System won't POST, please help...

J

jonesad

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 23, 2004
Messages
185
Hello -
I have a system in my sig that I built about 1 year ago and its been running great. The other night, it restarted itself, and came to a black screen. After I manually restarted (by hitting the reset button on the case) I was able to get in the BIOS and noticed all my memory timing settings had been reset. I fixed those, then rebooted and everything seemed fine.

The next morning, I woke up and the computer had been turned off. When I tried to turn it on, it starts, but nothing is output to the monitor. I put in a spare video card I had, and again it turns on but nothing is sent to the monitor.

I had a spare motherboard, and I pulled everything out and put in the new motherboard, same problem - it will turn on but nothing comes on the screen, not even the basic POST screen.

I hooked the monitor up to another computer to make sure it was fine, and it works perfectly.

So - I have no idea what else to try - I have pulled out all the memory and tried one at a time, same problem. If it won't make it to post, does that mean my CPU is fried? Thanks for any help!
 
CPUs rarely die, but its possible...

Do you have your system on a UPS?
Did you try another PSU?
Do you have any 1.8v DDR2 RAM you could try?
Does the system give you any POST beep error without RAM and/or a videocard?

I'm assuming you've done most of what I about to paste, but I'm not sure if you did it all outside of the case...

enginurd said:
/*------------- <cut n paste> -------------*/
This is basic troubleshooting if your system has never POSTed (as in, you just put it together); Though, it may be helpful to others whose system no longer POSTs...
If you have both the 20/24 pin main ATX connector plugged in, AND the 4-Pin (or 8-pin) ATX12V P4 CPU connector plugged in, then the board should boot fine (unless it requires more power connectors from the PSU). First, try clearing the CMOS w/ the proper jumper or button.

The next thing you could do is test the PSU. Jump start it (on the main atx connector, short the green wire with any black wire, using a paperclip), and see if it stays on. If not, then its probably a faulty PSU. If it works then you can proceed with the suggestions below. ***NOTE: The paperclip trick is a simple test for those that do not have PSU testers, multimeters, nor a spare PSU to test with. It is not a 100% conclusive test of the PSU.

How to test with a multimeter @ BFG

Setup everything outside of the case, with the mobo on top of its cardboard box. Plug in only the essentials:
- PSU (namely: main 20/24-pin ATX connector and 4-pin ATX12V P4 CPU Connector; The 4-pin should work in the 8-pin EPS12v plugs, too)
- CPU w/ HSF
- Single stick of ram
- Videocard if there is no onboard video (along with its power connector, if it has one)
- System speaker/buzzer (your board may have an on-board tweeter/buzzer/speaker)
- Monitor & Keyboard

Reset/Clear the CMOS by following the instructions in your mobo manual.

* Use a screwdriver if your board doesnt have an onboard power switch. Jump the two power switch leads to turn the power on.

If it won't post, try different RAM slots. If it still won't post, pull out the ram (so no ram in the system) and listen for error beeps. If none, pull the vidcard and listen for error beeps. If none, re-seat the CPU and HSF, then try again. Report back with results if you're still having issues.
/*------------- </cut n paste> -------------*/
Click to expand...
 
Do you have your system on a UPS? - I have it on a protected power surge break, tried with a different one, same results. The red "protected" light is on on the surge protector, so I think its fine

Did you try another PSU? - I did not, I guess I could pull out the one on my other system, but not sure it has enough juice to power everything, since it comes on, I thought the PSU was okay...

Do you have any 1.8v DDR2 RAM you could try? - Tried with a stick 1.8 DDR2 from my other system, same problem

Does the system give you any POST beep error without RAM and/or a videocard? - no beep error without the RAM, or video card - on either motherboard I've used.
 
It turned out to be the memory - I went and bought a new stick to try and I was able to get it to post - after swapping out the motherboard and everything!! grrr!
 
Hm... odd that it didnt give you any error beeps without RAM nor Vidcard. Anyhow, glad you got it solved!
 
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