I had a similar experience with a new ASUS MB and after swapping around
components and lots of frustration, it finally came down to a bad MB.
Fortunately I had 3 computers with various interchangeable components. The
replacement MB is working great.

Other less severe problems are heat, shorts in the MB and/or other bad
components. Check contact/connection between CPU and heat sink Check PS fan
operation and condition. Power up MB, without CPU, outside of case on non
conductive surface with nothing else attached except front off/on switch on
case and the speaker. Power up and verify PS and MB stays on. Attach case
fans and retry. Install CPU/heat sink/fan and retry. Install RAM and retry.
Install video card and retry. If everything is OK at this point, you should
get the standard single beep and the computer should do a complete boot.
Install MB in case being careful to avoid any shorts. If something went
wrong during any of the restarts, you have narrowed the problem down and can
proceed from there to replace appropriate components. With your experience
you probably know all the foregoing, but sometimes frustration overcomes
reasoning.

As to the other problem, afternoon nap time may be the best time to work on
the computer especially with all the parts spread out around the computer.

I hope you solve this challenge with the least amount of time, cost and
frustration.

Tom Mayer


Scenario - minimum components plugged into power - mobo, video, cpu and
floppy, case fans  (all components connections have been checked a multitude
of times by him and me. Nothing seems to be awry.)

Turn on power. Case fans begin to turn, CPU fan spins up then everything
stops. Standby power light on mobo remains on. Fans have stopped. There are
no mobo beeps.

And I really can't work well on systems with a very active, precocious 3 yr.
trying to "help" me.

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