If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't start
....
2. CMOS, as I wrote the PC locks up / stops booting before this point. I haven't been able to get into the CMOS. Because it already happens at this point, I am suspecting a hardware or bios issue. If it was software, I would imagine that it would stop only at a later point. I've already unplugged the cards and stuck them back in, no change. As most of the stuff is on-board, I can't do a lot with it anyway. The other option to reset the CMOS is probably the best way to go forward for now. And perhaps to find a spare-parts PC that I can use to see if I can locate the root cause. But thanks for your response anyway. Some simple things you can try, are disconnecting I/O devices from the machine. For example, disconnect the USB devices outside the case first. If some I/O device has died or is malfunctioning, they may be confusing the BIOS. Open the machine, disconnect the data cables from the hard drive and CDROM drive. Using a piece of paper, make notes of where the cables go, so you can put them back exactly as you found them. Other checklist items: 1) In this case, we know your BIOS is executing. The flashing of the keyboard lights is a positive sign. It means the processor is executing (so the processor does not need to be reseated), the BIOS code was executed (so the BIOS isn't completely fried - the main block of BIOS code has probably passed the checksum test). I'm not sure about RAM. Maybe the RAM test would still be an item yet to be completed by the BIOS. 2) Turn off the computer and unplug it. To work inside, you want all power removed (not for risk of shock or anything - it is to protect your hardware). The reason for unplugging, is to make sure +5VSB is disabled, and that there is no power present in the RAM slots. At least one poster with a broken computer here, had a power supply with a broken switch, and the power supply was on, even though the power switch was set to off. Unplugging ensures there aren't any incidents like that. Remove and reseat the RAM. 3) If you have multiple sticks of RAM, try the machine with only one of the sticks plugged in. That may not be enough memory, for an OS to boot properly, so may not represent a usable system configuration. But the purpose of inserting only one stick of RAM, is to see if you can get the BIOS screen to appear. If a stick of memory goes bad, it may prevent POST. In some cases, the computer beeps if the memory is bad. But it is also possible the BIOS just hangs. 4) Clearing the CMOS is a good test. But you'll also have to restore any custom settings in the BIOS. And I have to admit, on my oldest machine, when the CMOS battery died, I was at a loss to remember what some of the settings did. It did take me an hour or so of experimenting, until I got the hang of it, and the machine was able to boot with a new CMOS battery. While power supply failures on computers are a frequent source of problems (and not completely eliminated in your case), the fact that the keyboard lights blinked gives me hope that the power is good enough to allow the POST process to get further than it currently is. For example, a computer that restarts, just as the Windows desktop appears, could be having a power problem. But in your case, the power consumption should be reasonably stable during some of the BIOS tests, and the BIOS doesn't appear to be getting past things like NVRAM or RAM test, or enumerating hard drives and optical drives. Paul Thanks for all the advice, this goes for those posting after this message as well. Here's what I have done so far: I took my TV-card out - No change All external devices are unplugged (only monitor, keyboard and power are connected) - No change Took the CMOS battery out, left it for 10 minutes (power cable unplugged), then restarted - No change Then I took my video card out, although I can't see anything the computer suddenly started bleeping (when starting it) and at least my keyboard seems to be responding (num-lock light goes on/off when I press num-lock). Does that mean my video card is busted? I don't have a spare on, so I can't really test it. The only spare one I have doesn't fit in the slots on my mainboard. Thanks, twomt. Oh, one last detail... there's a fan on the video card as well and that one is not working. If the fan is out...the video card could be fried... so try a different one. NOTE: Removing the CMOS battery for ten minutes will NOT reset it... you need to use the jumper or else remove the battery for MANY hours.. If you cannot find the jumper take the battery out and leave it out overnight |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't start
On Dec 27, 12:04 pm, twomt wrote:
Hello, I fear I have a hardware problem somewhere, can someone give me some hints on how to locate the root cause? The computer is getting power as the fan is blowing normal and the keyboard lights (caps-lock, num-lock and scroll-lock) blink once when I press the power button. Then it all stops, well... the fan continue to blows but nothing else happens. This is before the bios screens come up when you initially start your computer. The monitor turns itself off saying it does not receive a signal, the keyboard is not responding to anything (normally, num-lock would show the light on/off) and my optical mouse is not showing the red lights it normally does. I've let it run for a while, but the state does not change.... it's broken :s Any ideas what might be causing? Thanks, twomt Has the PC been OK till recently? Have you done anything to make a difference recently? What windows are you using (if any)? Do you have any kind of boot disk? Do you get past the POST screen at all....like to go into Bios? Can you find access to the 'net (like a buddies PC) where you could d'load a boot disk from a site I could direct you to? |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't start
OK,
root cause located and resolved. The fan on my gfx-card had given up and fried the processor. I've just installed a new gfx-card and all works fine again. Thanks a lot for all the help people. Regards, twomt -- Nemesis War Online browser based space combat game. It's free, it's great, you'll love it. Come join us at http://www.nemesiswar.net/ |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't start
In trouble shooting, It's always:
(1)power source (2)cable connection before you do any other stuff. jennifer http://www.powersupplycables.com |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't start
"Joel" wrote in message news twomt wrote: OK, root cause located and resolved. The fan on my gfx-card had given up and fried the processor. I've just installed a new gfx-card and all works fine again. Thanks a lot for all the help people. Glad to hear you get the problem solved, and THANKS for updating what causes the problem. Yep! Thanks for the feedback |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't start
twomt wrote:
I fear I have a hardware problem somewhere, can someone give me some hints on how to locate the root cause? First step is to disconnect everything but cpu fan, ram, video card. -- http://www.bootdisk.com/ |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
computer won't start! | [email protected] | Overclocking AMD Processors | 6 | March 6th 07 11:33 PM |
Computer won't start - Help please | BH2 | Homebuilt PC's | 3 | February 14th 07 10:26 AM |
Computer does not start sometimes! | [email protected] | Homebuilt PC's | 3 | November 16th 06 01:11 AM |
Need Help Computer will not start up | JD | General Hardware | 5 | December 7th 03 11:17 AM |
computer will not start | James Walker | Overclocking AMD Processors | 3 | July 9th 03 10:58 AM |