My friend has a computer that won't boot. One day it worked fine, the next day it didn't even beep during startup. When we hit the power switch, the PSU fan starts, but nothing shows up on the monitor--no bios, no RAM check, etc. What are the possible problems here? I'm guessing it's the mobo right now, but I thought I'd check with some of the more knowledgable members here. We've tried a 2nd PSU that should be good, and some other spare components that may or may not be working, including CPU and RAM. I think we tried a diff vid card too, but it's been months since we've done anything, so I honestly can't remember. My thoughts are that even if the CPU, RAM, and vid were bad, then we should at least get some beeps from the motherboard, but we don't even get that much. Anybody have a diagnosis here or some possible solutions to this problem? The computer is running an Athlon 1700+ on a Abit KR-A7 RAID. That's all I know, unfortunately.
Computer won't boot
- Thread starter Chang10is
- Start date
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
Holy nebulous scenarios, Batman! :Q Can you hit Quote and fill in this hypothetical example with as much of your friend's info as possible:
- Power supply Antec TruePower 430
- Motherboard Asus K8N-E Deluxe
- Revision 1.03
- BIOS 1005
- CPU Athlon64 3000+
- Core 130nm Clawhammer
- Memory (2) 512MB Corsair XMS 3200C2 modules
- Voltage Manually set to 2.7 volts
- Timings AUTO, results in 2-3-2-6 @ 200MHz
- Primary video card ATI Radeon 9800Pro AGP 8x
- PCI slot #1 (top) empty
- PCI slot #2 empty
- PCI slot #3 LeadTek Winfast TV/FM tuner card
- PCI slot #4 Creative Audigy 2 ZS
- PCI slot #5 LSI Logic Ultra160 SCSI
- PCI slot #6 (board only has five PCI slots)
- Boot drive 160GB Seagate 7200.7
- Interface Serial ATA
- Controller hosting this drive nForce3 SATA controller
- Jumper setting not applicable (SATA)
- Additional hard drive 40GB Seagate 7200.7
- Interface Parallel ATA
- Controller hosting this drive nForce3 standard ATA controller, primary channel
- Jumper setting Master
- Additional hard drive 18GB Seagate Cheetah 15k.3
- Interface SCSI
- Controller hosting this drive LSI Logic U160 card
- Jumper setting SCSI ID 01
- Optical drive #1 NEC 3500A DVD burner
- Interface Parallel ATA
- Controller hosting this drive nForce3 standard ATA controller, secondary channel
- Jumper setting Master
- Optical drive #2 Lite-On combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW
- Interface Parallel ATA
- Controller hosting this drive nForce3 standard ATA controller, secondary channel
- Jumper setting Slave
Do all those things actually matter? I mean, regardless of whether or not there are even optical drives or hard drives attached, we should at least get a POST screen. And even if major components like CPU, RAM, or video card had died, shouldn't we at least get some beeps from the motherboard?
If it is a POS like ECS, don't expect it to come back. The first think I would suggest is disconnecting all components but video and keyboard. Don't even have the hard drive connected. If you have a separate power supply to test, that's next.
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
I don't know about anyone else, but having the details often helps me get insight into the problem.
Based on the info you've given me to work with, my best guess is the old KT266A-based mobo is dead or dying. Try taking off all parts so the board is absolutely bare (no CPU, no RAM, no video , no ANYthing) and then power it up and see if it gives beep codes. Look it over for bulging and/or leaking capacitors; they should be shaped like a can of soup, with flat ends and straight sides, not puffing out at either end.
Yes, I was wondering about the capacitors myself, since this was a ubiquitous problem among Abit mobos from a couple of years ago. I'll make sure I check those the next time I look at his computer, which unfortunately won't be until Christmas. What happens to the functionality of a mobo as its capactitors begin to die? Does the board suddenly stop working altogether, or are there symptoms as the problem progresses? I'll also try powering up w/o any components attached. We've tried booting with some of the bare essentials like CPU, RAM, and vid, but I guess a bare mobo is worth a try. I'll post updates when I have them in a couple of weeks. Thanks for everyone's help so far!
Googer
Lifer
- Nov 11, 2004
- 12,576
- 7
- 81
Try clearing your CMOS jumper/switch/button. IF that does not do it, try different memory and unplug all your hard drives, cd-roms, and use a known good pci video card (you can get one for less than $5 to do the job of diagnosis.I have several trident, cirrus logic, and matrox pci video cards for that purpose)
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