Is my motherboard or cpu dead?

[wluk]

I sold my p3 700@933, abit bx133 raid to a guy. 2 months later, he said the computer is not working so I take it back and see if I can fix it. But when I turn the computer on, it will just stop at the screen where it says "verifying DMI pool data......" and it will not go on. I tried to boot with floppy and it didn't work either. I took everything out except the cpu, video card and memory but still no help. Sometimes when I enter to the cmos menu, it just hang and the cursor won't move. Is it the motherboard or the cpu dead? Please help.

anyone living in buffalo, ny can help me test my pentium 3?

 

[Twista]

dead harddrive? Its not loading the Boot load Strap seems like.

 

[wluk]

I took the hard drive out but it won't even boot with a floppy.

 

[dkozloski]

Unplug the power cord and reset the CMOS memory.

 

[kursplat]

need to explain that modified\overclocked equipment may have a shortened life and there is no warranty...........before
good luck

 

[wluk]

Originally posted by: dkozloski
Unplug the power cord and reset the CMOS memory.

tried it but still doesn't work

 

[wluk]

Originally posted by: kursplat
need to explain that modified\overclocked equipment may have a shortened life and there is no warranty...........before
good luck

yes...i understand that. so is it sound like the cpu problem not the motherboard? if the cpu is dead, will it even be able to get to the DMI verification screen? Or will it just beep when turning the computer on?

 

[Paperlantern]

usually dead cpus wont even boot, like it MAY power on, but there usually isnt any video. Look at the cpu itself, see if there are ANY signs of it being toasted, slight discoloration, maybe a slight electrical burn smell, anything of that sort. if nothing, the only way to be sure of either is to test using good components, i.e. put a good cpu in the board, see if turns on, if it does, dead cpu, or, put the cpu in a known good board, if it works, board is bad, if it doesnt, its the cpu. you have to eliminate it. i know spare parts arent easy to come by, but its the only way to be sure, keep us posted

 

[wluk]

Originally posted by: Paperlantern
usually dead cpus wont even boot, like it MAY power on, but there usually isnt any video. Look at the cpu itself, see if there are ANY signs of it being toasted, slight discoloration, maybe a slight electrical burn smell, anything of that sort. if nothing, the only way to be sure of either is to test using good components, i.e. put a good cpu in the board, see if turns on, if it does, dead cpu, or, put the cpu in a known good board, if it works, board is bad, if it doesnt, its the cpu. you have to eliminate it. i know spare parts arent easy to come by, but its the only way to be sure, keep us posted

Thanks for the suggestions. Like you said, spare parts aren't easy to come by. I don't have anything to test against as I am running a 2500+ now. Is it possible to have a bad bios?

 

[jim1976]

I think someone suggested you to remove power and reset bios so if u hav tried it i don't think this is your problem.

 

[wluk]

Originally posted by: jim1976
I think someone suggested you to remove power and reset bios so if u hav tried it i don't think this is your problem.

yes...i tried it but no help at all.

 

[mechBgon]

It's running at stock speed, correct? Not overclocked at this time? You might try bumping the CPU voltage a tenth of a volt over spec. Also scope out the capacitors for any bulging and/or leaking ones, since there was a bum batch on lots of Abits in years past (and other boards too).

 

[kursplat]

just to clarify , you can \cannot get into the bios ?
good luck

 

[wluk]

Originally posted by: kursplat
just to clarify , you can \cannot get into the bios ?
good luck

I can get to the bios but sometimes I can't move the cursor at all and it just hang there.

 

[wluk]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
It's running at stock speed, correct? Not overclocked at this time? You might try bumping the CPU voltage a tenth of a volt over spec. Also scope out the capacitors for any bulging and/or leaking ones, since there was a bum batch on lots of Abits in years past (and other boards too).

Yes...I am not overclocking right now.

 

[Mavrick007]

If it was a week or two ago I would probably take it back, but after two months, you don't know what he's done to it or
how he's handled it. I would say that it's not my problem cause you sold it as "used". If it's your buddy, that's a different story.

Now you are doing alot to try to fix it and I would almost say that it might be a capacitor on the board since the cpu will go to the bios, which
would mean that the cpu and board aren't totally dead. What you could do is try different memory and also try switching out the cpu with a
different one like was suggested or try the cpu in a different machine, but it sounds like it finally finished it's lifespan.

If it's just the cpu or mobo, tell him you can probably find a good replacement for it in the FS/FT section or in your local electronic shops.
Even the local shops wouldn't guarantee a used piece of equipment for more than a couple of weeks.

 

[wluk]

Originally posted by: Mavrick007
If it was a week or two ago I would probably take it back, but after two months, you don't know what he's done to it or
how he's handled it. I would say that it's not my problem cause you sold it as "used". If it's your buddy, that's a different story.

Now you are doing alot to try to fix it and I would almost say that it might be a capacitor on the board since the cpu will go to the bios, which
would mean that the cpu and board aren't totally dead. What you could do is try different memory and also try switching out the cpu with a
different one like was suggested or try the cpu in a different machine, but it sounds like it finally finished it's lifespan.

If it's just the cpu or mobo, tell him you can probably find a good replacement for it in the FS/FT section or in your local electronic shops.
Even the local shops wouldn't guarantee a used piece of equipment for more than a couple of weeks.

That's right. He added a DVD-rom himself with only 1 screw to hold it. I try to be nice to help him figure out the problem since he is a poor student(I once was a poor student too). I don't smell any burning smell from the cpu and motherboard at all and all capacitors are in good shape. But it seems like there is nothing much I can do at this point. Unfortunately I don't have any p3 cpu and p3 motherboard to test it. Thanks!

 

[wluk]

i just bought a used motherboard but it still doesn't work. with this motherboard, it can only pass the memory test. i am not sure if i set the jumpers wrong or something. are there anyone living in buffalo,ny with a pentium 3? can you help me to test my parts?

 

[CZroe]

Hmm... Could the PSU have been part of the package? If so, got another PSU lying around to test with?

 

[wluk]

I tested it with another PSU already. But still no help. I only have the CPU, video card and the memory on the motherboard, not even floppy and hard drive. I tested the video card on the other machine too.

 

[CZroe]

The memory that's left... Is it more than one stick? Try one and then the other.

 

[wluk]

Originally posted by: CZroe
The memory that's left... Is it more than one stick? Try one and then the other.

I have 2 sticks and I tried each in the 3 different slots but still the same.