Computer only boots every other time

[flabbergas]

I got this computer that only boots-up every other time I turn it on.

I try going into BIOS to edit stuff.. but when it's supposed to restart and save changes, it just sits there blank.. (because it's that odd digit boot that never works) and editing bios is necissary in my circumstance.

Anybody have the foggiest as to why it's doing this? I told it I was willing to negotiate but it just stared at me... it just, stared...

anyhow, aside from that staring stuff, anybody have any ideas?

[Randy_tx]

Given the information in your post......It could be anything from a bad on/off switch to a bad power supply to bad RAM....or maybe nutten at all! Try to give more of the symptoms...like does it post up (go thru counting of Ram) and then stop or every other time what IS it doing???

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Wore out my Ctrl/Alt/Del keys with Win ME

[sleddog]

Don't have a Fujitsu hard drive by any chance, do you?


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[flabbergas]

The information I have for you, would be that I dont have a fujitsu hard drive... and that the ram is positioned correctly and known to work.

I have tried a different on/off switch, and it still has the same problem.

Also, for the times it does boot, it counts the ram like 2 or 3 times in a row. as for the times it doesn't boot, the moniter remain blank, But the fans and everything turn on still, and there is no initial beep when it's turned on for the times it doesn't boot.

I havn't tried a different powersupply, but I can do that.

Does it matter the wattage and voltage of the power supply being used with any particular motherboard?

[Paleo Pete]

Counting RAM 2-3 times can sometimes be cured by setting system bootup speed in BIOS to fast.

Motherboard voltage may be a concern, if the power supply is getting weak it might not be supplying enough voltage or wattage at times. I would think trying another power supply would be a good idea.

Trying different memory would also be a good idea, if the memory has been slightly damaged by static electricity it can show intermittent and down right weird symptoms, and is very difficult to pin down.

A bad CMOS chip is not out of the question either. And have you change the battery recently? If not you might try that, and if you have, it might either be a bad battery or bad contact. I doubt if this is the cause, but it might be worth checking into.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[Randy_tx]

It's probably not the battery or it would never boot......but it might WELL be the power supply is not doing what it's supposed to...ie provide the right amout of juice (volts n amps) to the mobo to properly boot.....OR ...you have a dying HD,mobo or both!

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Wore out my Ctrl/Alt/Del keys with Win ME

[flabbergas]

Alright, I tried some different ram, and I filled all the slots... now it counts the RAM just fine.

But it still only turns on and boots every other time.

here's exactly what happens:

I turn it on, it counts the ram.. then gives me an error something to the effect of:
"Unworkable CPU replace change bla bla bla"

okay.. I press f1 to continue.

It goes on to the next screen.
Verifying dmi pool data kinda stuff.
and then it gives me the error:

I/o disk error - replace disk and press a key to continue.

I also go into bios to change the CPU specs.. but it doesn't keep them next boot.. but it does remember other stuff.

Also, the BIOS kept detecting my drives of different sizes as always 8 gig.

I've tried a different CPU.. but it does the same thing.

I tried another BIOS chip also.. but the one I tried must be falty or something because when I turn it on with that chip it just beeps continuously.

If I could just get it to work even if it only started every other boot, then it would be better than nothing.

any ideas?

[Randy_tx]

My guess is that the BIOS chip and/or the motherboard are defective. Even though the Bios remembers "some stuff", it shouldn't forget ANY stuff(unless the battery is dead)! You would be best advised to return the motherboard and get a replacement (you have already determined that it's not the cpu or memory, right?...the only thing left is P.Supply(which i now doubt) and Motherboard....good luck. I never replace the Bios chip on a mainboard unless a flash update goes awry...which has never happened to me ...yet...It's too hard to get the right one for the board you are working with.

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Wore out my Ctrl/Alt/Del keys with Win ME

[flabbergas]

Alright. Yeah, it can't be the power supply. Because I tried 2 others with different switches. same problem.

I think it's the BIOS chip. Before, I'd turn it on, and it would just go bpbpbpbpbpbpbpbpb [that's to signify beeping]

anyhow. I replaced the BIOS chip with another chip from a similar computer. It now boots up half the time, but the chip still thinks it's in the old computer. I want to flash the BIOS with the new corresponding motherboard. But there's a problem.

In order to flash the BIOS, you're pretty much gonna need the motherboard's manufacturer, right? well I can't get it.

It has no revealing label on the board, and the only other way to get it is by reading the BIOS number during boot-up.. which I can't do.. because that BIOS chip wont boot. Where as the new chip I put in reveals it's previous board's manufacturer.

Is there anyway to find out the manufacturer with no label and no BIOS chip?

or perhaps.. is there a way to get that old BIOS chip working? with that chip.. it doesn't boot at all.. and it just goes "beep-blpbp" [pause] "bpbpbpbpbpbpbpbpb" on and on forever.

I've tried different ram, video cards, powersupplies, cpu's, hardisks, moniters... but the BIOS seems to be the problem.

Applying energy into the repair of this computer is beginning to seem like that machine on the movie, "the princess bride". It has just sucked 1 week of my life away... "ugh.." [humperdink runs in and cranks the switch] "NO!!NOT TO FIFTY!!!"

what can be done in this situation? and don't tell me some Geriatric Billy Crystal is gonna make a difference.

anybody know how to fix this kind of BIOS stuff? is the BIOS the problem here?

[Paleo Pete]

Sounding like the BIOS chip is bad. I would put the original BIOS chip in and send the motherboad back to see if you can get it exchanged for a working one.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)