Completed build but having problems

[PkL728]

Ok so I finally got everything together. I turned it on and all of the lights and fans and etc. came on, but nothing on my screen. So I thought, hmmmmm I'll just try this again. I power it down, and power it back on. Post screen comes up... looks like it's showing the correct specs... So I start installing Windows Vista 32-bit (student edition). Everything is going well. After the first restart during the Vista installation, my computer wasn't doing anything. So I powered it down and powered it back up. My keyboard and mouse (both USB) are no longer functioning, I hear no beeps, and it's stuck at the POST screen where you select delete for setup and such. I got tired and went to bed because it was already 2 am and I work at 8. So when I got up I tried it again, it did pretty much the same thing this time except I heard one long beep that kept repeating. So.... any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[gvblake22]

Which specific model of eVGA 680i motherboard do you have? Does it have the little LED code indicators?

Right off the bat, it sounds like either a video card issue or a memory issue. I would try reseating the video card first. If that doesn't solve the problem, remove both sticks of RAM and then insert one into the first slot on channel A (usually the slot closest to the CPU). Then, whether that works or not, remove that stick and try the second stick in the same slot. Let us know what you find...

[PkL728]

Yea it is the one with the little led code indicators. I updated my sig with correct info now I think. Ok.. I'll try messing with those 2 when I'm on my lunch break.

[gvblake22]

What do the LED code indicators say when you get the POST error? Check Appendix A (pages 112 - 118) of your motherboard's manual for a listing of what the LED POST codes mean, this will help you with the troubleshooting process.

[PkL728]

I'll go check them out during my lunch break and report the results

[Hitman]

Double check that all of your components are installed properly and securely. Pay close attention to your CPU, Memory Video card and power connections. Sounds like you have a bad/loose connection somewhere causing the windows install to lock up.

[PkL728]

Ok so I found the culprit i think.... The little LED display was reading C1 when it stopped working, which the manual described as "base memory" or something. So I took out all the sticks but one, when that didn't work i tried another one... and low and behold, it works! Do you think I'll have to send back both sticks of memory even though only one is not working? Also... for some reason my other fan on my GeminII is not working. It starts spinning when the computer first start up, but then it eventually stops when it gets past the POST stuff. Any ideas? Plug the fan in to a different spot? I'm at work again, which is the only reason I ask.

[Stormcrow]

If you bought the RAM as part of a Dual Channel pack, unfortunately you'll have to send both sticks back as part of the RMA process. Try calling Wintec to see if they'll only take back one or need both. I know Newegg has to have both sticks.
As for the fan, is it plugged into a fan plug on the motherboard or directly into the PSU? If on the motherboard, your temps may be low enough that the motherboard is shutting off the fan for brief amounts of time.

[PkL728]

Oh really? Yea my fan is connected to the mobo... I didn't even think about that. Doh. I was wondering what could possibly cause it to do that since it starts up and then stops. I'll be very happy if it's just because it is so cool =D

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by PkL728

Ok so I found the culprit i think.... The little LED display was reading C1 when it stopped working, which the manual described as "base memory" or something. So I took out all the sticks but one, when that didn't work i tried another one... and low and behold, it works! Do you think I'll have to send back both sticks of memory even though only one is not working?

How many sticks of RAM do you have? Is it a single 2 x 2GB dual channel kit or do you have four 1GB sticks?
Stormcrow is correct, you will need to return all parts of the product in order to get a replacement.

Originally Posted by PkL728

Also... for some reason my other fan on my GeminII is not working. It starts spinning when the computer first start up, but then it eventually stops when it gets past the POST stuff. Any ideas? Plug the fan in to a different spot? I'm at work again, which is the only reason I ask.

Seeing as you said it is connected to the motherboard, the BIOS is likely reading the temperature of the processor as being low enough to shut the fans off in an effort to keep noise levels down. While this may seem like a nice feature, it always scares me that the BIOS temperature readings have complete control over the fans because if the BIOS temperature reading is inaccurate, it could cause your system to overheat. That's why I prefer to either connect the fans directly to the power supply or disable any automatic fan speed adjustment options in the BIOS so it leaves the fan on full speed all the time. Then if you want to adjust the speed of the fan based on your own knowledge and measurements of the computer's temperatures, you can get an external fan controller of some kind and manually adjust the speed of the fans. I just never liked the idea of the BIOS shutting off the processor fan whenever it wanted...