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General discussion

POST problems

Dec 26, 2003 12:48AM PST

I've been having issues with my puter for a month or better now. Couple days ago,I was playing Quake3 and it froze up on me..again. I got fed up with it and went into the BIOS to reset the configuration data so 'hopefully' the IRQ issue could be resolved if that is indeed what it is. I've been getting sound loops,freezes,and when trying to do a 'repair' with the WINXP Pro CD,it freezes before I can repair with a IRQL_NOT_LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL error. I can NEVER get to the repair! So...being absolfrigginlutely frustrated beyond imagination,I did the BIOS thing...and it hasn't worked since. I reset the config data...rebooted,the HD,CD and other drives went through a 'clicking' sequence and the light lit solid on the HD. Reboot,same thing. And the monitor would never come back on automatically,nothing on screen. So,I took out the CMOS batt,reset,and checked the BIOS,putting it back in Default everything....batt back in,jumpers back correctly....reboot,click click light. Took out the RAM,swapped em around,interchanging em...nothing. Before all this happened,I did a HD test which came out OK as well as a RAM test. Right now,the machine sits. It won't POST. The monitor won't even come on. I've got a board that has BIOS Speech or something,and it's not saying anything either. Did I really screw this thing up????

Discussion is locked

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Re:POST problems
Dec 26, 2003 1:07AM PST

Your next step is to strip down the machine to the fewest components needed to get a beep. Motherboard, power supply, CPU and HSF. No beeps leaves you with those three to replace. Get a beep and add the RAM, another beep put in a video card.

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Tell more, look more...
Dec 26, 2003 1:32AM PST

"Tip: If you are asking for help to troubleshoot a computer-related problem, please be sure to include all the necessary information (ie: operating system, model number, hardware, software, etc) that will help others identify your problem for a speedy resolution."

You should look at the motherboard capacitors as well as reveal a full parts lists (and make/model) including the Wattage of the power supply. You don't want to know how many times I'm seeing the bad motherboard capacitor issue noted at articles you find with -> http://www.google.com/search?&q=BAD+MOTHERBOARD+CAPACITORS

Bob

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There are two t's in putter...
Dec 26, 2003 2:09AM PST

are you saying you, the putter, and the computer somehow interacted?

That is what it sounds like, especially when you are talking about Bios/CMOS changes then casually mention that you put the battery back after removing it to reset CMOS and apparently put some "jumpers back correctly".

how about starting at the first and telling what all you did. You apparently removed and replace some jumpers so did you also maybe remove and replace some cables (maybe while swapping the RAM).

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Re:There are two t's in putter...
Dec 26, 2003 2:58AM PST

AMD 2800+ Chip
Onboard Nvidia NForce sound
Asus A7N8X board
512 Conair ram,2 sticks
ATI Radeon 9700 Pro vid card
System is about a year old.

Followed exactly the mobo manuf book on resetting CMOS. Pull the batt,switch jumper from 1,2 pin to 2,3,wait a sec,reset back to 1,2 position,put batt back. It did allow BIOS to show again,I checked to make sure defaults were showing. The settings I originally changed were back in default setting. Exit and save changes,Y. Enter. hmmm...waiting?...enter again,goes back to POST. sits there.....sits there somemore making noises like it's looking for something or lost. Monitor shuts off. Hmmmm??? What's with that? Does nothing.....NOW what?? I did the ram swap after this. I pulled one to see if it was bad ram,no boot. Swapped em out,nothing. Moved to diff slot,nope. Left one in,then the other,nope. The BIOS speech didn't like having only one ram,kept saying 'didn't pass memory check' or something. Put both back,it says nothing but won't POST either. Caps may be a issue,I dunno...would this cause it to not get to WINDOWS?

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You don't want to know.
Dec 26, 2003 5:52AM PST

I can't let my friends use such a motherboard. Such seem to work (if you get it working), then go unstable. Do you have a warranty on that?

There are a few settings you can try to get the machine working AFTER you look at the motherboard capacitors. If you are not going to look, please tell why.

1. Set the AGP to 1 or 2X
2. Slow the FSB down from 133 to 100 or 266 to 200 (slower!)

Usually this will allow the machine to work until the failed parts are replaced.

Bob

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(NT) Forget to mention to try just one stick of memory.
Dec 26, 2003 5:53AM PST

.

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Re:(NT) Forget to mention to try just one stick of memory.
Dec 26, 2003 5:58AM PST

I mentioned I tried one stick of memory to no avail. I will definately check out the caps for any signs of bulging or leakage. Sounds like a possible cause,so I'll look. And I'll also try to slow the bus down some. Thanks!

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Re:Re:(NT) Forget to mention to try just one stick of memory.
Dec 29, 2003 1:13PM PST

Took the puter in to the local tech service. The tech looked it over and declared a bad motherboard. He switched the AGP vidcard to a PCI one and it booted. He tried three other AGP's and nothing,so he declared the AGP slot dead. So I went there to choose a new board. Ok,choice made,a MSI board. I asked the guy 'so,how did you determine it was the AGP slot?'. He told the above,switching out vid cards. I asked had he checked the memory? No. 'Ok'. So I left. About a hour and a half later,he calls. 'Well,the MSI board doesn't work with your memory. We called tech reps and everything. They said it should work,it doesn't. So we're going with the Gigabyte board now. 'Ok'. ...about TWO hours later,the guy...exasperated...calls again. 'We tried TWO other boards and it didn't work. So I tried your idea (the memory being the prob) and it was the MEMORY! So this is good news for you,but I wasted a whole lot of my time figuring this out.' LOL! Poor guy....anyone that's done a board replacement knows it's not a 'easy' job,much less doing THREE or FOUR of em! LOL! Thankfully,it's only the memory,so it won't cost as much...heh heh.