• 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.

Need your advice on reviving my Cyrix 166's dead mobo

P

phUnk

Member
Hey all,

Pulled the simms out of my cyrix 166+ machine
to loan to my dad, put them back in a month later,
(had not used the machine during that time) and
now it won't boot.

Push the power button and all the drives/fans
spin up fine. No POST from the mobo, no beeps
from the mobo, -nothing-. I'd like to revive this
machine to use as a linux/BeOS/etc test machine.

It was never OC-ed at all (lol on oc-ing this
chip) and was only run by my grandma to get to
church on Sundays. Any ideas on what might be
wrong and how to fix it?

Board says:
Via-II VT82c42N
586 AMIBIOS c150277
--
Intel PCISet
sb82437vx
l6213887
su085
 
Well, if you only took the memory out and put it back in then I'd pay close attention to the memory. Double check that they are seated snugly in their slots. Also, you may want to carefully clean (I use a regular pink pencil eraser, just be careful and clean all the eraser dust off when done)the metal leads along the edge of the memory before snapping them in. More than likely it is the memory, because you are getting nothing when turning it on and as you know one of the first things your PC does on booting up is check memory. Good luck!
 
the same thing happened to me
and then I fought out I got two different kind of simm
had it mixed up
I got 2 8meg
and 2 16meg
for if you put
8meg in simm 1, 16meg in simm 2, then 16meg in simm3, 8meg in simm4
it won't work

try
8meg simm1, 8meg simm2
or
16meg simm1, 16meg in simm2
hope this help
 
Thanks guys, but I really don't think it is a memory issue. I
have 2 32MB simms, and have tried either one of them in the
first slot.

I've tried it with no memory, to see if the mobo would at least
give me an "put the damn memory in fool" error. Nothing.

I've unplugged the mouse and/or keyboard to see if the mobo
would give me a "plug them in ding-a-ling" error. Nothing.

So it is not even getting to the memory check, or the kboard/mouse
check.

Think my motherboard is fried? Perhaps from a static-electricity
shock b/c I didn't ground myself when I pulled out the RAM?

I'd hate to toss the whole box...

-phUnk
 
I think it's the memory cause I had the same problem like you before. And it turned out the memory was the main problem. I thought the memories were okay until I tried with another memory. I suggest you try another memory to see if it's gonna work or not. I am not sure though but I had the same problem like you and it was the memory.
 
Not sure how else to explain this guys, but I have tried booting
with NO memory in the mobo. None. Not even a single simm.

The mobo is not getting to the mem. check.

I'm screwed, aren't I?

Anyone know where I could try to track down a replacement mobo
for the Cyrix 166+ chip? It's circa 1996.
 
On some older mb's the memory skips banks.

So you may to put one simm on bank0 and one in bank2, check the manual if you have it.
 
I had a 166 and my mobo did a slow dive to nothing ness.. then got the the point when i could boot and not get anything.. your mobo and chip are prob. dead. Ram is prob. just fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top