PSU).

- Core i3-7100.

- Corsair CMV4GX4M1A2133C15 (RAM from supported list)

- ASRock H110M-ITX

- WD Caviar Blue 1TB HDD

- EVGA GTX 750.

- Unknown BIOS version (no sticker on the board)

 

Specs on the second build:

 

- ASRock Deskmini 110W

- ASRock H110M-STX (comes with the case)

- External PSU came with the case.

- Pentium G4400

- BIOS version 7.00 (per the sticker on the board)

- Corsair CMSO4GX4M1A2133C15 (RAM from supported list)

- 500GB HDD from a laptop in the house.

 

For both units, they output out to an Emerson 720P LCD TV via HDMI. The HDMI cable I'm using is the one from my flight sim rig, which coincidentally also uses an ASRock board. I generally don't care for brand, it just so happens that ASRock ended up being the board of choice for each build. 

 

Notes:

 

I set up both units. Wired everything up, inserted my CPUs and their coolers, even attached my fans...Basically everything that would be hooked up to the boards, only not mounted to the cases. No post. The TV did react each time I turned the system on, going from a blank screen to "Not a supported format".

 

So, I started troubleshooting, first with the ITX build in the Metis Plus:

 

- Removed RAM, tried to boot. The board beeped at me.

- Reseated RAM, tried to boot. Nothing.

- Moved RAM to other slot, tried to boot. Nothing.

- I considered that maybe a Kaby Lake cpu was too new for whatever BIOS version it had, so I swapped in the Pentium G4400 (Skylake). Nothing.

- Began disconnecting different parts, starting with the GPU and working my way down to the keyboard and mouse, nothing.

- Swapped in the PSU from my gaming PC, nothing.

- Swapped HDMI ports, no change.

- Moved the HDD to different SATA ports, no post.

 

It is then I discovered that the RAM I had chosen for this build was not on ASRock's compatibility list. Oops. So I overnighted RAM that is on the list. And as you'd expect, nothing. I repeated the process over, just in case. In fact, I rebuilt the whole system over again to make sure I missed nothing.

It was then I also discovered that I forgot to wipe the HDD before swapping it into the new build. So, I wiped it then tried everything over again. And sadly, no post.

 

So, feeling defeated, I decided to try my hand at the Deskmini, SURELY with how dead simple that thing is it would post, right?

Built up the system, and tested...no post. Ruh roh.

 

- Swapped the i3-7100 with the G4400, thinking maybe the sticker lied about the BIOS being 7.00, no post.

- Swapped the RAM slots, no post.

- Connected the HDD to a different SATA slot, no post.

- Tried a different CPU cooler than the custom one I made, no difference.

 

It is here I realized that I had the wrong RAM for this build too. D'oh! Overnighted a new stick. Interestingly enough, with the compatible RAM the board did boot straight into Windows (reminding me that I forgot to wipe that drive too). It completely skipd the BIOS on each boot and went right into Windows. Windows was unstable and I had absolutely no access to the BIOS, so I cleared that drive as I should have done in the first place. That was the last time the Deskmini ever booted.

 

I did eventually notice that my Deskmini didn't come with the wifi module even though the wifi model is the one I ordered, so I sent it back in for a new one. The new one does have the wifi module, but unlike the old one, does not post.

 

I have no idea what's going on here, I have replaced almost every single part on both builds to no luck and I've spent a week trying to get some sort of life out of them outside of spooling up the fans and looking pretty. It seems weird I'd get three bad boards all at the same time. They have compatible RAM, compatible CPUs, and nothing that should stop the boards from posting. The only thing I have not changed about either build is the HDMI output. I don't have a monitor or a VGA cable, but I could get one from Goodwill. But I don't want to waste my time if that's not the issue.

 

Any insight? Anything I've missed?

[Jaxzzzzz]

first off the psu in your first build sounds like a fire hazard id swap that asap
 

also unless you flashed a newer bios on to the 7100 board its not going to take kabylake without an update made with a skylake cpu

[Master Disaster]

Personally I'd start by making sure the monitor works with a known working rig.

[NTDaws]

um unsupported format usually means unsupported resolution. Try using a proper monitor.

[Ms Mercedes - Trijet Girl]

14 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

Personally I'd start by making sure the monitor works with a known working rig.

Forgot to mention that the tv does work with the gaming rig. 

23 minutes ago, Jaxzzzzz said:

first off the psu in your first build sounds like a fire hazard id swap that asap
 

also unless you flashed a newer bios on to the 7100 board its not going to take kabylake without an update made with a skylake cpu

Thanks for that advice, might as well swap it while I still have everything laid out.

 

Supposedly (per ASRock and their forums), if the board has bios version 7.00 or high it should boot the kaby lake. That shouldn't matter in this case though as I swapped the Skylake between both boards. 

 

I'll try getting a real monitor (being cheap doesn't seem to translate well in the pc world lol) and see if that changes anything!

[Jaxzzzzz]

try the first build without gpu using integrated and see if its a bad card

[Blasteque]

3 minutes ago, Ms Mercedes - Trijet Girl said:

 

I'll try getting a real monitor (being cheap doesn't seem to translate well in the pc world lol) and see if that changes anything!

Your monitor works on your other rig and worked briefly on your second new system when the old windows install was coming up, but never showed a BIOS post and stated "unsupported format".  That strongly implies the computers are posting just fine, only that BIOS is outputting a video mode the monitor doesn't support, but windows does. 

 

Just borrowing a monitor will do; once you have windows up and running you can go back to your TV display if you wish.

[Master Disaster]

2 minutes ago, Blasteque said:

Your monitor works on your other rig and worked briefly on your second new system when the old windows install was coming up, but never showed a BIOS post and stated "unsupported format".  That strongly implies the computers are posting just fine, only that BIOS is outputting a video mode the monitor doesn't support, but windows does. 

 

Just borrowing a monitor will do; once you have windows up and running you can go back to your TV display if you wish.

This, modern UEFI systems output in a weird semi hd resolution that older monitors and TVs simply won't display.

 

I've had the exact same issue with an old TV, didn't show bios but worked fine in Windows.

[Ms Mercedes - Trijet Girl]

I like that even more! I'll try that first before investing more in displays.

[Ms Mercedes - Trijet Girl]

7 hours ago, Blasteque said:

Your monitor works on your other rig and worked briefly on your second new system when the old windows install was coming up, but never showed a BIOS post and stated "unsupported format".  That strongly implies the computers are posting just fine, only that BIOS is outputting a video mode the monitor doesn't support, but windows does. 

 

Just borrowing a monitor will do; once you have windows up and running you can go back to your TV display if you wish.

Looks like you hit the nail on the head! Didn’t have anyone to borrow a monitor from, but I got one from Goodwill for a few dollars.

 

Both boards post without issue now. I think the funky resolution of my tv may have been the hang up.

 

This is why I love this place!