Help!

My PC seems sick. I've been building my own for years and never had a problem with them.

Last night, I was in the other room and noticed I heard my PC reboot. I didn't think much of it until I heard it again. I then went in and started to look for a problem and it just rebooted in front of my eyes. Just went black and to the main BIOS boot screen.

When I got it to boot up, windows wanted to generate a report. I let it and it said it was a graphics card driver problem. After a while, it did the self-reboot again and this time, when it generated a report, it said divice driver problem. I began to think those reports meant nothing.

I tried it again after yet another self-reboot and it simply just locked up. Rebooted again, tried to search for problem and it just blanked out again and this time got stuck in the BIOS screen.

Now, when I power up, I hear the drives and fans power up but the BIOS wont even come up.

So, I look out everything: cards, drives, CPU and put them all back in. Worked for a while.

Well, I am having this same issue. It worked for several days until I noticed that my PC was like in low power mode but wouldn't come back up when I moved mouse or pressed a key. I powered it off and back on and it worked. This morning, it wont do anything. The original problem is back..you turn it on and nothing happens..PERIOD..just the powering up of drives and fans. Any other suggestions?


I will try to provide as much info as possible about my machine:
ASUS P4SDX
Pentium 4 1.6 Gig
512 Megs of Memory on one chip
GeForce 4 MX 420 AGP Video Card
Soundblaster Audigy 2
Generic Network Card
Pinnacle AV/DV video card.
Two Hard Drives
Two CD-ROMS
Antec 430 True Power Supply.

So as of now, have you still not reinstalled the video card drivers?

If in Windows XP, you should uncheck the box that says "automatically restart under system failure". Have you checked the Power Supply Unit? And the RAM?

Well, I had recently upgraded my video drivers but it wouldn't cause the PC not to boot. I can't even get to the BIOS boot or POST...so it isn't a windows problem.

I finally got my internal speaker working. I does one LONG beep..5 second pause..one LONG beep..5 second pause, over and over. This seems to indicate bad memory but alas, without getting a new module, I can't test this. My original memory was from crucial and they claim to have lifetime warranty. I may need to go get at least a 128 module to see if this is the issue or not.

Thoughts?

Your MB uses an Award BIOS, and you're right -> a continuous repeating beep indicates a RAM problem.

Clean off the RAM module's contacts with 91% pure(or higher) alcohol and a soft lint free cloth.

If no luck, then insert it in a different slot.

If still no luck, then reset CMOS either by repositioning a MB jumper, or by removing the CMOS battery for at least 30 minutes.
Make sure to turn off the system and disconnect the power cord before doing either of these.

If still no good, then you'll have to either swap the module out, see if it has the same problem in another system.

Also, check the MB for bulging, leaking, or ruptured capacitors.

here's an update:

Well, I tried a new memory module. No luck and not even any beeps.

I took out everything again and added items one by one back into the unit. No luck.

So I am down to this: CPU is bad or MB is bad.

Suggestions?

Did you try inserting the RAM module in a different slot?

If no luck, then check the MB for bad capacitors as described in my last post.

If they look ok, then either swap out the MB and CPU, or have them tested to fine the culprit.
The power supply and video card are other possible causes.

Boy..this is one of the most fustrating problems I've ever had...I have tried swapping the video card..same result...RAM in different slots..same result...in the past few weeks, it would just start working again and now it wont...even the beeping has stopped.

My next step is trying a new MB but afraid to buy locally at places I can't return them at...I've already tried a new video card and RAM and returned them both with no problem. Maybe try a new power supply but I am really doubting that is the issue..don't want to take it to a "shop"..hahaha...

Fustrating to say the least!

How do the MB capacitors look?

I'd be willing to bet the mobo's the thing. I had the same exact symptoms about a year ago this time(that continuous beeping)and the RAM was new(as was the mobo, an ASUS A7N8X-X). Plus I couldn't get into the BIOS quite often and I knew the keyboard wasn't at fault.

So an RMA exchange of the mobo solved it all!

Well, I thought about getting another new MB locally but they are too expensive and really dont just want to "borrow" one to test the theory...

I may order one..been wanting to upgrade anyway but also saving for a home too..;)

I still wanna know what the Capacitors (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25482) look like...