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Troubleshooting- no vid, no POST beep

K

KiltedFool

Senior member
The subject says the short and sweet, over the weekend I went to start up my computer and I got a repeating tone that sounded like one of those old fashioned sirens (da-di, da-di, da-di), then I turned it off with the power switch in back, since the restart button wasn't responding. When I turned it back on, the indicators came on, the fans all spun up (thankfully I did blow a lot of dust out of the case at the time too), but no video at all and no tone.

Turned off with the power supply switch, unseated the video card (XFX 6600 GT) blew it off with the last of my canned air, reseated it, startup, same deal, no video. Even no video once I realized I hadn't reconnected the power cord to the vid card when I initially reseated it.

So now I need some help troubleshooting, my guess is either the card has crapped on me or maybe the AGP socket. I will switch out to another monitor and another vid card (a BFG Ti4600 I'm using on my backup box right now).

My current components:
Antec Sonata w/ 380W Antec PS
Epox 8RDA+ w/ Barton 2500 (early revision of the board too, can't update CPU much)
2 sticks 512 crucial or something similar (lifetime warranty, I think it's 2700)
XFX 6600 GT
Audigy 2
single HD, 2 optical drives
XP Pro

Anyone got any pointers or tips? I may be able to justify some upgrades at this time, but can't really go whole hog, I've got a new 160GB seagate IDE in the closet I'll likely use if I rebuild, probably can't leave the AGP world just yet (if it is the video card I'm hoping it should be replacable on warranty, I don't overclock and it's like 2 yrs old, I still have the receipt)

Any assistance or tips on isolating the issue or verifying I'm headed the right way appreciated.

Thanks

edited to clarify
 
Do you happen to have a LAN port on your MB?

If so, are you getting lights on it?


I had almost the same thing happen to me about a month ago. No Video, no beeps, and no LAN lights.

I decided to start with the MB first - which fortunately (or unfortunately) was the bad component.

My second choice was going to be the PSU, my thinking that maybe one of the voltages had died.

Third choice was the Video card.

In your case, I might make the Video card first since you are getting beeps, but if you have a LAN and are getting no lights I'd go with the MB.


 
Yea, my mobos have that little onboard light and if that's out, I check PSU immediately. Next comes videocard if mobo light is on. Usually my old video cards kinda act a little strange and I quickly pop another in a flash.

I had a problem when the computer wouldn't do anything. Found out later that it was a virus that completely shutdown the computer, stone cold.
My client had another techie do a complete wipe and reinstall and computer's fine. Go figure?
 
Just started it up again.

There is an onboard LAN, and it does have two LED lights, both of which come on when I try to turn it on. the light on my router corresponding to that machine also lights up. The activity light on my DVD/CD-R combo drive also comes on and stays on, just no video.

Going to shut this comp and that one down and swap the monitor connections, but I doubt it's going to be that, I'd have a beep for POST at least if that were the problem, even though I did disconnect my speakers (thought it was the headphone jack.


Will be back on after I try this to report
 
Originally posted by: KiltedFool
Just started it up again.

There is an onboard LAN, and it does have two LED lights, both of which come on when I try to turn it on. the light on my router corresponding to that machine also lights up. The activity light on my DVD/CD-R combo drive also comes on and stays on, just no video.

Going to shut this comp and that one down and swap the monitor connections, but I doubt it's going to be that, I'd have a beep for POST at least if that were the problem, even though I did disconnect my speakers (thought it was the headphone jack.


Will be back on after I try this to report
Click to expand...


I'd go for a new Video Card based on this, followed by a PSU.


 
[*]pull all but one stick of memory and reseat it
[*]reseat main atx power connection on the mobo
[*]pull all expansion cards except video, disconnect power and ide/sata cables from all drives
[*]try the other agp card
[*]reset cmos
 
Kicked the wife off her comp so I can post while I have them down.

John, a few questions on your points, are they "try one at a time and try restart" or do all of these steps in this order before trying to restart?

