System hangs during POST - was working fine.

[nebula]

My system is usually on 24/7 but I shut it down a few days ago when I went out of town. Got back last night and tried to fire it up, right after it detects the IDE devices, it just sits there doing nothing. If I hit Delete to go into the BIOS, same thing, never gets into the BIOS. Here's what I've tried so far:

Reset CMOS
Removed all cards except video (card tested good in another system)
Unplugged all HDDs and optical IDE cables.
Removed power from my three HDDs
Tried each stick of ram seperately
Tried a different (smaller) PSU

My conclusion is that either the mobo(BIOS) or the CPU just decided to die. Given the fact that the BIOS is reporting the CPU speed, I'd say the mobo is the culprit. I don't have an extra one to test it but I do have an extra CPU.

The BIOS is slightly working, it beeps at me saying the CPU fan isn't turning and if I have no ram. IT seems like it's trying to detect something and it just can't.

So do I order a new mobo today?


MSI KT4 Ultra
2x 512mb ram (Kingston & Mushkin)
XP1800 @ XP2400
Thermaltake 360W

Like I said, system was running just fine last week and nothing was changed.

 

[newbiepcuser]

You try all the standard procedures. I doubt its the CPU cause I don't think you would even POST. It sounds like its the motherboard.

You might have recieved a spike while you were gone. Are any of the capciators burnt? Have you look at the core of the cpu for burnt marks?

 

[imported_Pipeline]

Originally posted by: nebula
If I hit Delete to go into the BIOS, same thing, never gets into the BIOS.

Call me crazy but this could be a sign of a bad keyboard or bad keyboard connection.

1. Are you using USB or wireless keyboard? If so, try replacing with a PS/2 keyboard connected directly to PC (no KVM switches, either).

If the good keyboard still doesn't work, then it could be the PS/2 port is gone in which case, the mobo needs to be replaced/repaired.

Good luck.

P.S. don't call me crazy....I changed my mind.

 

[nebula]

I did hook my mouse(wireless) and keyboard(PS2) directly to the PC bypassing the KVM too but I'm going to try removing them completely and see what happens.

I didn't have time to examine the board but I'll look at that too. And if I have time, I may try my known good CPU.

I went ahead and ordered a board so I'm not down for the weekend since I'm really leaning towards that being the problem. And I think you're right, if it was the CPU wouldn't even start to POST.

A friend said we had a big storm over the weekend so I thought that maybe I did get hit but none of the clocks in the house were flashing. I just thought it was strange that it went like it did, not starting back up, which kinda indicates a lightning strike, or pure coincidence.

 

[oldman420]

try putting in the windows cd and if it boots into setup then windows broke

 

[nebula]

oldman
It didn't even get past POST...

I pulled the mobo out of the case and hooked it up and it booted fine. Put it back in the case and it booted fine!! Hooked everything back up the way it was and no problems. I guess it needed a break! I must have jiggled or dislodged some dust or something.