Bad motherboard or what could it be.

[capman21]

Trying to fix a friends pc, this is what is happening. When you turn it on it wont boot it just beeps and beeps. If you leave it on about 5 mins and turn it off and than back on it boots fine, or just turn it on/off about 7-8 times it will finally boot. I checked the memory so thats not the problem. Tried another HD does the same thing. I removed the hard drive and when I turned it on there was no beeping not sure if that means anything. The only thing left I can think of is the motherboard. Is there any kind of software that can test if it is the motherboard? Any other ideas what it could be?

[redwudz]

What is the exact beep code? That will usually tell you what the BIOS thinks the problem is. If you know who made the BIOS, it would be easier. You should be able to find that out at the motherboards web site. This site may help. http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm There are plenty of other similar sites out there. Try a search for 'beep codes'.

One long beep is usually a memory problem. The rest vary by BIOS. How did you check the memory? The only sure way is to substitute a known good RAM module. You can also get the long beep from a bad video card. I would substitute that also, if possible.

I would unplug all drives except the boot and remove all cards except the video card and try again. You need to eliminate all the possible causes. Finally substitute the power supply. All this would narrow it down to the motherboard or the CPU, if you have eliminated the memory, the hard drive and the video card, that's about all that's left.

I don't know of any good motherboard testing program that wouldn't require some special hardware and it would likely be motherboard specific. One program I use often is Bart PE. You can find it with a Google search. It will start up the computer from a CD or DVD drive with no hard drive installed and run an OS to get make it easier to run diagnostics. Very handy for computer problems. Probably wouldn't help with your problem, though, if you can't get past the beeps.

[capman21]

The memory I just took one out left the other in than did the same with the one I took out. Switched them around in the slots, etc. The thing with the beep codes is I think I checked them before and there wasnt a "cause" for the beeps. I mean it beeps a cpl seconds waits a second and goes again doing this pattern over and over.

[redwudz]

Long beeps or short beeps? Combination of both? As mentioned, long is usually a RAM problem. They will repeat. If there is no identifiable pattern, try changing out the video card if you get long beeps and your system RAM is OK.

Substitution and elimination are the most dependable methods of troubleshooting computer hardware problems. Unfortunately, sometimes there is no simple answer. At that point you look at the age of the motherboard or computer and decide what you want to do. Old MBs or computers or old CPUs aren't worth a lot of effort. If it's a newer system, this might be a good time to upgrade the MB or the CPU.

[Nelson37]

Brand of motherboard?

Beep code sounds like a single, long beep, repeated at intervals? Usually means some sort of dead short, but possibly other causes.

Response of system when turned on without HD connected? What was visible on screen? How long did you leave it on with no HD? If no error in this state, and it ran for an extended period of time - in your situation, anything over 5-10 minutes, then....

Sounds like your issue is a HD failing to spin up to speed, or periodically failing to start up at all. No beeps with HD disconnected, pretty much a done deal IF repeat IF the PC ran normally without the HD, meaning displayed BIOS info and continued to run. This would jibe with the switching on being occassional.

This can be confirmed by listening carefully to the drive when the PC is started. Should smoothly spin up and remain fairly constant after initial start. Many defective drives will constantly spin up, down, up, down, etc. Or do nothing at all.

Mobo testing programs will tell you if it is dead. This you would already know. Most diagnostic programs are fairly useless, if the problem is intermittent you have to get lucky to find it and if the problem is constant it is fairly obvious. For instance, assuming the HD is the problem, if it boots the diags will find nothing wrong. If it does not boot, the diag can not be run.

[capman21]

Short beeps with no pattern. It just keeps beeping. I am going to unhook everything from MB this weekend as suggested. FIC AM37 L motherboard.

[capman21]

Unhooked HD, Floppy, and cd/dvd drive from motherboard and still it just beeps when I turned it back on. So what you think? Motherboard? BTW, all fans work so I guess I should rule out the power supply.

[LSchafroth]

Unhooked HD, Floppy, and cd/dvd drive from motherboard and still it just beeps when I turned it back on. So what you think? Motherboard? BTW, all fans work so I guess I should rule out the power supply.

I've seen systems have major reliablity problems that would run windows but still had a bad power supply. I've seen a supply cause memory problems.

LS

[RabidDog]

you supply no hardware details except mobo name ? full hardware details. Sometimes simply taking things apart and then re=assembling will cure a problem. but it sounds like power supply/power issue to me.

Also Fic rhymes with sh.. cheap n Nasty.

[Nelson37]

HELL no, the fans working does NOT repeat NOT rule out the power supply. A flaky power supply can cause virtually ANY set of symptoms.

When it beeps, you see nothing whatsoever on the monitor?

What events came before the beginning of the problem? Electrical storms or issues, did it freeze when running, reboot itself, any changes to the hardware at all, is there a quality surge protector installed?

If you have access to another PC, you can put them close together and put the MOBO power connector on yours. Leave all drives unplugged on suspect PC. If it boots to BIOS, repeat three or four times, if OK, get a new Power supply.

