Stuck on Post/Boot screen

T

Tyrant222

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 2, 2001
Messages
339
I am helping a friend with a rig upgrade that hasn't been going so well.

Specs:
E8400
G.Skill 4gb (its 2.0-2.1v) Newegg link for ref
MSI Platinum combo Newegg for ref
BFG LS-550 power supply
nvidia 7600gt

Only thing reused was optical drive, video card, and case.

Basically it starts up, I hear post beep and I see the POST/BIOS screen (in this case the msi logo) however it does not move beyond that point. Just sits there. I see the keyboard blink however when it sits at that screen it seems I can't use keyboard, like i cant turn scroll lock on for instance. also for example I cannot enter bios.

This mobo has a set of indicator lights at the bottom, the lights are telling me this is the problem (according to the msi manual):

" TESTING BASE AND EXTENDED MEMORY TESTING BASE MEMORY FROM 240k TO 640K AND EXTENDED MEMORY ABOVE 1MB USING VARIOUS PATTERNS"

I thought this might mean memory problem, I also figured this from the beginning since his ram was 2.0-2.1 and i know some mobos don't like that and they need a 1.8 stick to get going. However I have tried other sticks of ram from a dell machine I have which i know is 1.8v and it is still doing the same thing.

I should also mention this is some hybrid ddr2/ddr3 mobo that needs "turbo sticks" in 2 slots when using the memory, in different spots for either ddr2 or ddr3. I have gone over the manual many times and the "turbo sticks" are in the right spot.

Before anyone asks I did not recommend anything to him until he came to me, hes just using this for everyday use so the cpu/mobo seem like a complete waste of money. But i did recommend the psu since I thought the dinky 300 antec smartpower needed to be upgraded. (thank you hardforum community :))

At this point im thinking i should have him rma the mobo but I dont want to do it if I don't have to.
 
clear the cmos?
latest BIOS?
use only one stick of 1.8v RAM (with turbocards in both DDR3 slots)?
use only one stick of 1.8v RAM (without turbocards in both DDR3 slots)?
 
Tried clearing cmos with no luck.

I cant get into the bios let alone update it. It does not appear to boot to anything. stuck at "post" screen.

I will try to get ahold of some other ram to try. My ram is similar stuff (ballistix 2.1v).

But the odd thing is its giving me the damn "POST BEEP" which would mean everything is good to go right? obviously not i suppose.

I can rule out the PSU because it did the same thing with his old antec 300w.
I really think if i cant get it going with different ram its got to be the mobo.
 
Thanks for the tips engi.

I got some ddr 800 from a friend, its 1.8v. I tried it and its still doing the same thing.

Here is another odd thing its doing. If i start it up and keep tapping DEL it will actually give me the post screen instead of the MSI logo, like it wants to try to go into the bios but just stops. the info it gives at this screen is the CPU type and frequency, and it also says how much ram I have but doesnt say any HD/optical drive info.

but if i dont keep tapping DEL, and just let it start to boot I will be confronted with the MSI logo post screen. At this point I have no keyboard control. I cant even turn on/off the num/scroll lock. Isnt that an indication it should be the mobo?

Another thing i dont know how to confirm is the turbo cards. Only 1 of them is lit up with the MSI logo, basically they have fancy led lights on them. But only one of them actually lights up. Doesnt matter if I switch spots with the cards, that one still works and the other still doesnt work. So it could be a bad turbo card ? I dont know for sure.

Regardless all signs point to the mobo so im gonna call MSI tomorrow.
 
I agree, sounds like those turbo cards. Who designed that board and wtf were they smokin?!?!? lol. It's likely hanging while trying to detect a piece of hardware, but without any error beeps, its hard to know what.
 
Ok so it sounds like it hangs when trying to detect the connected drives. So disconnect all drives and see if you can get to the BIOS. If you can get in to the BIOS with out any drives connected then you need to figure out of you got a bad drive or bad cable in the mix.
 
Thanks for the reply TGA,

I should have mentioned that was one of the first thing I tried. I believe it does not even try to detect any drives.

From the error im getting on the LEDS on the motherboard and one of the turbo cards not lighting up im still thinking its something to do with the turbo cards.
 
Just want to keep the thread updated. I talked with MSI and they also thought it could be that turbo card. They agreed both should be lighting up. They are sending me one in the mail. Hope to update again once I get it.
 
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