PC suddenly won't POST

[beejay]

I was using my PC yesterday, nothing intensive, pretty much browsing. Suddenly my display crapped out and lost video signal. Without thinking, I reset the computer. Unfortunately, the computer wouldn't POST and I'm getting 'no sync' on the monitor.

Relevant Specs:
- 2.8 GHz P4 w/ HT
- Gigabyte GA-8KNXP
- PNY Verto GF FX 5900U
- 1GB Corsair 4 pair matched DDR 400
- WinXP Pro

I've disconnected all my optical peripherals and hard disk. Still no beep code, so I have no idea if the computer is POSTing. The mobo has an Award bios, but I have absolutely no idea what version (since I have nothing on my display). I ganked the video card, still no beep code or POST. All my fans are operating, and everything looks ok. When the video card is installed it does seem louder than normal, as if the fan is on full crank, but I could be wrong. Monitor works fine, I tested w/ my laptop.

I don't overclock my CPU or GPU. I haven't done anything out of the ordinary lately. What are the possibilities? I suppose it could be,
1) Graphics card
2) CPU
3) Mobo (bios or other?)
4) PSU - how could I check this, with a voltmeter on the 12V and 5V rails?

I don't think it's,
1) Memory (I doubt it, I have 4 sticks and I swapped them all out and no luck)
2) Hard disk - I can't even POST
3) Anything else! :/

Lost and in need of help. My poooor box

Thanks for the help.

 

[Fern]

First thing I'd do is try another vid card, or your's in another system.

I doubt it's BIOS, but you could clear the CMOS (instructions on doing this w/b in the mobo manual). This will re-set BIOS to factory default.

 

[beejay]

Unfortunately I don't have another vid card. I'll have one this weekend.

One thing that worries me is that I tried to boot w/o a video card installed last night, hoping I would get a beep code, but I got nothing. However, I have no idea if this is a viable option for my motherboard/bios. I'm still waiting on slow tech-support from Gigabyte for a response...

I've already cleared my CMOS and that didn't do anything.

Could the PSU be bad? I'll try to find a spare P4 compliant PSU from a friend this weekend and swap that too. But, like I said, all my fans are operational and I'm not hearing any funky crackling noises or notice anything unusual.

* Hopes it's the graphics card *

Thanks.

 

[Fern]

Is there an active gigabyte forums?

They'd know if you s/b be getting a beep code (and what they are, seems they are not always in the mobo manual).

If the mobo can't be prompted to give the proper beep codes, I'd suspect it. But at this point c/b vid card, mobo or PSU. CPU seems least likely. I've just never had one go bad.

 

[beejay]

Ok. Thanks for the advice. I suspect the same.

I'll first swap out the vid card. If that doesn't work, I'll swap the PSU, else I'll conclude it's the mobo.

Take care.

 

[strickland]

I am having the same problem where my computer won't post at all. I get no response from the monitor and no beeps. The computer turns on, fans run, and hard drive spins, but that is all. A friend was on the PC and when restarting locked up, he hit the restart button. Since then it won't post. I figured it might be the motherboard or power supply and have installed a new motherboard and CPU as well as swapped out power supplies to see if that is the problem. I have tried starting with all drives, etc. disconnected and get the same result. Is it possible there could be something wrong with the power and/or reset switch that is causing the problem? If so, how do I check this. That seems to be the only thing left on the machine that could be causing the problem. The machine is almost 3 years old and is running Win XP.

Thanks for any help.

 

[doctortao]

Has anyone gotten a answer to this problem?

I have just encountered the same thing on my system (stats to follow). I was using it (viewing/downloading an image from a webpage... jpg I think) and all of a sudden the screen froze. I tried control-alt-delete but that had no effect, so I did a reset on the box and it wouldn't come back to life.

I would love to know what the problem is so I can fix at asap, I have so much work that needs to be done...

I don't believe it is the monitor even though I didn't test it on another computer. I did try another video card and didn't have any positive results.

Here is my basic system information:

Pentium 4 3GHz Northwood w/ HT
Gigabyte GA-8KNXP Rev. 1
3DFX VP990 video
2GB Corsair XMS DDR400 (2- matched pair)
(2) 200GB WD hard drives
Sony GDM-FW900 24" monitor
Windows XP Pro

I don't know if you need any more information but I would be happy to provide it if it will help solve the problem.

Thank you,

Karl

 

[mparr1708]

Couple of simple things to try...

1.) look at the light on your monitor when you turn you pc on...what color is it?
If its green it is getting a signal from the card.
Blinking green is usually power save mode.
Amber means it does not detect a signal at all

2.) Check and make your mobo has an integrated speaker or is hooked to a speaker in your case. If you can remember it beeping once after a successful post you should be good to go. I've seen tech guys listen for a beep and not be able to figure it out and then realize a speaker was never hooked up. If you do have one great...try this next one..

3.) Take your pc down to its barebones config. This means taking everything off the board. Leave your HD hooked up to the psu but unplug it from the mobo (some psus need a load on them to function correctly and the mobo alone does not always drain enough power). Take your memory, and all cards off the board. Kick it on and see if you get a series of beeps. If not its probably your board (the only other cause I can think of would be processor but if you do not overclock it is not likely to be it).

If you do get a series of beeps the great...put one stick of ram in the number 1 slot. try again....if you get nothing try the ram in another machine if possible. RAM is a component that I normally would not suspect to drop dead suddenly. It is possible but I wouldnt beleive it unless it will not post in another machine that is a known good box.

If you do get a beep with just mobo and ram stick your vid card back in and see what you get. If you get nothing then you probably have a bad vid card. Watch your lights on the monitor for clues as to what is going on. Amber light means no signal ever got to the monitor. If you get no beeps and have a solid amber light then chances are you have a bad card. I would again test in another machine if possible though.

Keep working through each component in that manner. PCI cards are last and remember to only do one pice at a time. Eventually you should be able to isolate the bad component. Hope this helps.