If you can't do that, remove all cards except video and one memory stick, also you can remove all memory and then video seperately and see if the beep pattern changes. Usually eight for video card gone and all memory gone varies. If you do those and the beep pattern does not change, then that strongly indicates mobo unles the current beep code is already indicating one of those, you have to check the manual.

Has the frequency of the failure to boot remained constant, meaning it still boots occassionally?

[Bjs]

You'll find the problem is caused by several area's if the power supply has been ruled out ... either a fault , or installed device issue .

Start with :

Remove all cards , and reinsert them ... this is because parts and there contacts oxidize over time .
Clean memory slots before reinserting ram .
Check all device's that plug into the back of the pc for BENT pins .

An oldy , but a good one ... check the reset switch on the case has not become damged in any way ... this drove me nutts for some time .

Check power button is not sticking ... I have seen this a number of times .

Another ... jammed key on keyboard ... check it

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Once you have got this far ... check your motherboard and where the bios chip is located .

If the bios chip is on a step up block (older motherboards) ... turn the power off at the power point , and remove plug .

This is not for the faint of heart ... you will need a small flathead screw driver ... even a plastic knife may work .
You need to be VERY GENTLE here .

You need to lift the bios chip up working from both end's ... you dont need to remove it ... just move it by a slight amount ... do not force it as this may damage the chip .

When you have it lifted slightly ... it can now be pressed back into position (again , it's pin oxidization problem)

There is a tool made for this ... cost a few dollars , cheap .

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Ok , all the cable's and connection's have been confirmed ...

Try booting it .

If problems persist , you may run into 3 issue's remaining .

1: Vga ... either the vga on pc is not working ... or monitor is not responding .

2: Hd boot

A: Hd failure .

If it is set to master ... change to cs ... make sure this change is reflected in the bios .

Some drive's have been known to after a few month's to refuse to even be seen set at master or slave ... western digital ... I mean you .

B: Ms suggest's reload xp after failed sp2 install

For those that have visited the ms site after re-installing xp after a failed sp2 install , and the pc keep's failing to boot even with a clean reinstall ... dont take the ms site info as gospel .

You have 2 choice's .

One being to buy another drive , and use the manufacturer's tool to clone the content from the drive to the new drive ... or

Two ... some hd's get tired of the ntfs format ... and simply nolonger work with the format .

I have had several system's turn up with this problem , and followed the ms advice more than 3 time's with no cure ... the cure was to reconvert back to fat32 ... and they boot every time ...

C: Boot sector on hd unstable ... replace hd asap ... it happens .

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Having gotten here, and all is fine to this point , then you is left with the final pain .

Mother board driven fault .

On the motherboard a small metal cans (capacitors) .

In recent history in design , there have been faults during manufacturing of these component's .

A single beep is normal post .

From here you need to visit the bios manufacturer's website to find the beep code's .

In your case , being erratic , where all else has been confirmed , then ... it's the motherboard with the issue .

Take a close look at the capacitors ... and match them with those nearby (same size and colour) ... the writing is too small to see .

If any have a slight change in colour (darker) ... top appears to have a buldge ... small amount of brown tar looking liquid on outside ... when compared to similar , nearby unit's ... then these capacitor's have failed .

I have seen pc's in this state drive the owner nutt's as to why the pc work's fine for some time and then powers itself on and off .

If you have a good local repair shop , they may beable to replace the faulty capacitor's ... though this depend's if it is worth the final result ... dell has done this on occasion's ... in which case , you either need to locate a replacement mother board , which can be very difficult with older pc's ... or buy an upgrade (cpu + mb + ram) , which might be the way .

Of course , those handy with a fine pointed soldering iron ... and ability to locate replacement matching value capacitor's can do the job themselve's ... however , if one went ... I would advise the replacement of all capacitor's that match the damaged component .

You wouldnt replace one bald tyre , when you have five that need doing ... it defeats the initial attempt , and be pointless .

There are time's when this type of damage can only be picked up with the motherboard removed ... so one can see the bottom of the capacitor's ... where the bottom's have blown out .

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Last problem should be covered by "upgrade kit" .

This depend's on how long this problem has persisted ... it is possible damage to other component's has already taken place due to the persistence of the problem ... and may not be recoverable .

When problem's arrive , it is not a good idea to repeatedly keep trying to get it to work without first doing some work so as to rule out the underlying fault .

A good idea is to make sure a proper "spike" protected power board is in use all the time ... for newbies ... these are

A : Spike / surge protected powerboard retains the same functionallity as that of a overload protected power board , accept it will attempt to pre-condition spike's within the power supply ... thus protecting the pc or any sensitive electronic device ... should this fail ... no power is able to flow through the device ever again ... and should be replaced ... current aus design spec .

Brown outs - pc turns off .

Make sure when buying these , it list's this function when they are being used with sensitive electronic equipment , having phone line filter is a good idea .

B : A overload protected power board functions to prevent overloading the current draw from the connected wall power socket ... it cut's the power when you try too draw more than the rated current draw of the power board or supply line... basic safety (fire hazard reduced)... they provide little or no protection for sensitive electronic equipment ... do not use them to protect your pc .

C : You got money ... then head for ups ... uninterruptible power supplies