Author Topic: PC will not boot or even load BIOS (Read 18796 times)

superakcraig · « **on:** January 14, 2009, 07:37:08 PM »

So last night my second PC decided to do one of those XP updates that it makes you do when you shut down the machine. After 45 minutes, the PC was still on and the screen saying the PC is updating was still on. So in my wisdom (I am being sarcastic), I decided to shut the PC down by holding the power button in for 5 seconds.

I tried to start the machine tonight and it will not boot at all. I can't even get into the bios now. The monitor will not come out of sleep mode. The power light is on and the harddrive light stays on like it is spinning but can't do anything.The first time I tried, I did hear some strange beeps but I didn't pay attention to how many or how they sounded.

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to what it could be? Thanks.

Windows XP2
1.8 Ghz P4
1 gig of Ram

Broni · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2009, 08:58:55 PM »

Do you have Windows CD?

superakcraig · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2009, 09:00:21 PM »

I do, but it won't load, I have already tried.

Broni · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2009, 09:03:11 PM »

Turn it on, and post more info about beeps.

superakcraig · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2009, 09:08:03 PM »

Thats just it, the first time I turned it on, there was a set of strange beeps but it never happened again.

Broni · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2009, 09:12:33 PM »

Open the case, reseat RAM, and video card (if any).

superakcraig · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2009, 09:13:11 PM »

I have done that as well. Thanks for your help by the way.

Broni · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2009, 09:21:43 PM »

Is monitor light on?

superakcraig · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2009, 09:23:09 AM »

The monitor light is blinking to indicate it is in sleep mode.

Broni · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:33:12 PM »

Try another monitor.

superakcraig · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:39:52 PM »

I have done that as well.

patio · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:56:06 PM »

superakcraig · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:57:53 PM »

Sorry....what the heck does the pic of the tooth mean?

Broni · « **Reply #13 on:** January 15, 2009, 06:50:43 PM »

Quote

what the heck does the pic of the tooth mean?

Getting some info from you is THAT painful

What happened with the second monitor?

superakcraig · « **Reply #14 on:** January 15, 2009, 08:52:16 PM »

Oh...I was just answering the questions. Don't get the sarcasm!!

The second monitor responded exactly the same as the first monitor. It stayed in sleep mode.

This PC does not respond no matter what I do.

I removed the video, the sound, the modem and the Ieee1394 cards...started the PC with the same response.

I removed the memory (both sticks), my pc responded the same way.

I disconnected both harddrives and started the pc with the same response.

Any other thoughts or questions?

patio · « **Reply #15 on:** January 15, 2009, 09:05:01 PM »

Borrow a known good PSU of the same wattage or greater and swap it in there to rule it out as the culprit...

superakcraig · « **Reply #16 on:** January 18, 2009, 02:46:39 PM »

I don't have another power supply to borrow and try so I have tested the power supply with a multimeter and was wondering, should the 12volt power(yellow wire) read exactly 12V? Mine reads 11.72 and was wondering if this is normal or does this indicate my power supply is bad?

hejlik · « **Reply #17 on:** January 18, 2009, 02:57:38 PM »

I think the only way to positively eliminate the ps is to try another. 11.72 is probably within tolerances (although that does seem a tad low), but voltage alone does not guarantee a good ps.

Crafty · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2009, 04:55:56 PM »

Are all the fans inside the computer still spinning? If yes, you could try to resetting the cmos. Other than that I to would look at the Psu.

superakcraig · « **Reply #19 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:00:32 PM »

Crafty,

Yes all the fans inside the PC are working. There are 3 + 1 on the video card. I have tried the resetting of the cmos with no luck at all. I may try to find a PSU at a local PC repair store. Not sure what else to do. I wish there was a way to tell if it is indeed the MOBO.

Crafty · « **Reply #20 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:14:09 PM »

You say you cannot get into the bios? is this because you have no display on your monitor to see that you might be in the bios? If so, have you tried a different graphics card?

superakcraig · « **Reply #21 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:24:05 PM »

Crafty,

I do not have another video card to test. I can tell you that I took the card completely out and tried to start it thinking I could watch the hard drive light on the front of the PC to see if it does anything different or hear the hard drives doing anything different. Unfortunately they didn't. I have even removed the harddrive thinking if it was something corrupt on the drive, then it might still boot into the bios. No luck there either.

Crafty · « **Reply #22 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:33:34 PM »

What is confusing me here, is that I'm uncertain if this isn't just a display issue. Ok, if I was you I would disconnect all your harddrives, DVD drives and remove sound card. Place the graphics card back in along with your Ram (Memmory), now try booting to the bios and let me know what happens.

patio · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:36:07 PM »

Don't take the advice given and try another PSU...

Crafty · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:40:05 PM »

Why is that Patio? Why can it not be the graphics card?

superakcraig · « **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:46:21 PM »

Okay,

I removed the harddrives, the floppy drive, both DVD drives, the firewire card, the modem, and the wireless card. I removed both sticks of memory and the video card. I replaced the video card and replaced one stick of memory. I turned it back on with the same results. I don't even get a beep from the bios starting up and I haven't since this problem began.

Any other ideas?

