Boot failure, no beeps

[Philp]

Hi,

I have an Abit VP6 with dual 1Ghz processors that I built for video editing. It has worked fine for 7 months until tonight. I power up and hear no beeps, although the fans and drive lights work OK. There are two clicks immediately after the HD spin up. The video is completely blank so I figured a video card failure. Replaced it and still no luck. Pulled RAM, disconnected HD and CD cables, sound and Firewire cards, each processor individually, cleared CMOS, still no joy.

Any suggestions as to what to do next? How do i check if it is a motherboard or processor problem?

Abit VP6
Dual 1Ghz PIII
Geforce2 64Mb card
512Mb RAM
40Gb HD
60Gb HD,
CD-ROM
CD-RW
Zip drive
Sound card
Firewire card
Win 2K

Thanks.

[wiltrot]

I would try replacing the power supply

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[Whyzman]

Hello Philp,

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif Forums!

The clicking of the HDD is not impressive! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

It sounds to me that you're making it through POST and when things are handed over to the OS it's not being able to load...perhaps that clicking sound you're hearing as it tries to read the HDD.

If I'm right, (and I sure hope not!) I hope you've backed up all your hard work!

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!

Whyzman

[bassman]

Hi Philp,
When you say "Pulled RAM, disconnected HD and CD cables, sound and Firewire cards, each processor individually, cleared CMOS, still no joy.", does this mean you also replaced RAM with known good RAM and then try to boot?
After disconnecting HDD, are you still hearing the clicks? If so, do you know where they are coming from?
Have you tried another monitor?

I know, I know, you wanted answers, not questions http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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[Philp]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the questions. In reverse order,

The monitor is OK since I am using a KVM switch with this system. This is not the problem since removing the KVM has no effect.

When the hard drive spins up, the sound is like a relay closing, not the usual thud thud, that I have heard when drives fail or overstep. Also I get no POST messages. I thought that I would see the BIOS and other info before the drives were accessed.

I have not tried new RAM but, RAM that does work in another machine. Still nothing.

I have not exchanged the PSU but since all fans and drive lights seem OK, I did not suspect this as a problem. I'll check voltages this weekend.

Thanks for the help. Still looking for that dream answer (like I wake up tomorrow and it works again!)

[ski]

If the PS voltages check out, then suspect a bad MB. Only way to check it is to swap out.

[sea69]

may sound stupid, but if you have your system plugged into a power strip try plugging DIRECTLY into the wall socket.

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homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[sea69]

server error

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-11-2002).]

[Randy_tx]

I agree with Sea......albeit it's a Loooooong shot. Mainboard I fear.
You can run the unit with one cpu cant you? Swap out the cpu's and test one at a time [you can be fairly sure two cpu's wouldnt go out at the same time].

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XP didn't save Me !

[sea69]

yep Randy and I remember getting that tip here from you.

never forget things like that!

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homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[ski]

I doubt the power strip is faulty. If it were, then the fans and lights would not be working.

[sea69]

Originally posted by ski:
I doubt the power strip is faulty. If it were, then the fans and lights would not be working.

that is simply untrue.

and it is much easier to check that than

ski-

"If the PS voltages check out, then suspect a bad MB. Only way to check it is to swap out."

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homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


;)~

[ski]

Two items can go bad in a computer's power strip to make it faulty:
-The metal oxide varistors(commonly used in most computer power strips).
-The fuse.
Bad MOV's will render the strip useless for suppressing surges, but it will still be able to flow current to the computer.
A bad fuse will prevent the strip from flowing any current.

Your suggestion to bypass the power strip and connect the computer's power cord directly into the wall outlet implies the power strip has a bad fuse, and I based my comment that the lights and fans will not run if the power strip is faulty on that implication.

[sea69]

I am not disputing your logic, I am just saying that it is a possibility and very easy to try.

so you are saying that a bad
"MOV" can only not suppress but would still carry the current as if it was working correctly, there could be no fault in it??


if Philp would be kind enough to post back how he's doing we would see.

kinda like the non working microwave- give it a smack and it works.. not in the user manual though.

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server error AGAIN


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homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 01-12-2002).]

[ski]

I'm saying that your suggestion to bypass the surge suppressor serves no useful purpose in solving the problem, since it's apparent that the suppressor is doing its job of getting power to the power supply module simply because the computer's lights and fans are running.

Some surge arrestor basics to explain my point:
A surge arrestor contains two internal parallel wires(line and ground), a fuse, and MOV's. The fuse is installed in the line wire, and the MOV's are installed in parallel connecting the line and ground wires(I can refer you to a website that has a picture if do not understand my description).
When the voltage is normal the MOV's have a high resistance and all current flows is thru the line wire to the power supply module.
When a surge occurs and the voltage increases, the MOV's resistance decreases causing the excess current to flow thru them to the ground wire while the normal current continues to flow thru the line wire to the computer so it runs normally without interruption. This prevents the excess current from reaching the computer's components and damaging them due to overheating. The MOV's can be viewed as pressure relief valves in this sense.
If a powerful surge occurs that overloads the MOV's current handling capacity, then the fuse will blow to prevent damage to the computer. But now no current can flow thru the line wire to the computer and it will shut down. In this case, the computer's fans and lights will not run and bypassing the surge suppressor by connecting the computer's power connector directly to the wall outlet can help solve a computer no-start problem.
After preventing multiple surges over a long period of time, the MOV's eventually wear out and lose their surge suppression capability. However, the surge suppressor can still flow current to the computer if the fuse is still intact. In this case, the computer's lights and fans will run and bypassing the surge protector to troubleshoot a computer no-start problem is a waste of time. This is Philp's exact situation.

PS - You need to have your microwave oven either fixed or replaced if you have to bang on it in order to get it to run.

