System does not POST - I cannot determine problem.

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XHair

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
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Yesterday I disconnect all peripheral cables to work on another desktop. Today, when I reconnect everything(monitor, mouse, Cat5, keyboard), the system would not POST.

It boots, the fans spin, the hard drive spins up, the PSU fans are going. When the computer comes on(display comes up), it freezes. This assumption is based on the fact that it does not POST(no devices list), I cannot enter BIOS and I have to hold the power button down for ~5 seconds instead of instantly for it to power off.

:edit: There are no system beeps at all.
I disconnected the CD-ROM with no change.
I disconnected the HDD with no change.
I interchanged the two sticks of DDR RAM with no change.
I tried a single stick in each of the two different colored DIMM slots.
I took the AGP video card out and it still took 5 seconds to power off. Note: there is no onboard video.
:edit2: I took the heatsink off, cleaned out all the dust, cleaned all the thermal compound and appliked AS5 and reinstalled the chip. No change.


Motherboard: GA-K8U-939
Proc: AMD 64 3200+
RAM: Generic ddr 3200(2x512mb)
PSU: Thermaltake TR2 420W(still sold on NewEgg). I have this powersupply in my main machine that I am typing on at the moment and have not had trouble with it.






After that: New MOBO? New PSU?
 
same thing happened to me a couple of months ago....dead mobo :(

I don't know how it happened, but Im guessing ESD...good luck!
 
I hooked up a different motherboard and a different processor with the same power supply and system froze before POSTing again.

I reconnected the crappy PSU that came with the whole rig and the system froze before POSTing.


Do you think that the PSU used in both systems fried both systems?
 
It sounds like you have a bad PSU, but it may not have fried everything. (For clarification, is the Thermaltake 420W PSU you're currently using the "bad" one? If not, which is it?)

Have you also tried running everything outside of the case (to ensure that nothing in the case is possibly shorting out your system)?
 
Crosshair said:
I hooked up a different motherboard and a different processor with the same power supply and system froze before POSTing again.

I reconnected the crappy PSU that came with the whole rig and the system froze before POSTing.


Do you think that the PSU used in both systems fried both systems?
Click to expand...

Have you tried swapping your Thermaltake psu in to see if the other psu is the culprit?
 
The system originally started with the Thermaltake.

I then replaced the motherboard/processor and kept the Thermaltake and it would not POST.

After that, I put the PSU that came with the case back into the mix and it still would not POST.

So in short, yea, I've tried both PSUs but I think the Thermaltake one is bad and irreparably fried both systems. Hindsight is 20/20???


:EDIT:
I also get the POST code 50 for Phoenix BIOS which states

50 Display CPU type and speed
Which is all that the system does... Anyone have further insight?
 
The manual (which can also be found online) has the explanation of the POST codes.

Since the Thermaltake PSU is the "bad one," I suggest replacing it. Try getting a power supply of at least 450 watts with active PFC and an 80 Plus certification. Some brands to consider are Antec (Earthwatts and True Power Trio models only), Seasonic, Silverstone, Corsair, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake (ToughPower series only), Zippy, Enermax (Galaxy series only), and Cooler Master (Real Power Pro series only).
 
tiraides said:
The manual (which can also be found online) has the explanation of the POST codes.
Click to expand...

I looked up the POST codes online and that's all it says: Display CPU type and speed... which is all the system does before it freezes.


tiraides said:
Since the Thermaltake PSU is the "bad one," I suggest replacing it. Try getting a power supply of at least 450 watts with active PFC and an 80 Plus certification. Some brands to consider are Antec (Earthwatts and True Power Trio models only), Seasonic, Silverstone, Corsair, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake (ToughPower series only), Zippy, Enermax (Galaxy series only), and Cooler Master (Real Power Pro series only).
Click to expand...

I've switched the two power supplies around and the status of the system has not changed. It still won't POST. I would think that replacing the power supply would fix this problem. (It's a generic 480W vs the TR2 "Bad one"). It hasn't changed what has happened. My fear is that whatever happened to the "bad" TR2 has permanently damaged both boards and processors.

I have the same exact power supply in my main system as well and haven't had a problem with it, thankfully.
 
"Generic" power supplies normally use cheap capacitors and are rated for loads that are actually higher than what they could really handle. Age and work load also degrade the quality and efficiency of even good power supplies over time. Since you can't get beyond the post screen, you need to get a new, better quality power supply. I can't say at this time whether or not the motherboards (and/or other components) are damaged as well since you can't test them at this time.

Replace the power supply, and then perform some of the troubleshooting steps listed in the GenHard FAQ/sticky.
 
An update.

Right now I have the 2nd, "generic" power supply in and after a few minutes of sitting on in this frozen stage at the POST screen, it DID post. It showed the processor speed and the hard drive that is connected along with a different POST code : 7F, although I can't find reference to it online and the manual doesn't have a POST code section. After that I could not press F1 to continue like it said.

I restarted and nothing has happened . . . Isolated incident? What does it portend!?



It did it a second time, but gets stuck after it POSTs. It takes about two minutes before it checks the CPU and then gets to the memory and drives. Wha.....?
 
Need clean power. Dirty power kills MBs, memory, hard drives, everything. Buy a good power supply like the Antec EA 650 and never look back.
 
It seems to me that if the PSU is powering up the lights, fans, HDs, etc. that it probably isn't bad. I would put a voltmeter onto the leads to see what voltages it is putting out. A PSU is normally not going to kill anything unless it just flat burns out causing a surge, which a cheap PSU can do. Go buy a new one from Best Buy or somewhere you can return it and try that out so that you know you have a working PSU.

If you still have no post, then clear the CMOS. Unplug both sticks of RAM. If you get no beep codes whatsoever, then you either have a bad CPU or bad MB or both. A system not posting can only be caused by a bad PSU, bad RAM, bad MB, or a bad CPU or any combination thereof.

Just in case, make sure you have no USB peripherals plugged in while doing this.
 
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