Computer won't POST

S

someoneyouknow

Weaksauce
Joined
Jun 13, 2001
Messages
111
Problem: My computer isn't giving any sort of response. I plug in the power cord and everything (automatically) turns on and gets power, but my mobo doesn't POST or beep or anything.

I leave my computer on 24/7. Sometime between 1am and 7am the computer shut ITSELF down. It won't boot back up, and after I unplugged and plugged in the power cord, it goes back to the problem. This morning, my A7N8X board was telling me "System failed memory test". Tonight, it's not doing anything. It's not even attempting to POST - no beep, no video feed, no BIOS report, nothing. I plug in the cord, it automatically turns itself on when it's not supposed to, all devices get power, and ... nothing.

I've already tried disconnecting all but the critical components (video, RAM, CPU) and it still does the same. It's really starting to piss me off and I'm *THIS CLOSE* to removing and destroying every little conductor and transistor in every piece of hardware and make a Picasso replica out of them. Any suggestions (on the computer, not your favorite picasso painting!)?
 
Clear CMOS? Maybe the board is faulty. As for my favourite Picasso.....
 
Originally posted by 4keatimj
Clear CMOS? Maybe the board is faulty. As for my favourite Picasso.....
Click to expand...

Tried that. I removed the battery and moved the jumper to and fro to clear it, and still nothing. How could the board go faulty overnight, when it was working PERFECTLY the night before, even during 4+ hours of Morrowind? I've got plenty of airflow so heat wasn't the issue....
 
perhaps the PSU died suddenly...... dead PSUs can cause some strange things to happen, also had something like that happen to me when a stick of RAM decided to die.... try another stick if you can get ahold of one...... or try a different memory slot....
 
also, couldn't hurt to check the capacitors.... if they are bulging and/or leaking, it could cause things like that to happen....
 
Originally posted by coolie_d
perhaps the PSU died suddenly...... dead PSUs can cause some strange things to happen, also had something like that happen to me when a stick of RAM decided to die.... try another stick if you can get ahold of one...... or try a different memory slot....
Click to expand...

Hell I tried it without any RAM period - you'd think I'd at least get a video feed. Nada, no change. I tried the PSU in another system (w/o a hard drive) and it powered up as far as it could seemingly normal. But then again, the system I tried is only a Duron 700, not a Barton 2500 - huge difference in power there.
 
Well now it stopped turning itself on. In fact, it stopped doing anything altogether when I plug it in. This happened after I left the CMOS battery out for a few minutes. Now, when I plug it in, it makes a bit of a ... buzzing noise, similar to how it sounds when you're close to a power line and everything else is quiet. Unfortunately, it seems to be emanating from the upper portion of my motherboard, near my CPU. I unplug the power supply from the motherboard and I don't get the noise. I wonder if my CPU was toasted :( I hope not, I really can't afford a replacement.... I can't check it because I can't get the blasted HS/F off! Does anyone have any special tricks up their sleeve to get one off easily? My thumbs are worn to nubs :s
 
Maybe I missed soemthing here, I dunno, but....

It's telling you what the problem is. "System failed memory test".

Check the RAM FSB settings and/or replace the module(s).
 
Originally posted by SarverSystems
Maybe I missed soemthing here, I dunno, but....

It's telling you what the problem is. "System failed memory test".

Check the RAM FSB settings and/or replace the module(s).
Click to expand...
If the PSU, cpu or Mobo were faulty, I'm sure the system would fail the memory test even with good memory.
 
Originally posted by ilkka
If the PSU, cpu or Mobo were faulty, I'm sure the system would fail the memory test even with good memory.
Click to expand...

But it's still making the buzzing noise even with no RAM installed. Also, even with no RAM installed, you should at least get power and a message saying memory error, right? Well I'm not even getting a video feed....
 
Originally posted by someoneyouknow
But it's still making the buzzing noise even with no RAM installed. Also, even with no RAM installed, you should at least get power and a message saying memory error, right? Well I'm not even getting a video feed....
Click to expand...
I'm not sure how that system is supposed to react with no RAM. That is something that probably would be worth making note off on every new system, so you know exactly what sorts of beeps, etc., to expect. But that continues to suggest that it is either the PSU, cpu, mobo or ram. I don't think there is any reason to rule any of them out.
 
Originally posted by ilkka
I'm not sure how that system is supposed to react with no RAM. That is something that probably would be worth making note off on every new system, so you know exactly what sorts of beeps, etc., to expect. But that continues to suggest that it is either the PSU, cpu, mobo or ram. I don't think there is any reason to rule any of them out.
Click to expand...

I doubt it's the RAM. I wish it were, though - it's still covered under warranty. The motherboard was refurbished and only had a 15 day warranty. The PSU was bought nearly 3 years ago from some online site I don't remember. I put Arctic Silver 5 on the CPU a while back, which probably voided the warranty I had on it....

