Is my mobo dead? or is it the CPU? (Update 9/21)

[JEDI]

I turned on my computer like normal. it goes thru the beginning of bios, and shows how much mem i have.

then the 'Press DEL key' to get into bios comes up, then it freezes. 🙁 reboot, same thing.
Pressed the DEL key, but nothing happens.

Took out everything except 1 stick of ram, video card, and hard drive. Same thing. put in powersupply from spare computer. same thing.

Put hd + video card in spare machine. works fine (can get into WinXP) so the hd and video card are not the problem.

Put hd + video card back in original machine. Same problem w/freezing at bios screen.

I dont have a spare socket 754 mobo, nor a spare 754 cpu.

Any suggestions to figure out which component is the problem?

Update:
It was my unplugged cdrw that was causing the problem.

How in the hell does a device w/o power connected to it affect my system?!?!

 

[Philippine Mango]

Do you have spare ram?

 

[PurdueRy]

reset the CMOS yet?

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
reset the CMOS yet?

just did that.. no change 🙁

still freezing at 'Hit DEL key to enter Bios'

🙁

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Read this page, then give the board a very close inspection http://www.badcaps.net/ident/

Read the forum pertinent to your board. You will have to register to view attachments.
If you choose to post pics of your board, download them to thier server & nothing over
800. You can use Galvanized as a referral if you choose.


...Galvanized

 

[JEDI]

talked to ESC tech support. (Got them with just a 1 min wait! wow...)

He said bios is getting stuck at detecting IDE devices, and to unplug all the ide devices.

Well, my HD was moved to my backup machine. the only thing connected is IDE2 to my cdrw, but the cdrw doesnt have the power connected. he asked that i unplug the ide cable from the cdrw.

Well, it worked. Bios no longer froze. It went thru IDE detection.

I was able to hit the DEL key to get into Bios.

Now the question is:
How does an unplugged (no power) cdrw affect my system?!?!

 

[xgsound]

Just a guess, but I'd say the CDRW logic worked well enough without power to indicate that something was present, just not well enough to say what was wrong.

Jim