MOTHERBOARD BOOT BUTTON CABLE PROBLEMS

The power button should be connected to pins 6 and 8. Just to be sure, what do you call the "power-on button" cable? COM1 (serial) requires a cable that isn't included with the case or the motherboard. It definitely isn't used to power up the system.

The cable that is connected to the button that you press to turn on a computer.



Huh?

You provided a diagram of the motherboard's Front Panel Connector layout. Therefore the power button cable has to be connected on pins 6 and 8. If you already figured out where to connect the Reset switch, the Power LED and the HDD LED, then you should explain why the power is an issue.

Oh sorry, I forgot to mention that thats how the cable head looks like, my issue is that I can't find a suitable connector for it

What connectors are available? The label may be different, but if all else fails, trace the wiring from the power switch. It could possibly be hidden somewhere or completely missing (hopefully that isn't the case).

Edit: What case do you have?

I have an ATX case that came from a compaq that I bought in 2008 or so, I replaced its original motherboard because it wasn't compatible with the phenomx6 that I bought.

Here are all the connectors:

1. CPU chassis fan connectors
2. atx power connectors (4pin)
3.am3 cpu socket
4.ddr3 ram slots
5.serial port connector(COM1)
6.lpt connector
7.IDE connector (26-1pin)
8.clear rtc
9.sata 3gb connectors
10.system panel connectors (20-8 pin)
11.standby LED
12.USB connectors
13.digital audio connectors
14.front panel audio connector

Im guessing the system panel connector is the correct one but the head and the connector don't match at all...

You provided what's available on the motherboard. What case connectors are available?

There's the power button cable, frontal USB port cables, SD card reader cables, and frontal audio cables.

Take the two connectors from the powerbutton,
to find those start at the button and you'll find them, one of those is ground, one is power, connect those to pins 6 and 8,
could we get some pictures of the cases connectors, I dont recognise a 20/8 pin
Moto

Picture of connector

http://tinypic.com/r/33jr2o2/7

picture of case connector cables

http://tinypic.com/r/2epmxvm/7

picture of motherboard connectors

http://tinypic.com/r/iohri9/7

I think your old Mobo may have had a proprietary connector on there if that first pic is your power/reset/led plug,
apart from identifying the wires and putting new single plugs on each one, your only other option is a new case I think
Moto

Is it possible to find an adapter to put onto it??

I'm pretty tight on money right now  

You might have to make your own, but it's easy. What motherboard was in that case before? If we could find out the FP wiring, then it would be even easier. If the cable is long enough, you could simply pull out the wires by lifting the retaining tab with a very small blade and insert them back in the correct pin for the new motherboard.

I'm not sure but it says "Foxconn" all over it. I've identified exactly what case I have: it's the case of a "Compaq Presario sr5000". And that wouldn't really help because the problem originates from the motherboard not having a suitable port for the connector from the case.

It's the case connector shown at http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=33jr2o2&s=7 that may need to be modified. Is it long enough to reach the motherboard's front panel connector? It looks like it should fit as long as pin 10 doesn't exist on the motherboard. If pin 10 isn't on the motherboard, could you try to connect the cable as is?

You mean the System Panel Controller? Yeah it's long enough to fit but the pins don't exactly match up, I will need a detailed walk through on how to modify the connector.

EDIT: I just tried plugging the connector into the system panel controller and I've managed to get it to boot; only problem is that the power light isn't on and it is unresponsive.

If you could power up, then you at least know that pins 6 and 8 are correct. What about the Reset switch and the HDD LED? Do they work?

If only the power LED doesn't work, then reverse the wires on pins 2 and 4.

I don't have a reset button nor an HDD LED. When I boot it, it is completely unresponsive and the dvd drive LED randomely lights on and off.

Below is a "representation" of the System Panel Controller and in what pins it boots.

Let's start from the base. Does the system work if you power up by temporarily shorting pins 6 and 8?

EDIT: I just looked at the motherboard and the front panel connector doesn't match the drawing that you provided in your original post. Check what pins are used for the power switch and temporarily short them to power up.

on the system panel controller?

Your drawing is a bit confusing as you have pin 1 to the top right instead of the bottom left. Refer to page 1-26 (System panel connector) in the manual. The power switch is on pins 11 and 13; therefore those are the pins to temporarily short.

