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#1
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
Hi all
I'm stumped as to why a machine built six years ago all of a sudden will not even successfully complete the power on self test before loading the BIOS. The pc itself had been in regular use (switch on once per day at least) and the last boot-up request was into "Safe-mode" after shut down and restart re-boot into normal mode and finally normal (start menu) shut-down. That was the last time it booted up. I've gone through the process of removing one component at a time - followed by testing of same components in a "working" system. But no joy. The only thing I'm left thinking is - after six years would the 5v battery need replacing..? I've no experience of purchasing one never mind changing it! Mind, a friend of mine says its not too tough... Any thought or useful suggestions on the above? Kind thanks in advance -- Michael |
#2
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:54:16 GMT, "mikepro"
wrote: Hi all I'm stumped as to why a machine built six years ago all of a sudden will not even successfully complete the power on self test before loading the BIOS. The pc itself had been in regular use (switch on once per day at least) and the last boot-up request was into "Safe-mode" after shut down and restart re-boot into normal mode and finally normal (start menu) shut-down. That was the last time it booted up. I've gone through the process of removing one component at a time - followed by testing of same components in a "working" system. But no joy. The only thing I'm left thinking is - after six years would the 5v battery need replacing..? I've no experience of purchasing one never mind changing it! Mind, a friend of mine says its not too tough... Any thought or useful suggestions on the above? Generally, a battery won't keep a machine from booting. I'd suggest taking a careful look at the capacitors on the mainboard. They are round things that look like little cans with a slash or an x in the top. If any are bulging or leaking, you've found the problem. Six years is pretty good out of a machine. |
#3
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:54:16 GMT, "mikepro"
wrote: Hi all I'm stumped as to why a machine built six years ago all of a sudden will not even successfully complete the power on self test before loading the BIOS. What do you mean "before loading the bios"? Do you mean, it goes into the bios settings menu? If so, I'd wonder if the battery were dying. Otherwise a general instability might be causing it to restart with default values, could be a motherboard or psu instability. The pc itself had been in regular use (switch on once per day at least) and the last boot-up request was into "Safe-mode" What is "boot-up request"? Can you more clearly describe what you see, but we don't... ... after shut down and restart re-boot into normal mode and finally normal (start menu) shut-down. That was the last time it booted up. I've gone through the process of removing one component at a time - followed by testing of same components in a "working" system. Which same components? ALL of them? Did you try running system with only bare essentials, IE- cpu, video, 1 memory module, then adding the OS boot drive? Also try underclocking it to the lowest FSB the board supports, if possible. (for testing purposes only, not regular use). But no joy. The only thing I'm left thinking is - after six years would the 5v battery need replacing..? I've no experience of purchasing one never mind changing it! 3V battery, check the motherboard manual if you like but a glance at the board should suffice. "Typically" it's a CR2032 size, available at many drugstores/etc. (Or online, but it costs about $1 so shipping charge is a large cost overhead on such a part). Mind, a friend of mine says its not too tough... True, there's a little springy tab that holds the top edge of the cell, just gently pull it back and the battery pops out. The new cell just pushes in rather easily so long as you can see what you're doing. Have the system AC power disconnected while doing it. |
#4
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
mikepro wrote
I'm stumped as to why a machine built six years ago all of a sudden will not even successfully complete the power on self test before loading the BIOS. Anything that can die has to die sometime. The pc itself had been in regular use (switch on once per day at least) and the last boot-up request was into "Safe-mode" after shut down and restart re-boot into normal mode and finally normal (start menu) shut-down. That was the last time it booted up. I've gone through the process of removing one component at a time - followed by testing of same components in a "working" system. But no joy. Worth trying with nothing except a cpu, see if it will beep complaining about the lack of ram. The only thing I'm left thinking is - after six years would the 5v battery need replacing..? I've no experience of purchasing one never mind changing it! Wont produce that particular symptom. Something has died. Mind, a friend of mine says its not too tough... Any thought or useful suggestions on the above? Check for bad caps, those are the usually blue or black plastic covered post like things sticking up vertically from the motherboard. The tops should be flat. If any have bulged or are leaking, thats a bad cap and the only viable approach is to replace the motherboard. Could be a bad power supply too, and that may well be easier to try swapping. Can also be a short to case, but the best test for that is to try running the motherboard loose and see if it will complete the POST. Not a great idea tho if you arent comfortable changing the battery. |
#5
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
snip. That was the last time it booted up. I've gone through the process of removing one component at a time - followed by testing of same components in a "working" system. But no joy. The only thing I'm left thinking is - after six years would the 5v battery need replacing..? I've no experience of purchasing one never mind changing it! Mind, a friend of mine says its not too tough... Any thought or useful suggestions on the above? Though a dead battery will usually not prevent a machine from posting... I have seen a few machines with a battery around 1.6 volts or so...that did lockup the bios. Since the machine is 6 years old...you might as well try a new battery and reset the bios (the jumper is usually near the battery) |
