Computer Won't startup

[MaBaker]

I'm having some trouble with my second computer, i use it as a server so it is constantly running. after having been running for about a month (without a restart) i came in to find that although the fans were still running i could get no responce from it.

i turned it off, and have not been able to use it since!

When i turn it on now, the fans startup, the HHD starts spinning and the power and HDD lights come on, the CD draw will open and close, butr nothing gets to the screen (or the case speaker)

I've stripped it down, taken out the network cards, and unplugged the HHD,FDD,CD leaving only the Mobo, gfx card, cpu, psu and Memory, but still nothing. I've swapped the gfx card with the working one from my main PC with no success!

Its all made from spare parts, so no chance of sending parts back to the manufacturer now!

It is a
Intel P3 1Ghz Socket 370
EPoX Mobo EP-3VSA2
Ati Rage 4MB Gfx Card
Maxor 40Gb HHD
2x 256MB PC133 Memory

This is not a computer i usually work on, but have a need for it now, so need to fix it quickly!

My own personal feelingsare that the mobo has failed, but any suggestions on how to fix this bfore i spend any money (as i'm broke) are welcome

thanks in advance

Martin Baker

 

[Adn4n]

I just had that problem about an hour ago. I was messing around in my BIOS with the CAS settings. I put them on the lowest settings just to see if I could get away with it. Well unfortunately after that I couldn't even see the bios screen. Nothing went to my screen. Here's what you can do:

Your system is simply unable to send a video signal. You have to thus go by sound. When you hear the beep on startup, press delete to get into your bios. From there on you have to do everything by memory since you can't see anyhting. I suggest using your manual's pictures to help you guide through. You might want to return all settings to default. And should that not be possible, then lower or optimize certain settings. It's the only thing I can think of. I navigated blindly with my keyboard using the pictures in my manual as reference. I was able to reset default settings that way.

Also note:

On my motherboard, Asus k8n-e deluxe, if you fail to post, a second beep will follow the first one with a message. You get the option of pressing F1:to reset default settings(didn't work for me), or F2 to go into your bios. So consider that if you have a similar system. Consult your manual as to what key to press.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Adn4n
I just had that problem about an hour ago. I was messing around in my BIOS with the CAS settings. I put them on the lowest settings just to see if I could get away with it. Well unfortunately after that I couldn't even see the bios screen. Nothing went to my screen. Here's what you can do:

Your system is simply unable to send a video signal. You have to thus go by sound. When you hear the beep on startup, press delete to get into your bios. From there on you have to do everything by memory since you can't see anyhting. I suggest using your manual's pictures to help you guide through. You might want to return all settings to default. And should that not be possible, then lower or optimize certain settings. It's the only thing I can think of. I navigated blindly with my keyboard using the pictures in my manual as reference. I was able to reset default settings that way.

Also note:

On my motherboard, Asus k8n-e deluxe, if you fail to post, a second beep will follow the first one with a message. You get the option of pressing F1:to reset default settings(didn't work for me), or F2 to go into your bios. So consider that if you have a similar system. Consult your manual as to what key to press.

The easier way is to simply reset the CMOS on your motherboard. This will restore your default motherboard settings and should allow you to boot up normally.

 

[MaBaker]

OK, i've tried clearing the CMOS with no luck, as for waiting for the beep, then pressing the del button, what beep! it dosen't get that far! It all went wrong while the comnputer was on, but i was out! so i don't think it will be a settings issue anyway!

thanks again

Martin

 

[MrChad]

Are all your fans spinning when you turn the computer on? You might want to try disconnecting all but the most basic components (video card, RAM, CPU) to see if you can boot up that way.

 

[MaBaker]

I've tried that too... stripped it right down, even took out some of the memory, and with and AGP gfx card, and then a PCI gfx card! nothing works! :'(

all the fans are spinning tho!

I've also tried leaving it on for an hour, to see which parts are warming with the power! the motherboard, got very hot very quickly (well the heat sync on it anyway), the gfx card heated quickly, but never got too hot! but at the end of the hour the the CPU heat sync was just getting warm! is this the sign of a very good heat sync (its a silent flower heat sync), a dead CPU, or just because the CPU was not being used??? I just don't know!