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I have an Asus Essentio M51AD desktop computer. I was trying to install something in the PCIe x1 slot, but in the process I must have broken something (or multiple things). My chassis fan connector suddenly isn't working anymore. I have a H81M-E motherboard (https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/H81ME/overview/).

Here's what happened:

I installed the PCIe x1 extension card, booted up, everything was working fine. From there, I didn't touch anything except two USB 2.0 connectors and AAFP (front panel audio) connectors. All I did was plug/unplug them. I tried to boot up again, and found that one of my two fans (the chassis one) was not spinning like it usually did on boot up. Additionally, I was presented with only a black screen, with a command prompt dash ("-"). I couldn't type or input anything, or even get into BIOS.

I found that it was not the fan that was broken, but the connector (I connected the fan to the CPU connector, and it worked fine). I have also heard that some computers will not boot up if both fans are not running. Could this be the case for me, or is something else broken?

I have tried resetting my BIOS by removing the battery and power cord for 10 minutes. Is there anything else that I can do to try to fix the broken Chassis connector? I've also looked into splitters for my one good connector (specifically this one from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OFP6QW), could this potentially solve my problem so that I can at least boot up again?

Hennes
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Charles
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2 Answers2

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If your PC won't enter BIOS, especially after pulling the battery for 10 minutes, it's almost certainly your motherboard or the power supply. Make sure the CMOS/BIOS battery is good (3V) and inserted correctly.

I've never heard that some computers will not boot up if both fans are not running and by both I assume you mean the CPU fan and the case fan. The PC may only run for a short while if the CPU fan is not spinning but I'm 99% sure the case fan is not needed.

Remove all peripherals, the PCIe x1 card, everything that's not absolutely necessary, make sure all connectors are tight, and see if you can get into the BIOS. If that and a known good power supply doesn't work, I'd say you may have plugged in a USB connector or the front-panel audio connector incorrectly. Doing so may have created a short between ground and +5V (or 'Microphone Power') which fried something on the motherboard.

As a last ditch effort, read section 1.6 of the "H81M-E User's Manual" titled "Jumpers" (page 1-11) where it talks about removing the CMOS battery AND moving the "Clear RTC RAM" jumper from pins 1 and 2 to pins 2 and 3 for a few seconds. Then put the jumper back on pins 1 and 2 and reinstall the battery.

When you say the fan connector is broken, I take it you don't mean that it's physically broken but that it doesn't work. If it's physically broken, that too could have created an electrical short.

edgerrr
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Note: This is too long for a 'Comment' so I added another 'Answer'.

The main thing you want to do first is see if you can get into the BIOS (press the 'Delete' button rapidly right after pressing the power button) so obviously you need the keyboard to be hooked up. And you probably know this but you need to have RAM installed and in the right slot(s). And yes, you need to have the CPU fan and front panel power button connected. Having the two power supply connectors is needed as well. A hard drive is not needed to get into the BIOS.

It sounds like you moved the monitor connection from a graphics card to the VGA connector on the motherboard. If the motherboard is able to enter the BIOS, I would suspect you would see something on the monitor even with this change. If not, put the graphics card back in, hook the monitor up to it and see if you can get into the BIOS (and see what's happening).

If this fails, try a known good power supply and again, make sure your CMOS (BIOS) battery is good (it probably does measure 3V but it can't hurt to check). If you don't have a power supply, check the motherboard for obvious damage such as a burned trace or component. Remove the motherboard and inspect the back side too before purchasing a power supply.

One other possible clue is: Did your motherboard beep once before the problem started happening? If so, is it beeping once now? Many, if not most, motherboards emit a single beep after a successful POST (Power On Self-Test). The POST is basically the first thing that happens when you power on the PC and you would hear it while tapping the 'Delete' button.

edgerrr
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