If it *IS* something that died, I really hope it is the RAM or the PSU (as I planned on getting another anyway), and not the mobo or the CPU because those are expensive :(

I'll try booting it outside the case when I get home tonight, and if that doesn't work, I'm going to remove the CPU and see if it'll turn on without. *crosses fingers*
 
wth...

Im having the EXACT same problem... i have swapped psu's and memory... cpu looks fine... i turn it on, fans start up, led's come on, hard drive spins up... no video, and no post beep... i've had this happen many MANY MANY times before.. but a simply unplugging it after shutting down and then restarting fixed it no problems... nothing stinks, nothing is overheating... Im just as pissed too... *twitches while looking at hammer next to running computer that doesnt post*

do you need a video card in for it to post? i thought it would still beep without it...
 
Originally posted by Blargh
wth...

Im having the EXACT same problem... i have swapped psu's and memory... cpu looks fine... i turn it on, fans start up, led's come on, hard drive spins up... no video, and no post beep... i've had this happen many MANY MANY times before.. but a simply unplugging it after shutting down and then restarting fixed it no problems... nothing stinks, nothing is overheating... Im just as pissed too... *twitches while looking at hammer next to running computer that doesnt post*

do you need a video card in for it to post? i thought it would still beep without it...
Click to expand...

Well unfortunately I don't have a spare PSU to swap it with ... all my spares are 300W and less (plus a Dell PSU and a Compaq PSU)

I don't think you need a video card for it to at least beep at you...
 
no, you shouldn't need a vid card to hear the beeps.. unless your motherboard is some kinda freak or something. well, okay i'm pretty sure that you wouldn't need a vid card :) anyway... dude... if your MOBO is buzzing, and it's not comming from some tiny speaker...? ouch. is it comming from an coil or choke or anything like that? it'd be nice if the back of the board was just touching the metal case, but i guess running it out of the case would determine that...
try to see if you can figgure out where that noise is comming from. as of now my money's on the motherboard... sorry man :eek:
 
Originally posted by DatHak512
no, you shouldn't need a vid card to hear the beeps.. unless your motherboard is some kinda freak or something. well, okay i'm pretty sure that you wouldn't need a vid card :) anyway... dude... if your MOBO is buzzing, and it's not comming from some tiny speaker...? ouch. is it comming from an coil or choke or anything like that? it'd be nice if the back of the board was just touching the metal case, but i guess running it out of the case would determine that...
try to see if you can figgure out where that noise is comming from. as of now my money's on the motherboard... sorry man :eek:
Click to expand...

No it's not coming from the speaker - I unplugged it and it still made the noise. It may be coming from a coil, as there are a few in the area near the processor as well.

pic of where the sound seems to be coming from.
 
thanks for the pic... yeah it may be one of those coils... you said that you didn't smell anything burning (always a good sign, lol) but are any of those coils hot? i don't know if those could potentially shock you... but... just so you know :) i don't know what would make a coil like that buzz, except for a hell of a lot of amperage. (which would make the coil hot, blah, blah, blah...) i don't know if a 'bad' coil can create that sound, i'd think that it would have to be some component that was drawing too many watts, although it might be something 'upstream' too... hey, electronics isn't really my deal, but i'll help you all i can.

was that buzz with the board in or out of the case?
did the hum/buzz/noise sound like something arcing, or was it just a more healthy sounding hum, like from a power transformer on a pole or one of those huge green transformers? it seems like it would be just a hum, not a cracking arcing sound, because if there were any arcs, i'd imagine you'ld smell them..!
 
Originally posted by someoneyouknow
Well unfortunately I don't have a spare PSU to swap it with ... all my spares are 300W and less (plus a Dell PSU and a Compaq PSU)
Click to expand...
I'm sure a 300W psu would suffice for testing purposes.
 
Originally posted by ilkka
I'm sure a 300W psu would suffice for testing purposes.
Click to expand...

Well my 300W won't even power my Duron system, so that one in particular might even be dead, but I can't tell for sure :p

I didn't get a chance to try the system outside of the case last night, but I'll try to do it tonight (I had car problems and didn't get home until late). As it stands, the buzzing occurs inside of the case, don't know about outside yet...

This post is serving more as a bump than providing new information... still open to more suggestions/comments!
 
Checked the caps, and nothing looks bad.

Update:
The buzzing sound is actually coming from the power supply. I tried the power supply in another machine, and it worked just fine - no buzzing and it gave power. However, the other system was a meager Duron 700. I then tried the largest backup PSU I could get my hands on, a 235W, and plugged it into the motherboard in question. Nothing. The test PSU also powered up the Duron system no problem. Note that this all happened OUTSIDE of the case, with the motherboard mounted onto the metal inset of the case, but that inset was outside of the case.

It appears as if my motherboard somehow died overnight with no cause or even a trace of what the problem was. Any other suggestions? I REALLY don't want to buy a new motherboard :( It was only a couple months old (bought after the New Year, even!). Unfortunately it was a refurbed board via Newegg, so the warranty has long since expired (only 15 day warranty). Think there would be any chance of RMAing it at all...? :(
 
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