POST Problem!!!

[baoluanle]

Thanks in advance for all of your inputs!
Here is my problem: several compaqs (desktop pro) would not POST at the time that they are turned on; they would beep then if left poweron-ed long enough (>10 minutes) and then switch off then on back again right away, they POST. I'm almost certain that the problem is the video card because after replace the video card on one of them, it worked just fine! so what do you think the problem is? And why does it do that?
Again Thanks!:confused:

[gopi_vs]

There could be many reasons for a malfunction in the POST. POST may not be initiated due to:

1. Bad power supply
2. A weak BIOS battery
3. A bad RAM stick

As far as I know there is very least chances that a bad display adapter prevents the BIOS to perform the POST. The above mentioned problem areas are major causes for a POST being delayed or not initiated.

:)

[Sylvander]

Hello baoluanle

I found it difficult to understand the meaning of your words due to the unusual punctuation.

Tell me if you agree with the following re-wording and whether I have understood.

"Several compaqs (desktop pro) would not POST at the time they were turned on.
They would beep if left powered on long enough (>10 minutes) and then switch off, then back on again right away and then POST successfully. I'm almost certain that the problem is the video card because after replacing the video card on one of them it worked just fine!"

If my understanding as above is correct:
1. It seems as though the initialisation of the video card is slow and imperfect and when it does finally complete along with all the other items and the POST completes [as signalled by the single beep] the PC detects a problem and restarts automatically.
Then next time around somehow the effects of the previous initialisation have lingered long enough to improve the speed and effectiveness and all is well.
When you change the card for another the problem disappears.
This suggests it's due to something on the card or related to the way THAT card is used.

A lot of what I say above is just my best guess.

I have read of a similar problem with HDD's.
If they are too slow to spin up to speed, [and the PC is set to wait for too short a period of delay] the boot process fails, but if you immediately switch off and back on, due to the fact it has spun up to speed the process succeeds at the next attempt.

Your situation seems similar to this, but with a video card.

I wondered if it could be due to the lack of settings in the BIOS like:

1. "Chipset Features Setup"
Video BIOS Cacheable : Enabled

2. "BIOS Features Setup"
Video BIOS Shadow : Enabled

I have read of a problem where the shadowing area in RAM is conflicting with another cards demand to use the same area. This other card would "lock" the memory area and so the video card cannot use it.

Perhaps you should try the usual procedure of stripping back to motherboard, video and keyboard.
If it boots with these, add one item at a time and reboot after each is added to see the effect.
You may discover the item which is conflicting.

[baoluanle]

Sylvander,
HeHeHe, I thought that "the" unusual puntuation would clarify what I wanted to say but it didn't, did it? Maybe it was unnecessary...!
Anyways, I also first thought of the Video BIOS and have tried different combination of settings and it didn't help! I'll try to do exactly what you say, enabling the Video Cacheable and Shadow then I'll let you know how it turns out.
Again, Many Many Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

[baoluanle]

Nope, that didn't do it! I guess we have to get new video adapters now! Again Thanks Gentlemen!!!

[Budfred]

Have you reset the CMOS on these systems. I have worked with a couple of Deskpros and there are often some strange settings in the CMOS that cause a number of problems. Resetting the CMOS may clear them. Long shot, but cheaper than new video cards.

Budfred

[baoluanle]

Yes, I've tried clearing the CMOS setting and loading the defautl setting but it didn't help at all! Again Thanks any ways!