• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Mobo/CPU errors?

Bobatea

Junior Member
Well here's my important computer specs first:

ABIT AS8
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB Sapphire
LGA775 3.0 GHz HTT
Antec Sonata 350 W PSU
Logitech DiNovo Bluetooth Media Desktop
Samsung 172X 17" LCD
Corsair Value 1 GB Dual Channel PC3200

These are the relevant things I can think of. So here's the issue I came across:

I left my computer on and left for class. Came back a few hours later and realized that there was no feed to my monitor. I thought maybe my monitor wasn't waking up from sleep mode because the mouse signal needed to be connected. Couldn't get that to work so I decided to restart my computer. Just pressed the reset button on the case because I was a little frustrated. All that happened was it sounded like it restarted, then shut down. I turned off the PSU and waited a bit before turning that back on and turning on the computer. Nothing was loading to the monitor still, not even bios, so I was wondering if it was the monitor. Moved the monitor over to my previous computer and saw that the monitor was working fine. Thought maybe it was the DVI connection? Swapped cables and the cable was fine. Finally decided to test out the video card and saw that the card wasn't the issue. Everything else seems to be working fine. Mobo has power, everything connected seems to be running correctly, but nothing comes out to the monitor. So what keeps your basic startup and BIOS from loading to a working video card and monitor? I can only think of the memory, CPU, or Mobo being the cause of this. But then again, I don't know enough so I'm here for some expert opinion 🙂. Thanks ahead of time for taking the time to help.

[edit]
Oh and here's my HDD:
Western Digital SATA 200 GB. I wouldn't expect this from keeping anything from loading, so I'm assuming this is just fine.
 
Start by disconnecting ALL nonessentials - drives/sound/modem/USB etc
See if you can get a POST or at least some beeps.

If that doesn't do it, Disconnect EVERYTHING from mobo except - PSU, Power sw, Case Speaker, CPU/fan
Any beeps?
 
Hmm... well I'm guessing I need to connect the speaker connections then. I haven't connected those because I have a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 in there. Once I get home I'll be sure to disconnect everything and see if that solves it. Should I also disconnect the memory? Oh, and what does it mean if it's beeping or if I get a POST, and how would I reset CMOS 😱? Never had to deal with CMOS or beeping noises or POST before 🙂.
 
The beeps won't come from your speakers, they'll come from your case, if you hooked up the front panel to the motherboard correctly.

A POST beep is that one beep you get when you turn your computer on. POST (Power On Self Test) beeps once if the test was passed. If something is screwing up, it'll have a really long solid beep, or beep a lot real fast, etc.

Open up your motherboard manual to find the CMOS jumper. It's a little jumper that covers two of 3 pins (they're in a line, it covers the middle pin, and one of the other two). You unplug your computer from the wall, and then move the jumper from the two it's on, to the middle pin plus the one that wasn't covered. Wait 10 seconds, then move it back, and power on. This will restore your motherboard to default BIOS settings.
 
Thanks for the CMOS instructions. I haven't hooked up the case speakers. Never thought I'd need it hooked up, so I will be sure to go and hook that up. Going home soon so I'll see what happens 🙂.
 
What a sad day. I believe it's connected according to the mobo manual (the case speakers). Just attached the connector and didn't do the individual pins because they seem to align correctly. No beeps. No one beep that I'm used to hearing from my previous comp. I was wondering what these numbers mean that are displayed on the mobo when it powers up and the manual said it was pretty much the boot check. It seems to go through everything and says everything is working fine. I disconnected everything except the mobo PSU, CPU, fans, and the other little connectors, but still no beeps...

[edit]
Also already cleared CMOS and no luck.

[edit]
Cleared CMOS again, but this time disconnected power and button battery. Now I get a long beep, pause, long beep. Kind of like music to my ears 🙂. Everything is disconnected still. No memory, no nothing. Just the basics. Now what does that tell me 🙂?

[edit]
The world is now a better place. One computer is yet again saved 🙂. Thanks for the help. Clearing the CMOS is what did it I believe. I now get a feed to the monitor and it's loading. I'm reconnecting everything now. Now, any idea as to what might have caused this? I have done no overclocking and haven't messed with any BIOS settings except having the... ok now I don't remember what was changed. My dad was looking over my computer and decided to change one setting regarding the SATA HDD because he thought the SATA wasn't being utilized unless you changed it. Other than that, I can't think of anything that was really changed.
 
Might need a new CMOS battery, possibly - See if it happens again or if you get MISMATCH errors at POST, then splash out
 
Back
Top