EvilZone
General Tech => Hardware => Topic started by: Kulverstukas on May 12, 2012, 01:56:43 PM
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Well there is this cursed computer here. Some time ago Windows fucked up and I wasn't able to reinstall because the setup couldn't copy some files to finish the setup. I tried few different CD's.
I figured it was a hardware problem and most likely the SATA HDD that it had was done for. I checked for bad sectors, it was fine. I proceeded to install other HDD which was an IDE one. The DVDROM was also an IDE device. Stock cable was too short to connect both, so I used another that I had.
After they were connected, only HDD would get detected as primary IDE drive.
I replaced the DVDROM with another which was a SATA drive and then the PC would not show anything. Then I tried booting up with each of the devices being disconnected and it would completely freeze right after the POST.
I proceeded to revert like it was before - the same drives like it was initially, now it just won't show anything. Computer doesn't have a speaker so I don't know what kind of error messages it gives me.
I tried removing the CMOS battery and shorting the jumpers to clear CMOS memory, sadly that did not help.
All the devices have power coming to them.
Mobo is AliveXFire-eSATAII
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I assume you cannot see these in the BIOS?
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See what in the BIOS?
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I was asking if you could see the drive in BIOS. I assume that's where you are looking...
I know there are issues with SATA drives at times, but if it was previously working I would tend to think hardware failure (drive or mobo). Sounds like you checked this out.
I would look at the drive controller in the BIOS, should be under something like Advanced, IDE configuration....see what the SATA Operation mode and configure SATA part have listed. Primarily, you want to make sure they are configured correctly and are detected.
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Yeah but I can't even boot it up - nothing comes on the screen and no error can be seen or heard.
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Oh, Ok. I think your mobo might be toast then.
Unless you do just a real basic boot....just the stuff you need....known working gfx card, IDE HDD, and ensure memory properly seated. I suspect you've already tried that, but....
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Nothing is fried, it's just the boot sequence that's fucked.
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So pretty much the computer wont boot past POST? If thats the case are there any beeps when you turn it on?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test
Lists codes for different machines and what the beep code means. Honestly something I've been wanting to pick up is a BIOS POST card for a PCI bus:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/pc-motherboard-repair-troubleshoot-boot-failure-diagnostic-pci-card-21997
That will give you more direct information. If the computer turns on then this will work.
ALSO if you are trying to install Windows XP on your machine, your not able to transfer all the files its most likely a LACK of SATA drivers. So if trying to load XP, be sure to use nLite and slipstream SATA drivers otherwise it wont work right ;) (unless you have a floppy drive you can put the SATA drivers on that and load it in on a certain prompt during the XP setup.)
I can help more, but its not easy without seeing the machine... Let me know OS, and what exactly happened
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So pretty much the computer wont boot past POST? If thats the case are there any beeps when you turn it on?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test)
Lists codes for different machines and what the beep code means. Honestly something I've been wanting to pick up is a BIOS POST card for a PCI bus:
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/pc-motherboard-repair-troubleshoot-boot-failure-diagnostic-pci-card-21997 (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/pc-motherboard-repair-troubleshoot-boot-failure-diagnostic-pci-card-21997)
That will give you more direct information. If the computer turns on then this will work.
ALSO if you are trying to install Windows XP on your machine, your not able to transfer all the files its most likely a LACK of SATA drivers. So if trying to load XP, be sure to use nLite and slipstream SATA drivers otherwise it wont work right ;) (unless you have a floppy drive you can put the SATA drivers on that and load it in on a certain prompt during the XP setup.)
I can help more, but its not easy without seeing the machine... Let me know OS, and what exactly happened
He doesn't have speakers, so no POST error beeps can be heard.
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Have you tried clearing the motherboard CMOS memory and reconfiguring your hardware settings? I think this will help if there is a problem with the BIOS configuration problem.
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Guys, guys. Please read the first post - I explained EVERYTHING.
@ITPhenix: it always ran WinXP without any problems, just now started to act stupid. I cannot get to the POST, screen doesn't come on.