I only have two sticks of memory, so just pull one of them?

You talking about disconnecting and reconnecting everything else, or disconnect all but video and then reconnect at least the HD?

Reset CMOS is remove the onboard battery and wait 30 seconds and replace it correct?

Someone from AT was running a whole bunch of these boards at one point I thought, wish I could remember who.

Incidentally I also saw an FF code on the little LED on the mobo when I was first trying to blow the dust out and get things running again. Checking my mobo manual that just means boot attempt.

 
Ok, I pulled one stick of memory (Geil 3200, I think my memory is faster than my mobo can handle) and set it aside on a static bag, pulled and reseated the other.

Pulled and reseated the main power connection

Pulled the sound card.

Pulled the IDE plugs out of the motherboard, disconnected power from optical drives and floppy.

Pushed in the IDE plugs again but didn't reconnect power to optical or floppy drive, so HD is only one powered. Getting in behind to undo the IDE cables to the optical and floppy is a pain, which is why I disconnected them at the mobo end (but I reconnected them, is that right?)

Swapped out the vid card for the Ti4600 in the other box. When I turned the power supply switch back on I got curious and plugged in the ethernet jack and got the two lights again.

When I turn on the rear power switch and hit the start button the rear case fan and the CPU fan spin and the LED light on the mobo shows FF.

I just checked in the manual and there is a jumper setting for clearing CMOS, so now how do I do that? turn it off, move the jumper, turn it back on and pray? When do I move the jumper back?

Right now I have 1 stick of 512 MB memory, 1 HD, the Ti4600 video, and that's pretty much it in terms of things that are connected.

Not getting a POST beep, all I get are two spinning fans
 
Well I put everything back the way it was, except the 6600 GT is in my backup/bot box now, which is a real weak sister. I can get it to recognize the 6600 and even start upping the resolution and refresh rate, but then I try to open a few explorer windows and the screen goes black.

But then again, the bot box is an Asus A7N266-VM/AA with an 1800 or 2100 Palomino and only 512 MB of memory running XP Pro. Might want to shift over some of my memory. But then maybe the black screen is an overheat, that old case doesn't have serious fans.

Anyway, any opinions on which components are most likely to be bad? It's not a tragedy if I have to do some upgrading, though I can't afford the domestic blowback if I try to go dual core and PCI-express right now. If my 6600 GT is still functional, I'd like to update around it using the Antec case (and PSU if it's still good) and the IDE 160 GB seagate I still have in the box.

 
IT'S NEEDS JUICE, i had 2weeks of frustration with my new mobo and a similar case like yours antec with 380wtt psu. so i went out and splurge on a 530wtt psu and VIOLa'! i have brand new confidences in building a pc again.
It's all about the juice, try it you can always return the product.
 
so your getting no beeping when you turn it on? Sounds like the CPU is dead to me. Yeah I'll put my money on the CPU. Antec 380 should be enough to run that system no problem unless something when bad on it aswell.
 
The subject says the short and sweet, over the weekend I went to start up my computer and I got a repeating tone that sounded like one of those old fashioned sirens (da-di, da-di, da-di), then I turned it off with the power switch in back, since the restart button wasn't responding. When I turned it back on, the indicators came on, the fans all spun up (thankfully I did blow a lot of dust out of the case at the time too), but no video at all and no tone.
Click to expand...

This is the CPU over temperature alarm, you may have fried the CPU...

pcgeek11
 
Originally posted by: pcgeek11
The subject says the short and sweet, over the weekend I went to start up my computer and I got a repeating tone that sounded like one of those old fashioned sirens (da-di, da-di, da-di), then I turned it off with the power switch in back, since the restart button wasn't responding. When I turned it back on, the indicators came on, the fans all spun up (thankfully I did blow a lot of dust out of the case at the time too), but no video at all and no tone.
Click to expand...