[ski]

I'm saying that your suggestion to bypass the surge suppressor serves no useful purpose in solving the problem, since it's apparent that the suppressor is doing its job of getting power to the power supply module simply because the computer's lights and fans are running.

Some surge arrestor basics to explain my point:
A surge arrestor contains two internal parallel wires(line and ground), a fuse, and MOV's. The fuse is installed in the line wire, and the MOV's are installed in parallel connecting the line and ground wires(I can refer you to a website that has a picture if do not understand my description).
The MOV's have a high resistance when the voltage is normal, and all current flows thru the line wire to the computer.
When a surge occurs and the voltage increases, the MOV's resistance decreases causing the excess current to flow thru them to the ground wire while the normal current continues to flow thru the line wire to the computer so it runs normally without interruption. This prevents the excess current from reaching the computer's components and damaging them due to overheating. The MOV's can be viewed as pressure relief valves in this sense.
If a powerful surge occurs that overloads the MOV's current handling capacity, then the fuse will blow to prevent damage to the computer. But now no current can flow thru the line wire to the computer and it will shut down. In this case, the computer's fans and lights will not run and bypassing the surge suppressor by connecting the computer's power connector directly to the wall outlet can help solve a computer no-start problem.
After preventing multiple surges over a long period of time, the MOV's eventually wear out and lose their surge suppression capability. However, the surge suppressor can still flow current to the computer if the fuse is still intact. In this case, the computer's lights and fans will run and bypassing the surge protector to troubleshoot a computer no-start problem is a waste of time. This is Philp's exact situation.

PS - You need to have your microwave oven either fixed or replaced if you have to bang on it in order to get it to run.

[ski]

I'm saying that your suggestion to bypass the surge suppressor serves no useful purpose in solving the problem, since it's apparent that the suppressor is doing its job of getting power to the power supply module simply because the computer's lights and fans are running.

Some surge arrestor basics to explain my point:
A surge arrestor contains two internal parallel wires(line and ground), a fuse, and MOV's. The fuse is installed in the line wire, and the MOV's are installed in parallel connecting the line and ground wires(I can refer you to a website that has a picture if do not understand my description).
The MOV's have a high resistance when the voltage is normal, and all current flows thru the line wire to the computer.
When a surge occurs and the voltage increases, the MOV's resistance decreases causing the excess current to flow thru them to the ground wire while the normal current continues to flow thru the line wire to the computer so it runs normally without interruption. This prevents the excess current from reaching the computer's components and damaging them due to overheating. The MOV's can be viewed as pressure relief valves in this sense.
If a powerful surge occurs that overloads the MOV's current handling capacity, then the fuse will blow to prevent damage to the computer. But now no current can flow thru the line wire to the computer and it will shut down. In this case, the computer's fans and lights will not run and bypassing the surge suppressor by connecting the computer's power connector directly to the wall outlet can help solve a computer no-start problem.
After preventing multiple surges over a long period of time, the MOV's eventually wear out and lose their surge suppression capability. However, the surge suppressor can still flow current to the computer if the fuse is still intact. In this case, the computer's lights and fans will run and bypassing the surge protector to troubleshoot a computer no-start problem is a waste of time. This is Philp's exact situation.

PS - You need to have your microwave oven either fixed or replaced if you have to bang on it in order to get it to run.

[ski]

I'm saying that your suggestion to bypass the surge suppressor serves no useful purpose in solving the problem, since it's apparent that the suppressor is doing its job of getting power to the power supply module simply because the computer's lights and fans are running.

Some surge arrestor basics to explain my point:
A surge arrestor contains two internal parallel wires(line and ground), a fuse, and MOV's. The fuse is installed in the line wire, and the MOV's are installed in parallel connecting the line and ground wires(I can refer you to a website that has a picture if do not understand my description).
The MOV's have a high resistance when the voltage is normal, and all current flows thru the line wire to the computer.
When a surge occurs and the voltage increases, the MOV's resistance decreases causing the excess current to flow thru them to the ground wire while the normal current continues to flow thru the line wire to the computer so it runs normally without interruption. This prevents the excess current from reaching the computer's components and damaging them due to overheating. The MOV's can be viewed as pressure relief valves in this sense.
If a powerful surge occurs that overloads the MOV's current handling capacity, then the fuse will blow to prevent damage to the computer. But now no current can flow thru the line wire to the computer and it will shut down. In this case, the computer's fans and lights will not run and bypassing the surge suppressor by connecting the computer's power connector directly to the wall outlet can help solve a computer no-start problem.
After preventing multiple surges over a long period of time, the MOV's eventually wear out and lose their surge suppression capability. However, the surge suppressor can still flow current to the computer if the fuse is still intact. In this case, the computer's lights and fans will run and bypassing the surge protector to troubleshoot a computer no-start problem is a waste of time. This is Philp's exact situation.

PS - You need to have your microwave oven either fixed or replaced if you have to bang on it in order to get it to run.

[Whyzman]

Philp,

Wish I was familiar with the dynamics of Win2K. I don't know if I've ever read a post regarding Win2K and cranking up with a boot disk. I guess I would try loading up with the basic necessities and see what happens.

------------------
May all your dealings in life be win/win!

Whyzman

[Philp]

Hi guys,

Sorry I haven't replied earlier but the misses made me go to a godforsaken dog show in Little Rock. Ah the joys of marriage!

Well I haven't got to test the PSU yet but definitely tonight. I'll do it with and without the surge suppressor just in case.

At least ABit have great return policy.

[Philp]

Well I checked the voltages last night and they were spot on (4.96, 11.99, 3.3V) with and without the surge suppressor.

I am just packing up the MB to send back to Abit.

Thanks for all the help.