#6
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
"kony" wrote in message:
On Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:54:16 GMT, "mikepro" wrote: Hi all I'm stumped as to why a machine built six years ago all of a sudden will not even successfully complete the power on self test before loading the BIOS. What do you mean "before loading the bios"? Do you mean, it goes into the bios settings menu? Yes, I should have been much more clearer I know... You know that little "beep" you get from the system speaker to signify the successful completion of the post? Well, its not reaching that far. That is ultimatly the problem. So, nothing appears on the screen (yes, I've checked the monitor with another system and its fine). I've also taken pretty much everything but the suggestions about the 1.5v battery on the main board and put into practice. That kind of leaves me with only that left to try... I'm determined to give it a go. If so, I'd wonder if the battery were dying. Otherwise a general instability might be causing it to restart with default values, could be a motherboard or psu instability. I don't think this is the case as such, but yes, the battery as you say could be problem. Should I succeed at getting the system to post, then I logically imagine - as nothing was changed to the BIOS, it would naturally boot as it did before...? |
#7
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 06:36:59 GMT, "mikepro"
wrote: If so, I'd wonder if the battery were dying. Otherwise a general instability might be causing it to restart with default values, could be a motherboard or psu instability. I don't think this is the case as such, but yes, the battery as you say could be problem. Should I succeed at getting the system to post, then I logically imagine - as nothing was changed to the BIOS, it would naturally boot as it did before...? No, there is no point speculating. Focus on the problem- posting Fix that See if it boots If not, fix that. It might boot or might not, especially depending on the need to set bios settings after a battery swap. |
#8
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
"kony" wrote in message:
On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 06:36:59 GMT, "mikepro" mike wrote: Focus on the problem- posting Fix that See if it boots If not, fix that. It might boot or might not, especially depending on the need to set bios settings after a battery swap. Progress report: Well, I replaced the 3v battery on the mboard - I'm still no closer to getting the system to post. I spent the best part of this morning working on it, checked the circuit and components of the board itself and nothing (that looks obvious anyway) appears to have come loose or broken off... The power supply seems fine imo, otherwise why would the drives light up, heatsink and northbridge start spinning? So, I guess just replacing the main board should do the trick! As all the upgradeable components are fine. I'll give it one last go - probably next week now. Afterwhich, I'll put this system to bed and perhaps consider building a new one in the future... My thanks to all for posting advice. Michael |
#9
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
"mikepro" wrote in message . uk... "kony" wrote in message: On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 06:36:59 GMT, "mikepro" mike wrote: Focus on the problem- posting Fix that See if it boots If not, fix that. It might boot or might not, especially depending on the need to set bios settings after a battery swap. Progress report: Well, I replaced the 3v battery on the mboard - I'm still no closer to getting the system to post. I spent the best part of this morning working on it, checked the circuit and components of the board itself and nothing (that looks obvious anyway) appears to have come loose or broken off... The power supply seems fine imo, otherwise why would the drives light up, heatsink and northbridge start spinning? So, I guess just replacing the main board should do the trick! As all the upgradeable components are fine. this is not a good way to determine the PSU's functionality, IMO its the PSU. I'll give it one last go - probably next week now. Afterwhich, I'll put this system to bed and perhaps consider building a new one in the future... My thanks to all for posting advice. Michael |
#10
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Perfectly working workstation suddenly fails to POST - thoughts please
On Sat, 08 Jul 2006 11:41:49 GMT, "mikepro"
wrote: "kony" wrote in message: On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 06:36:59 GMT, "mikepro" mike wrote: Focus on the problem- posting Fix that See if it boots If not, fix that. It might boot or might not, especially depending on the need to set bios settings after a battery swap. Progress report: Well, I replaced the 3v battery on the mboard - I'm still no closer to getting the system to post. I spent the best part of this morning working on it, checked the circuit and components of the board itself and nothing (that looks obvious anyway) appears to have come loose or broken off... The power supply seems fine imo, otherwise why would the drives light up, heatsink and northbridge start spinning? So, I guess just replacing the main board should do the trick! As all the upgradeable components are fine. A malfunctioning PSU can appear to power drives, fans, and still be the problem. We can't know for sure, you might take voltage readings but in some cases that won't even reveal the problem, but substituting a known good (not just new but demonstrated working with similar load) PSU might be tried. I'll give it one last go - probably next week now. Afterwhich, I'll put this system to bed and perhaps consider building a new one in the future... My thanks to all for posting advice. Unless I overlooked it you never did tell us WHAT this system is. Details are good. Maybe it won't help at this point, or maybe if you had provided the details up front the thread would have taken an entirely different tangent. |
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