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hrm without the error beeps its really hard to figure out what exactly is the problem. Short of buying the BIOS POST PCI card, you'll have to test each component. If your able to boot off of a disk, I would suggest picking up Hirens or Ultimate Boot CD (Until I make iTBootDisk)
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd
Run probably mem diag tool, cpu diag tool, a hd diag tool, check the MBR
Hirens includes: SATA Driver (gcdrom.sys) and JMicron JMB361 (xcdrom.sys) for Dos. ;) That might help as well
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first I have to figure out why doesn't it show anything, then I'll try the live CD's :D
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I'm not to sure I understand what issue your having?
So your computer turns on, but then there is just a blank screen?
If thats the issue, the problem is most likely in RAM, Video Card, or Processor/Mobo Anyways as a comp tech thats the place I would be looking. Although it still could be a failing hard drive
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I think I would check everything. You said the drive appears to be OK, nothing is fried, etc. I'm assuming you checked that everything is seated correctly, etc.
Have you tried a different keyboard? We had similar issue at work once.....missing pin on keyboard courtesy of this jackass that brought his own keyboard in (that MS ergo keyboard).
Just throwing out ideas.....
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Well this is embarrassing. I somehow read every part of the original post except the CMOS part. Not sure how that happened. So are the fans or HDD even spinning up, or does literally nothing happen when you press the power button.
If thats the issue, the problem is most likely in RAM, Video Card, or Processor/Mobo Anyways as a comp tech thats the place I would be looking. Although it still could be a failing hard drive
I think it should still get to POST even without a HDD. My best guess would be a problem with the video card. Have you tried plugging the monitor directly into the motherboard video card plug? Not sure if this helps at all...
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I'll be sure to test these ideas tomorrow and report back.
The computer turns on as normal, everything spins up but nothing comes on the screen.
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I'll be sure to test these ideas tomorrow and report back.
The computer turns on as normal, everything spins up but nothing comes on the screen.
As theellimist said its most likely the video card. And your right it wouldn't be the hard drive unless something in BIOS is set to lock the computer if the hard disk doesn't pass S.M.A.R.T. or something, but that's highly unlikely. I would test Video Card first as its most likely the culprit, what I would do is plug that video card in another machine and see if it works, if it works thats not the issue. If it doesn't work then you just need a new video card ;) A good reason for an upgrade xD
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As theellimist said its most likely the video card. And your right it wouldn't be the hard drive unless something in BIOS is set to lock the computer if the hard disk doesn't pass S.M.A.R.T. or something, but that's highly unlikely. I would test Video Card first as its most likely the culprit, what I would do is plug that video card in another machine and see if it works, if it works thats not the issue. If it doesn't work then you just need a new video card ;) A good reason for an upgrade xD
Try an external video source? Like hook up your computer to a TV or another monitor and see if it boots? In case you don't have another machine to test the video card.
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Any update on this issue Kulverstukas?
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Any update on this issue Kulverstukas?
Not at the moment. I'll try these next month... now I got other shit to deal with.
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I had almost the exact same issue you did K, and against all logic and reason my power supply was the culprit; the 4pin CPU power conduit was not working and therefore the CPU would not run.
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Okay an update - I managed to solve this issue.
The problem was one of the RAM's - the last thing I was worried about. I had 2 plates, 1GB and 512MB. The second one was toasted somehow and I am not sure how was that possible, might be because of all the power-surges that happens from time to time.
Anyway, removing the fried RAM fixed the issue.
So anyone who experiences this, be sure to test the RAM first - remove one by one and see what happens.
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Okay an update - I managed to solve this issue.
The problem was one of the RAM's - the last thing I was worried about. I had 2 plates, 1GB and 512MB. The second one was toasted somehow and I am not sure how was that possible, might be because of all the power-surges that happens from time to time.
Anyway, removing the fried RAM fixed the issue.
So anyone who experiences this, be sure to test the RAM first - remove one by one and see what happens.
Glad you got it working... Honestly that was one of my second thought after the video card ;) a 512MB stick of RAM is nothing, at least its something that can stand to get updated ;)
EDIT:
HOWEVER... are you sure its the memory and not the DIMM slot? What I would do is plug the 512MB card into the first DIMM slot and see if it works... I would just be thorough and if the memory is fine and the DIMM slot doesn't work (such as the case in my old computer wouldn't boot with 2 memory cards, but would with one, either one, so it was just the port that was messed up) If it is the DIMM slot then I would suggest a new motherboard.