Ultimately you'll have to trace where each wire goes to the front panel, cut all wires and then create the following connectors:

- Power Switch (2 pins)
- Power LED (2 pins)
- Reset (2 pins)
- IDE LED (2 pins)
- The speaker should already have the standard 4 pin connector (if your case includes a speaker and you want to connect it).

You could probably use http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=15057... for the 2-pin connectors.

Ok, so your saying I should completely take of the plastic top of the power button connector and get some new two pin connectors to form an appropriate head to fit on the motherboard? I'll need to check out Tigerdirect to see if they have any. How do I short pins 11 and 13 and how do I trace the wires, trial and error?

Go to a button, the power one for example, it will have two wires from it,
trace to ends and mark as pwr,
one should be white/black if you look at all the other wires they also have the same, so the common colour is safe to be regarded as the ground wire
identify the pins for pwr+ and pwr gnd
if you find the two pin blocks fine, if not, try to get something like these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CUSTOM-LENGTH-10-pin-2x5-way-...
http://www.trymarket.com/index.php?main_page=product_in...
you can then plug your lines from buttons/lights etc on the mobo's header
Moto

Ok, I only have one button (no reset) and I have 6 wires coming out of it, 3 are black and the other 3 are red,yellow,blue. How do I know which ones are for power, HD activity, and power activity. I'm afraid i might accidentally fry something...

I doubt TigerDirect carry those connectors, but it will cost you $5 for 10 connectors delivered to your door if you can order from the link that I provided. Several electronics shops might also carry them. As an alternative, I'd consider the kit at Motopsychojdn's second link.

To short pins, use a small screwdriver or a 2-pin connector with both pins already shorted out.

There's no trial and error here. Just follow Motopsychojdn's procedure.

Could I also put the individual connectors with no casing on the motherboard?

Do you also have power and disk LEDs? If so, then it will be really easy. Again you can be frigtened, but you won't fry anything.

Earlier on you provided a diagram that shows how the cable was connected when the system could be powered up. The wires connected to pins 11 and 13 of the motherboard connector are the power switch wires. That takes care of those 2.

You also need to understand that pin 1 on your diagram is top right and pin 2 is bottom right. Therefore the top row (from left to right) of your diagram is 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 and the bottom row is 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2.

I would also presume that your connector matches your original image. Therefore you should find wires on pins 1 and 3 (Disk LED), 2 and 4 (Power LED) and 6 and 8 (Power switch). Is that correct?

Yes, but I don't like that solution. At a minimum you want to tie each pair together and identify what they are.

If I had to do it myself, I would remove all wires from the connector (after identifying them), drill a small hole for the blocked pin 10 and then split the connector to end up with three 2-pin connectors. Split it at pins 3-4 and 7-8 with a sharp knife. Be careful and make sure that the cut is straigth enough.

Sorry, I just realized I drew the diagram with the motherboard upside down. I don't know about the original image, I just found it and posted it because it had the same form as my connector.

As long as you know the pin numbers, you should have no difficulties figuring out a solution. The first step is to power up that sysytem and make sure that it works.

Couldn't I also just split the connector based on the wire pairs (black and red yellow or blue) and plug them in?

I also have another question: If the remaining pins are for hd activity and power activity (since my connector doesnt have reset and speakers) then why is it that when I initially accidentally put in the power pins, the computer was completely unresponsive (no boot screen)?

That would be much more difficult because you can't split it on it's length and you'd probably ruin it. You still lose 4 pins splitting it the other way, but it's much easier and if you're careful you'll end up with 3 connectors.

If it works when you only short the power switch pins, then it most likely was because you grounded the Reset pin.

Sorry for the lack of reply, I eventually got a new case that had the appropriate connectors and i tried slicing the plastic connecter from the old case with an industrial cutter which screwed it up. Thanks for the help anyway, but I realized that if I were to successfully connect the motherboard to the case, i would simply end up burning the whole thing due to incredibly tight space and minimal ventilation made by only one fan (the case was a micro   ). Even through I solved nothing with that case this was a great learning experience for me.

Best answer selected by h2whoa.

Sorry the experience was a fruitless one man, but at least you have learned a couple of useful things about pc's, and knowledge is power  
and thank you for B.a.,even though we didn't succeed in the plan
Moto