Possible motherboard issue

[Tmobmike]

I am having trouble with a computer that I built about two years ago that has been running perfect up until about a week ago. I first noticed that in the My Computer screen that my dvd rom drives had disappeared. I checked the hardware status and updated drivers and it notices that they are there but doesn't install them to work properly. Both of these have been in the computer since I built it. Another thing that happens now is that with all the usb and audio stuff plugged into the back of the motherboard it doesnt want to boot up and if it finally does it takes like 10 minutes. Sometimes also right when I turn it on I get the constant beep like it is the video card and it won't start up.

What I have figured out right now to get it to boot up fast is if I unplug everything from the motherboard besides the two hard drives, the monitor and the audio cables into my sound card the computer boots up really fast and once it boots up I can plug in my mouse and keyboard and everything works perfect.

While the computer is on also I can just barely move the tower and the entire thing locks up and I have to kill the power completely and turn it back on to get it to do anything.

Any advice would help out tremendously.

Thanks, Michael.

[Whyzman]

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

If this is not a USB keyboard and mouse, you really don't want to be plugging these devices in while the system is up and running. The slightest wrong move and you could cause a short that would fry the controller.

Have you cleaned the internals of "dust bunnies" and other junk that might have accumulated on the heatsink, fans, etc.?

Cans of compressed air designed for this type of cleaning work well...

[Tmobmike]

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

If this is not a USB keyboard and mouse, you really don't want to be plugging these devices in while the system is up and running. The slightest wrong move and you could cause a short that would fry the controller.

Have you cleaned the internals of "dust bunnies" and other junk that might have accumulated on the heatsink, fans, etc.?

Cans of compressed air designed for this type of cleaning work well...


Yeah I have totally cleaned out the computer and keep it really clean all the time. The keyboard and mouse are also USB. I am just finding it really weird that with any thing more then the monitor and hard drive plugged in that it almost refuses to start up at all. But then when nothing is plugged in until after it starts up then it starts up just fine. Would this be a mother board issue or something more than that?

Thanks for the help!!!

-Michael.

[david eaton]

Actually, it sounds more like a power supply issue. Looks as if the 12v rail is not delivering the amps it should. What rating is it?

[Tmobmike]

Actually, it sounds more like a power supply issue. Looks as if the 12v rail is not delivering the amps it should. What rating is it?


Swapped out power supply today from my other computer into this one and started the computer up with everything plugged in and it still did the same thing. I unplugged everything again besides the monitor and the computer comes up perfect.

I was told today that this could be a possible device mismatch problem or maybe a BIOS issue. Does anyone know for sure if this could possibly be the case and maybe a way to fix it myself.

Thanks, Michael

[Sylvander]

"when I turn it on I get the constant beep"
What is the beep pattern?
Which make of BIOS?
See www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

"if I unplug everything from the motherboard besides the two hard drives, the monitor and the audio cables into my sound card the computer boots up really fast"
So these hardware items are causing no POST test failure and halt.

"once it boots up I can plug in my mouse and keyboard and everything works perfect"
So perhaps the mouse and/or keyboard were failing a POST test and causing the POST halt.

"I can just barely move the tower and the entire thing locks up and I have to kill the power"
Sounds like a hardware problem [which item?]; poor connection or short?

"Would this be a mother board issue or something more than that?"
Seems like some item of hardware is causing the POST to halt.
Add back one item of hardware at a time then Startup.
See which item of hardware causes POST to halt.

"I first noticed that in the My Computer screen that my dvd rom drives had disappeared"
During POST...
Can you get rid of the splash screen? [Hitting "Esc"?]...
And watch the DVD LED's blinking [or do they glow constantly?] as the BIOS "polls" the drives and they answer.
Then shortly after [if that process is successful] they should be shown/identified/described/named on screen in text.
That would show that auto-detection and configuration of the drive parameters in the BIOS has been successful [are all your drives set to auto in the BIOS Setup?]

[Tmobmike]

"when I turn it on I get the constant beep"
What is the beep pattern?
Which make of BIOS?
See www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

"if I unplug everything from the motherboard besides the two hard drives, the monitor and the audio cables into my sound card the computer boots up really fast"
So these hardware items are causing no POST test failure and halt.

"once it boots up I can plug in my mouse and keyboard and everything works perfect"
So perhaps the mouse and/or keyboard were failing a POST test and causing the POST halt.

"I can just barely move the tower and the entire thing locks up and I have to kill the power"
Sounds like a hardware problem [which item?]; poor connection or short?

"Would this be a mother board issue or something more than that?"
Seems like some item of hardware is causing the POST to halt.
Add back one item of hardware at a time then Startup.
See which item of hardware causes POST to halt.

"I first noticed that in the My Computer screen that my dvd rom drives had disappeared"
During POST...
Can you get rid of the splash screen? [Hitting "Esc"?]...
And watch the DVD LED's blinking [or do they glow constantly?] as the BIOS "polls" the drives and they answer.
Then shortly after [if that process is successful] they should be shown/identified/described/named on screen in text.
That would show that auto-detection and configuration of the drive parameters in the BIOS has been successful [are all your drives set to auto in the BIOS Setup?]


I am going to take a look into all of this today and see if I can get a resolution on any of the things that you have pointed out. Thanks for the help. Will post again once I run thru this list. THANKS!!!!!

[Sylvander]

"So these hardware items are causing no POST test failure and halt." :(
Better wording would be...
So these hardware items are NOT responsible for causing the POST test failure and halt. :)

[alex666]

Swapped out power supply today from my other computer into this one and started the computer up with everything plugged in and it still did the same thing. I unplugged everything again besides the monitor and the computer comes up perfect.

It would help if you could post the specs (amps) for each of the rails on the old psu and the one you just inserted. Unless you know for a fact that the psu from your other computer is newer and more powerful in terms of amps for each of the +3, +5, and +12 volt rails.

The other question: was this a new mobo two years ago? I ask because there was period lasting a couple of years, that ended just few years ago, during which time a lot of mobos were manufactured with bad capacitors (caps), and many of the symptoms you are describing are consistent with this. Are any of your caps swollen, have cracks, or have any brown or yellowish powder on them? If you need a reference re. this, go here:

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=25482

marty