Crafty · « **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:55:38 PM »

And if you just let the computer try to boot without going into the bios there is no blinking cursors or anything on the monitor screen?

superakcraig · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:59:05 PM »

No there is nothing. The fans just spin and you hear the harddrive (when hooked up) start spinning just a quick second and then nothing.

Crafty · « **Reply #28 on:** January 18, 2009, 06:29:41 PM »

Well the set of beeps you spoke about made me think that it could of been something like the graphics card, but do try the other advice offered and please do let us know the outcome. There is, after all, a number of things this could be, right to the mainboard itself been at fault.

spacecat9 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 18, 2009, 08:08:13 PM »

CPU is rooted it over heated installing up dates froze you turned off the machine the fan stoped the CPU heated up just a little more with no cooling and poped. and now wont boot seems obvious.

BC_Programmer · « **Reply #30 on:** January 18, 2009, 11:46:26 PM »

Quote from: spacecat9 on January 18, 2009, 08:08:13 PM

CPU is rooted it over heated installing up dates froze you turned off the machine the fan stoped the CPU heated up just a little more with no cooling and poped. and now wont boot seems obvious.

I'm sorry- were you there? because half of that is pulled out of thin air.

superakcraig · « **Reply #31 on:** January 19, 2009, 07:05:56 AM »

Quote from: spacecat9 on January 18, 2009, 08:08:13 PM

CPU is rooted it over heated installing up dates froze you turned off the machine the fan stoped the CPU heated up just a little more with no cooling and poped. and now wont boot seems obvious.

Well I am not saying you are wrong BUT did I mention that the PC froze during a windows Auto Update for over 45 minutes? Your logic really doesn't make sense.

BC_Programmer · « **Reply #32 on:** January 19, 2009, 07:40:30 AM »

Quote from: superakcraig on January 19, 2009, 07:05:56 AM

Your logic really doesn't make sense.

That's because it's non-existent.

Crafty · « **Reply #33 on:** January 19, 2009, 10:11:40 AM »

Sorry, if you have left out the Ram and still received no beeps or error reports, then you are looking at one of the following - Psu/Mainboard/Cpu. I would now look at the Psu like you have already been advised, and if this still doesn't fix it, then look at the Cpu before moving onto the mainboard itself- Hopefully it's just the Psu though.

SmittySr · « **Reply #34 on:** January 19, 2009, 10:34:47 AM »

I had a similar problem with a black screen and no cursor. It turned out to be a problem with the RAM. The computer gave me a stange two tone beep followed by three short beeps. The point I am trying to make is that I had to turn the machine on and off several times, and wait to get the beep code to sound again.

Lee07133 · « **Reply #35 on:** January 26, 2009, 11:29:30 AM »

Hello everyone. I too have a very similar problem on a windows xp...(does it matter?). Last night it was working just fine...but then i left it to my little brother to use and the next thing i noticed when i woke up, the computer wasn't turning on. everything sounded like it works...like it's gonna boot...but it doesn't. it appears that the monitor doesn't get anything, no signal from the computer. I don't even see the logo display of my motherboard. so i thought it might be a video card problem and replaced it with one of my buddy's. it didn't solve the problem. the other possible sources are the CPU or the Motherboard..i thought. is there any way to check for sure before i spend lots of money on new ones just to find out that it's neither?
I was reading through the topic, and someone mentioned about power supply. can someone tell me the importance of the power supply and that it might be related to the problem as well? besides the fact that it's required to power up each hardware.
I would really like to get my computer back up and running as soon as possible.
Thanks.

truenorth · « **Reply #36 on:** January 26, 2009, 11:58:48 AM »

Lee07133, 1st welcome to the Ch forums.As a matter of assistance to derive the full benefits of the forums i must advise that while we all have unbridled sympathy for your problem what you have just done is attempt to hijack someone else's post.That is not cricket. Please create your own post and also ensure that you include all the details of your computer as well as relevant information pertaining to actions or changes that occurred just before the problem arose. In this instance more is better than less. goodluck, truenorth

EMUSR · « **Reply #37 on:** January 26, 2009, 04:47:10 PM »

Quote from: truenorth on January 26, 2009, 11:58:48 AM

what you have just done is attempt to hijack someone Else's post.

Trying to solve a problem within the same realm is more tolerated than posting the same problem someone has already posted. Revising an existing thread.

To anyone with this problem........... First look inside your tower, check for build up of dust. If you have it built up simply use a fine hair brush, take the ram out, clean the entire MoBo and get in the slots of the Ram Ports, blow it out, insert Ram, turn on, have fun..............

Dust shorts the board out but won't harm it and once cleaned will most likely be the problem..

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Author Topic: PC will not boot or even load BIOS (Read 18796 times)

superakcraig

Broni

superakcraig

Broni

superakcraig

Broni

superakcraig

Broni

superakcraig

Broni

superakcraig

patio

superakcraig

Broni

superakcraig

patio

superakcraig

hejlik

Crafty

superakcraig

Crafty

superakcraig

Crafty

patio

Crafty

superakcraig

Crafty

superakcraig

Crafty

spacecat9

BC_Programmer

superakcraig

BC_Programmer

Crafty

SmittySr

Lee07133

truenorth

EMUSR