Computer Not Posting - Troubleshooting Methods?

[John G.]

Hey guys,

I have a computer here that's not posting at all. Fans and lights come up, system powers, but nothing on the screen, no post beeps, nothing. How do you go about troubleshooting something like this? Is there any one component that's likely to blame? Are there any that we can rule out?

Thanks,
John

 

[TheMostWantedPolishTwin]

system specs... it might be memory - check in manual the proper memory configuration, it might be that the BIOS doesn't support the CPU (like you're trying a 64bit sempron but BIOS is too old to support it). It can be couple other things as well....

 

[dirtydr]

It can be couple other things as well....

PSU, improperly seated card and burnt processor being among them. Specs would be helpful

 

[Astra]

With the same descriptions, I had a MB burned out.
However, as others said it could be CPU, AGP or RAM.
Do you have light on keyboard when the PC starts up?

 

[awdark]

I toasted a mothboard before and it does that.
My DFI sometimes doesnt get enough juice at startup and cant load stuff off the bios or something so it would also sometimes hang with fans spinning only.

But no bios BEEP codes? Usually those are helpful

Cant we kinda rule out video card because it doesnt continue to boot?
mobo, cpu, ram in that order of what I think.

Of course it might be a funny obvious one like the PSU is dead, or the CPU fan is stuck and since the mobo has a RPM sensor it wont let you boot with a passive heatsink.

Edit haha wow forgot about the cmos reset idea below me.. all my ideas are expensive thats free to try

 

[zoobaby]

Clear/Reset the BIOS, pull the battery for 5 minutes with no power going to the motherboard. Install battery, and boot.

Then as other suggested reseat card, cpu, memory...