This is the CPU over temperature alarm, you may have fried the CPU...

pcgeek11
Click to expand...
I'd still replace that psu. Those old Antec's didn't last very long, especially with a Barton, and a higher powered video card (6600GT is pretty high powered for that psu).
 
Hmm, bummer, even if I did end up replacing my mobo and CPU I was planning on giving the 2500 to my buddy for his backup box. That mobo I thought had solid overheat protection, thought it would shut down before it cooked. We'll see.

Ok then, I guess my path is somewhat clearer, I have 2 old cases in the closet that I think both have like 350W supplies, though both are no-names. I could pull the power supply from one of them and connect up to test and see if the system will run with a different supply, but either way I'll likely want a new unit.

Any recommendations? I'd like some future proofing without spending massive dollars (and considering I paid 77 bucks for the case and PSU originally about 3 years ago). Quiet and reliable is important, I was always very happy with the silent performance of the Sonata with it's 120mm variable speed fan in the back and PSU. I've read a little bit abou the new power supplies with modular cables (I think some even come with them wrapped) which would be good for me, I'm terrible at routing stuff inside my case.

My goal at this point I guess is to try to determine if just a new power supply will get me back up this weekend, and choose any new parts and order them so everything is here by next weekend, at which point a buddy and I will tear apart and rebuild both boxes.

So, first off, recommend a power supply, assuming that my test of a temporary PS is successful, then I'll look at what parts I can upgrade if I need to or can justify it.

Thanks, you guys have been a big help even though the news hasn't been great.

 
Since you had all that trouble before, how about a Fortron or better yet, an Enermax.
Jonnyguru.com can give you additional advice on PSUs, if you want them.
 
I don't see me needing a 600+ Watt replacement, I'm not going to be running crossfire, SLi, or 7 hard drives, looks like Jonny's reviews are targeted for the "I am definitely not screwing around" enthusiast. 1 vid card, 2 optical drives, max 2 HDs, with the CPU, stable and quiet.

What are the top names in power supplies? When I was last paying heavy attention to this stuff it was Antec, Sparkle, Enermax, maybe Fortron if I remember right. Now it seems Antec has fallen off, what's the current scoop?

If I end up replacing mobo, CPU, memory, PS, I'm gonna have to do it for something like 4-600, I can't blow a ton on PS. Besides, the 3 comps in the office now tend to make that room quite hot as it is, and none of them run more than a 380.

I used to tinker with my comp and upgrade as a hobby, but then I went and had a child, screwed the whole plan up. Now I upgrade when something breaks and I can justify updating 3-4 other things while replacing the thing that broke.

 
Originally posted by: KiltedFool
I don't see me needing a 600+ Watt replacement, I'm not going to be running crossfire, SLi, or 7 hard drives, looks like Jonny's reviews are targeted for the "I am definitely not screwing around" enthusiast. 1 vid card, 2 optical drives, max 2 HDs, with the CPU, stable and quiet.

What are the top names in power supplies? When I was last paying heavy attention to this stuff it was Antec, Sparkle, Enermax, maybe Fortron if I remember right. Now it seems Antec has fallen off, what's the current scoop?

If I end up replacing mobo, CPU, memory, PS, I'm gonna have to do it for something like 4-600, I can't blow a ton on PS. Besides, the 3 comps in the office now tend to make that room quite hot as it is, and none of them run more than a 380.

I used to tinker with my comp and upgrade as a hobby, but then I went and had a child, screwed the whole plan up. Now I upgrade when something breaks and I can justify updating 3-4 other things while replacing the thing that broke.
Click to expand...

You can get a decent mobo,CPU,memory and PSU for $400-$500. As for power supplies. Seasonic is probably the most recommended. Other good brands are Enermax,Fortron,Enhance,OCZ,ect. If you want future proof make sure its at least or around 500watt and 24pin. If your not planning on SLI,Crossfire,ect.

But if you have extra PSU's and socket A CPU's try those 2 first because I think they are likely the problem.
 
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