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Computer refuses to POST

L

lorcani

2[H]4U
Joined
Apr 21, 2003
Messages
2,375
The specs:

AMD Athlon XP 2400+ with the retail HS
Arctic Silver Ceramique (yes, applied in a thin layer :p)
MSI KT4 Ultra
Corsair ValueRam PC2700 512Mb
ATi Radeon 9000 Pro
Turbolink 420W PSU
Maxtor 36Gb HDD
CD
CD-RW
On-board sound, on-board networking

First, I was using a generic 128Mb PC2100 stick. It refused to work (froze at the "checking size of physical memory" section of post), so I replaced it with the Corsair, and it managed to get to the BIOS with a CMOS error. After resetting the CMOS, it would freeze on the "specification screen (a screen that says what drives are connected, what cache the processor has, and all that stuff. It flashes on the screen very quickly, usually after it does a memory check)." When I removed all the drives, it refused to do anything but stay blank. I reattached the drives, and still no luck.

So, to recap, the system is on the floor behind me, with the ability to power on, but not reach it to POST. I need to wipe the hard-drive, but I can't do that until I can POST anyway, and the problem at hand is more important right now.

Both memory sticks have been confirmed working in another computer I have set up. The processor just came back from an RMA to AMD after a no booting problem (it would stay on for about 10 seconds, then turn itself off). The motherboard has been RMA'd twice already, and I'll be reluctant to go for a third (if the motherboard is the problem, I'll probably buy a new motherboard, and mark MSI off my short list of "Respectable Computer Component Companies" :(). I'm at a total loss to what the problem may be. If you need any more information, just ask.

Please, help me regain my sanity here. :p
 
MSI is already off my list...

when you power up, do all your fans spin?
Where do you have the CPU fan plugged into, PS or MB header?
Are your DIMMs installed in the proper config for your MEM type, qty, capacity?
Have you tried a different PS?
Have you reset the BIOS?
 
blackrino9 said:
MSI is already off my list...

when you power up, do all your fans spin?
Where do you have the CPU fan plugged into, PS or MB header?
Are your DIMMs installed in the proper config for your MEM type, qty, capacity?
Have you tried a different PS?
Click to expand...

They all spin. The CPU fan is plugged into the 3-pin header on the MB (where would I plug it in on the PSU? Wouldn't I need a 3-pin>molex converter?). The DIMMs are installed correctly, but I can't get into the BIOS to configure them correctly. Both of them, when inserted in a certified working computer, boot into windows. I cannot try another PSU without possibly sacrificing a working PC. The last time I had problems with this PC, I ended up losing 70Gb of files on my working computer (don't ask why :D). I don't want to risk a similar disaster. But, I'll try it if no other options manifest.
 
have you tried taking everything out of the case, setting in on a block of wood and trying to power it up?

You may be grounding out somewhere on the MB.

Did you try resetting the CMOS?
 
Edited out the old information.

Here is where I am now: the system is very unstable, crashing often with no real pattern. However, the case temperature is very low (93F, the case is open), as is the CPU temperature (92F), so I don't know what to think. The system claims that there's no hard-drive installed, even though it is connected and powered on (I'm using a slave/master cable with one device, but the jumpers are set on master, so I should be able to do that). The CPU is still incorrectly being reported as a 1800+ (probably because I cleared the CMOS, which defaults to 100MHz with a 15X multiplier), and the RAM is being reported as 100MHz, versus 166MHz. I can still only get it to boot with the Corsair 512Mb, versus the Generic 128Mb. I've tried 3 different hard-drives, and none of them are being reported as installed. One of the hard-drives I tried partitioning in the other computer got further than the other 2, a Quantum Fireball 30Gb, so I'm using that one at the moment. The other 2 Maxtors are of questionable workosity (I wish it was a word :D).

Any ideas? I'm beginning to get very sick of computers. :mad:

edit2: the instability is the major problem at the moment. The system functions normally, up until it freezes. If I could solve the instability, I would have a working rig. I moved RAM to the second DIMM slot, and it managed to boot. However, it froze in the middle of formatting the hard-drive for Windows XP installation. I'm really stuck now. :confused:
 
Try running memtest

your mem might not be the problem, but if you crash while running that, we'll know that the problem is hardware based and not anything to do with software
 
try flashing the CMOS ... could be corrupt values that won't clear ...
 
blackrino9 said:
Try running memtest

your mem might not be the problem, but if you crash while running that, we'll know that the problem is hardware based and not anything to do with software
Click to expand...

Is that a bootable iso, or does it have to be loaded on a floppy disk?

primea said:
try flashing the CMOS ... could be corrupt values that won't clear ...
Click to expand...

Can that be done using a CD as the first boot device, or do I need a floppy?

The reason I ask is that I currently don't have floppies in any computer in the house, and don't want to have to open up 2 different systems to install floppy drives.
 
lorcani said:
Can that be done using a CD as the first boot device, or do I need a floppy?

The reason I ask is that I currently don't have floppies in any computer in the house, and don't want to have to open up 2 different systems to install floppy drives.
Click to expand...

Should be possible ... do this as a last resort thought ...
 
Alright, the motherboard is now being trashed. The RAM works fine in another board. The video card works fine in another board, so does the processor and the other components. I basically built the system over again, using a different motherboard, and it works.The diagnostic LED (an awesome feature if it works) on the MSI board claims the RAM isn't functional, even though it seems totally random over what the LED decides isn't working. :confused:

Thanks for the help, but I think it just needs an RMA. As I have already RMA'd it once, they can kiss my ass and lose my business forever. MSI was recently sued for used faulty Chinese capacitors, which are cheap and unreliable.

I'll make another post in the AMD forum about what's a good motherboard for me. Thanks for all your help and quick replies. :)

Oh, and by the way: MSI sucks. Period. :D
 
I'll take the time to recommend an Asus A7N8X mobo. Asus is known for reliability. :D
 
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