Help! Computer doesn't POST, no video.

[JuanDixon]

I have a computer based on the MSI K7T (I think that's right) Pro2 mobo. My sister mentioned one day that the computer turned off on her, and since then I have not been able to get it to work. I pulled out all the peripherals, tried different video cards, and another power supply. There are a set of 4 lights on the motherboard which convey the status of the motherboard. All green mean the operating system has loaded (everything is a-okay), all red means the BIOS was not loaded or something along those lines. Every time I turn on and off the computer, I seem to get a different combination of lights. Usually I get all red but sometimes I get the message conveying that the video did not work, keyboard was not initialized, or some problem with the RAM. In fact, I tried running without any RAM (can you even do this?) and at first I got the no RAM detected problem, and then I just got all red. Strangely, I worked on the computer for a bit trying to get it to work, gave up for a week, and then the first time I turned it on after that it worked. I turned it off and then the same problems of no POST/video ensued. Do you think the motherboard is bad? Could the CPU have died on me? I don't know what else to think. Thanks for any help btw, and if you need me to supply more information I will be more than willing to.

 

[jdogg707]

I'm thinking your motherboard is dying, either that or maybe a bad power supply. If you have a friend with some AMD stuff you might wanna try switching stuff in and out to see what works and what doesn't, but start with the PS and go from there.

 

[JuanDixon]

I did try a different PS, I mentioned that in the original post but i guess you missed it 😛. I got an Asus A7V lying around from my old computer so I think I'm gonna try that. I guess I'll have to reformat the HD in that case? Can anyone confirm if I will have to format if I do switch mobos? Thanks.

 

[jdogg707]

No, you won't have to reformat, it should just load the new drivers or ask for you too. Sorry about that, I was skimming the message and didn't finish reading it...woops.

 

[JuanDixon]

Originally posted by: jdogg707
No, you won't have to reformat, it should just load the new drivers or ask for you too. Sorry about that, I was skimming the message and didn't finish reading it...woops.

Haha it's cool man, thanks for helping.

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: JuanDixon
I did try a different PS, I mentioned that in the original post but i guess you missed it 😛. I got an Asus A7V lying around from my old computer so I think I'm gonna try that. I guess I'll have to reformat the HD in that case? Can anyone confirm if I will have to format if I do switch mobos? Thanks.

if you are just using the A7V for troubleshooting, you shouldn't have to reformat the HD, although you will get some driver errors (a simple redetection of the drivers wont fix everything). if it turns out that the mobo was dying, and you get a replacement, i recommend that you backup important data, and reformat the HD to make sure there are no lingering driver problems.

 

[JuanDixon]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker

Originally posted by: JuanDixon
I did try a different PS, I mentioned that in the original post but i guess you missed it 😛. I got an Asus A7V lying around from my old computer so I think I'm gonna try that. I guess I'll have to reformat the HD in that case? Can anyone confirm if I will have to format if I do switch mobos? Thanks.

if you are just using the A7V for troubleshooting, you shouldn't have to reformat the HD, although you will get some driver errors (a simple redetection of the drivers wont fix everything). if it turns out that the mobo was dying, and you get a replacement, i recommend that you backup important data, and reformat the HD to make sure there are no lingering driver problems.

Thanks, I'm gonna try this tonight or tomorrow and see how it works.

 

[JuanDixon]

Bump for any more suggestions before I replace mobo.

 

[KF]

One easy thing that sometimes works miracles is to take out everything that plugs in and put it back. (Corroded contacts.) This includes the CPU.

Reset the CMOS.

Look for something, like a loose screw, between the mobo and the metal in back.

 

[JuanDixon]

I guess it was the mobo after all because I threw in the A7V and everything works fine, though I do notice a performance hit with the system. I guess it is time to reformat and reinstall XP. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: JuanDixon
I guess it was the mobo after all because I threw in the A7V and everything works fine, though I do notice a performance hit with the system. I guess it is time to reformat and reinstall XP. Thanks for your help guys.

Why don't you just buy a new machine with all the money you're getting from the Wizards? Then, buy your sister a new house so she's not around to mess up your computer again. 😉