Computer won't boot

[JBaker4981]

Hey guys. I'm trying to figure out what is wrong with a coworker's computer. Here's the problem once you turn on the power:

1. Fans in case and graphics card run at 100%
2. No Video signal
3. Keyboard lights keep blinking off and on.

I was thinking that it might be a BIOS issue and was just going to flash them but the problem with the video keeps me from trying anything.

Can anyone give me some advice?

 

[lt_shiro]

post a complete list of parts for this build.

and read this guide http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1349426

 

[JBaker4981]

I'm sorry. Here are the specs:

Mobo: Asus p4p800 Deluxe
RAM: Corsair 512mb 400 (3x)
CPU: P4
Video: ATI Radeon X850XT 256MB
Power: Antec 450W
HDD: Western Digital 60GB IDE

 

[JBaker4981]

After researching and working with it and I'm thinking that the motherboard might be shot.

 

[MrkXCeL]

remove video card, see if fans spin down

 

[JBaker4981]

Nope.

 

[engiNURD]

Any error beeps?

 

[Heather Taylor]

To be honest, it sounds EXACTLY like a failed BIOS flash situation. Since it seems you have not flashed the BIOS yet....

I tend to agree with you, J, but I do have a suggestion. It's the "I have no idea what's wrong with this system and can't get a display" method.

But first...do you have a internal speaker so that you can hear BIOS beeps? If you don't, getting a hold of one would be helpful. You can get one from any computer store--and local shops might just give you one if you ask, because a lot of them don't install the speakers when they do builds. What I'm suggesting below depends on having the ability to actually hear the BIOS code.

There are checkpoints for each stage of POST. You're obviously getting past the keyboard detection phase, which is after the CMOS battery check, so I doubt your CMOS battery is dead...but it may be, and with a board this old, I wouldn't rule it out completely. It's easy to replace, and might be a good starting point.

Video is down the list a ways in POST...there's a number of things that happen between keyboard and video, including initializing memory, CPU, and bootstrap.

This is really archaic but works on older boards like the one you have. You've ruled out the video card (fundamentally). Leave the card in, take out any other cards that might be installed, disconnect all drives and opticals, unplug all peripherals, and pull all three banks of memory. The idea is to leave nothing but the bare minimum to narrow your scope of troubleshooting.

If you have an internal speaker, and if your board is still fundamentally good, that PC should scream at you because you don't have any memory installed. If the board is silent, well...time to upgrade, because a good board is going to throw errors of some kind. If you get some beeps (with an AMI BIOS, I believe it's 1 long, 3 short), put in one stick of memory and restart. Try each stick of memory in that fashion until you have found one that will allow it to boot. If all three fail to work, you may have a bad DIMM slot (or three bad sticks of RAM, which would be odd but not impossible).

If you can get the machine to boot using the above method, add the rest of your components in one at a time. If there's a short elsewhere in the machine that is interrupting POST, this is the best way to find it.

I suspect strongly that your board is probably kaput, but if you really want to save the machine, this is the best way to approach troubleshooting if you're not used to having to do it on a regular basis. By removing variables from the configuration, it makes it easier to figure out what's wrong.

 

[MrWizard6600]

cleared cmos/replaced cmos battery?

 

[Tactical_Strike]

Check your jumpers, and any new hardware added, remove.

 

[JBaker4981]

No beeps upon POST. Already checked CMOS battery.

My first guess was corrupted BIOS but the video problem prohibits me from doing anything. I think that it might be junk..