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Hardware Problems - No POST beep

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:57 pm
by jayshields
Hi guys,

This is starting to push me over the egde now, so I'm taking every action I can to keep me from taking it into a computer shop and getting charged per hour...

This is the problem:
I built up a computer for a friend, it has exactly the same components as my old computer, except for a hard drive taken out and a dvd-rw taken out. It is housed in a different case though.

When I turn it on, the processor HSF spins up, the motherboard LED turns on, the HDD spins up and the computer does not make any beeps at all. Also, the monitor stays in standby, indicating there is no signal being sent.

So far I have tried:
- Different motherboard
- Different PSU
- AGP graphics
- Erasing CMOS
- Different CMOS battery
- Swapping the 2 sticks of RAM and trying every combo
- Taking the RAM out completely
- Reapplying thermal paste on the processor
- Checking all cabling
- Checking speaker wire is plugged in right way/on right set of jumpers

Now the only realistic cause is the processor, but I can't see how I've broke it moving it to a different case, then again, I couldn't see how the CMOS battery could've gone flat or the motherboard breaking during the change either.

I've searched around on Google, and there seems to be masses of forum posts with nearly the exact same problem as me with no answer.

I've found a couple of websites that tell me no POST beeps mean bad motherboard or bad PSU, but I've swapped both and got the same problem.

Please, if someone knows what I should do, shed some light, and save my sanity.

Thanks a million.

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:13 pm
by pickle
The most powerful hardware guy in my office says it's probably the proc.

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:15 pm
by jayshields
Thanks, that's great. All I wanted was a second opinion before I go and spend £30 on a second hand one.

I've already wasted £30 on buying the new motherboard which I was certain would fix it, didn't want to make it £60 wasted!

Thanks again, I'll let you know how it goes.

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 10:08 am
by jayshields
Right, after waiting what seems like an age for a processor to be delivered from eBay, I finally got it today.

Tried it, didn't work, same problem.

I'm off to go get charged £35 an hour labour for it looking at tomorrow - hopefully they'll let me know what they do to it.

I don't think I've ever been so frustrated before.

I've also noticed now that the CD drive even opens and closes when I boot it up; it's got adequate power, the processor works, the monitor works, the motherboard works, the HDD works, the RAM works. That's everything. WHY WON'T THE MONITOR COME OUT OF STANDBY?!?!

If swearing was OK on here this post would be alot worse in terms of language :)

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 11:22 am
by Burrito
have you checked your mobo documentation? Most mobos have a POST sequence guide that will tell you what no beeps, multiple beeps etc mean.

it looks like you've done due diligence to narrow down the issue.

it's a process of elimination, if you have spare parts for each piece of hardware, swap them out and try the spare. My first guess...video card :P

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 12:42 pm
by R4000
Erm i know this sounds stupid, but have you tried a different monitor? :P

You say its got no POST beeps and the screen doesn't kick in.. might just be that ur screen is kerplunked :P

Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 5:25 pm
by Chris Corbyn
R4000 wrote:Erm i know this sounds stupid, but have you tried a different monitor? :P
Sometimes the obvious things are things we fail to check out ;)

Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 1:17 am
by Benjamin
Possibly the monitor cable as well.

Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 1:20 am
by Benjamin
I had a bad keyboard cable that prevented a system from booting once as well.

Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 11:07 am
by Maugrim_The_Reaper
It's definitely weird - all those component swaps and the problem persists? It must be something external - monitor wasn't mentioned as R400 noted. How about the ATX case itself? Are it's mini-speaker etc. having issues maybe? Have you tried ripping out all the non-essential components to get a common denominator system running (no AGP - use on-board, no PCI cards, no drives other than master HDD and a floppy drive (if that)). Definitely change all cabling if it's been around for a while - using on HDD might let you swap them around a bit without heading off to buy new ones which might not even be required...

Last I saw something like this it was a faulty processor. Or maybe I did mess break it trying to fit the stubborn thing onto its slot...:). Make sure to tell the PC guys what you've tried - might get them to the problem sooner. Assuming there's no warranty in force...otherwise...

Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 1:39 pm
by jayshields
I HAVE FINALLY FIXED THIS PROBLEM!!!

Took me since 2 weeks before the first post.

I did indeed swap every part in the computer and the whole system checked at a computer shop, where I was told it was a motherboard/processor compatibility problem, which was lies as the same 2 componenents were in my old system. I did try a different moniter, graphics card, etc. I even tried with just motherboard/processor, in my old case, with my old PSU. So in effect it was my old system lol.

I got a brand spanking new skt 754 motherboard and processor delivered today, obviously put them both in, same problem.

Turns out it was the plug socket. Unbelievable.

The weird bits: I currently use my TV through the same socket I was using all along, I've also used my mobile phone charger and my stereo. When plugged into this socket the PC would boot up, the HSF would spin up, the HDD would spin up, the lights would light up, the CD-ROM would open/shut, the mobo light was on. No signal would send to the monitor, and no POST beeps were emitted.

I switched to a different plug socket (last ditch attempt), and it beeped twice!!! So 2 beeps is bad memory, I swap out the bad module and it boots up fine and dandy.

The stupid bits: the computer shop took £20 + VAT to tell me "it's a weird one, probably a motherboard/processor compat. problem." - he meant "we didn't even bother plugging it in.". It would/should work in any other plug socket. They also said they'd tested all the components (except mobo/proc) seperately and they all worked, wrong, bad memory module.

So there we have it - don't trust your plug sockets.

Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 2:27 am
by wunderbaum
jayshields wrote:I HAVE FINALLY FIXED THIS PROBLEM!!!

Took me since 2 weeks before the first post.

Turns out it was the plug socket. Unbelievable.

So there we have it - don't trust your plug sockets.
This is one of those stories that make materialistic reductionists shiver... it does something to me at least.

I have the same problem (no POST beeps etc) and I will try to change the socket.