Recently tried to set up a new computer for server. Couldn't get hard drives to boot, so I took one hard drive and put it in current running computer. To cut to the chase, I made a mistake and put the hard drive in while the system was running. Low and behold when I turn my computer on now, the monitor has no reaction as to the bios loading or anything. I've taken out the RAM and CMOS battery, as well as disconnected all hardware not necessary to run the system. Nothing seems to work. I've been told by a buddy I could have fried the motherboard, but I didn't like that answer. Any Help?

I notice that you took out the CMOS battery, but that is not advisable unless the battery is surely dead. Did you ever clear CMOS? Try to clear CMOS with your computer unplugged and see if that helps. *Find the CMOS jumper, change it to the "short" position for 3-5 seconds, and change back to "open". Then reboot.* If that doesn't work, make sure that everything is plugged into the correct slots. Do you have an onboard video card or a AGP/PCI express card? Have you tried the monitor with another computer to rule out the possibility that the monitor is dead? I would advise installing any computer peripherals while the computer is plugged up and turned on. I can see where this could have fried your hard drive and maybe even damaged your motherboard, but it shouldn't cause your monitor not to work. Try these things and let me know.. Raymond Mackie Technical Support Mgr. rmackie@microtailors.com www.microtailors.com "Custom computers and prices tailored to fit you"

I tried clearing the CMOS, with no luck. The only jumper on the board was right next to the battery, with three pins. So I swapped from the 1 & 2 to 2 & 3, then back after clearning and no luck. Just doesn't seem like hard drive is getting anything as if it was trying to boot up. But still I know the monitor works cause when I unplugged it and plugged it back in it displayed the Dell logo, then went to standby mode where the light goes from green to orange. By the way it is an onboard video card. 1 stick 256 ram, 60Gb hard drive, 2 IDE ports on m/board but neither work for hard drive. Hmmm I usually know what I'm doing but I think this one is in the books for me.

Have you made sure that everything is properly connected to the board? (Ram, drive cables etc) If everything is seated properly and no jumpers were altered/removed during the installation, you could have fried your motherboard. Did you notice a slight burnt smell from inside of your case? Look on the drive for any burned artifacts (capacitors) Have you tried to install the drive in another system to make sure the drive isn't faulty? So your computer will not post at all? Processor/memory/drives/inputs; check upon power up? If it doesn't post and everything else is narrowed out, it could be your motherboard. Is your system still under warranty? Raymond Mackie Technical Support Mgr. rmackie@microtailors.com www.microtailors.com "Custom computers and prices tailored to fit you"

Yes everything is connected properly. All I have connected at this time is 1 hard drive, no other drives, 1 stick of ram, and then 2 cards in their PCI slots. Everything is completely in. I never noticed a burnt smell, and no burnt spots on m/board, but I will pull the hard drive out and check it tonight. Haven't tried the hard drive in any other computer yet cause I was actually trying to configure alternate hard drives for my other computer at the time the accident occurred. I have a PCI Diagnostics card that I put in the system, I lost the book on what each code meant, but when I power on, it seems like it is running POST check cause it runs through about 10 numbers, and then freezes on 76 or 7b whichever it is. Normally after a full system check it would stop on FF for other computers. Also that card shows me that there are no power problems, it says the 5v 12v and whatever other volt power is all good to go. I'm still hoping my computer is recoverable and I didn't fry the m/board.