Thread: POST ticking me off

  1. #1
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    POST ticking me off

    recently i've been getting a problem when i try to boot up. The POST fails and it kills the computer. There's a low whirring noise (one of the fans running slower which makes me think power), and a long ass beep, then it shuts down. I have Award Bios v6, the site says a long beep is memory, but i haven't touched the memory in months, it's been working the whole time, and i'm running fine right now, even after a reboot (needed to see what bios i had). The system properties find all the ram...i don't know whats up. My first thought was, maybe it's too cold or something, that would explain a lack of power and the erratic occurence of the problem. For example it happened 2 times last week in the morning, and today it took 2 hours before the mother would start up. But the manual online says that beep is for memory, which is highly doubtful cause i know for a fact it's seated just fine, and it's only a few months old so it's fine. But, when i finally got it to boot this morning BIOS said it was room temperature so it couldn't have been too cold. I haven't had any problems while the computer is running. I can't figure out what's going on, any suggestions?
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  2. #2
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    If it says memory its probably at least memory related, have you tried moving the chips around or using different chips?

    Also, trying a diff psu for troubleshooting might be a good idea.

  3. #3
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    can you put the ram chip in another machine to test that theory out? You could always try flashing the BIOS.

  4. #4
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    ok i tested the ram in another pc, and i used my dads voltmeter to check resistance across the chip to see if it had been damaged and they checked out ok (don't worry, it's a voltmeter designed to work with sensitive electronics so i didn't fry the mothers when i tested em ). And when I put them back in i made sure they were seated. When i booted i had no problems, but that's just how it's been these last 2 weeks, sometimes it's fine, sometimes it won't start up....
    any ideas on why the fans slow down when it tries to boot that way?
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  5. #5
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    It sounds like your voltage is inconsistent, try another power box. Also, you can use the volt tester on each fan plug to see if one or two are lower then the average.

  6. #6
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    ok,
    damn i hope it's not another power supply, that'd be the third one i put in this box in 3 years.
    I've also been thinking, the mobo has some control over the power supply, and the man pages for the BIOS said that besides memory it could be a general mobo problem explaining that beep. I don't have any spare power supplies, and I don't feel like spending the $ on a new one and coming up with another problem. So, do you all think it's worth upgrading? The problem is i have 768 megs of SDRAM in this mobo, do newer mobo's using DDRAM still accept SDRAM?
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  7. #7
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    >>The problem is i have 768 megs of SDRAM in this mobo, do newer mobo's using DDRAM still accept SDRAM?


    I think some do, not sure. Do you have any friends to lend u a psu for a few hours?

  8. #8
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    heh, they're all at school, i've been sick off my ass the last 3 days. I'm going to look into prices and specs on new mobos, and i'm goign to do some more power testing, but im going to leave it be for a few hours while this stuff finishes d/ling, i figure it works right now better not to disturb it unless i have to.
    I've got one buddy who'll have a spare one laying around, I'll just have to ring him when school gets out. thanks.
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  9. #9
    Redundantly Redundant RoD's Avatar
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    if it helps, you can nail a 400W psu for bout 14 bucks at www.atxcases.com

  10. #10
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    I would agree it's probably a power problem. If you do end up getting a new one, make sure it has enough power for all your devices.

    As far as the RAM on a new board, depends on how many chips you're using. Most new boards have 2 for SDRAM and 2 for DDR. You can't use both simultaneously in most cases (contrary to what I've said recently about this... see the link to Adrian's mobo for an example). But I would personally ditch the 768 SDRAM and pick up 256 of DDR or 512 DDR. The difference is noticeable. 512 of DDR is going to be at least equivalent to 768 of SDRAM.

    Thinking over this, I can't say for sure that it's a power problem, but that would be my first guess.

  11. #11
    Registered User Xei's Avatar
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    Waldo, it sounds like you're using a sensor to adjust your CPU fan speed. What happens then is the monitor is blank, then the computer lets out a beep, then turns off, all within afew seconds. This is what also happens when the sensor is '..........ed up'. If you are using a sensor to adjust your fan RPM for your CPU: Remove the heatsink, lift up the CPU, remove the sensor from between the pins, put the CPU back, put the heatsink back, then disconnect the sensor and plug the CPU fan into the MB. At times the MB cannot supply powerful CPU fans so you will have to attach the fan to the 12v on the powersupply which requires a $3 adapter.

    BTW RoD: How the hell are Powersupplys that cheap? I looked at that site and their are extremely damn cheap! Over here I'd pay $400 for a 500 Watt PSU, thats insane!
    Last edited by Xei; 03-20-2003 at 03:16 PM.

  12. #12
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    w/o the sensor will it run normally, or do i have to disconnect it's power from the mobo and run it off the psu?
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  13. #13
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    $400?????

    Even a high end PSU should never cost more than $150. I was surprised to see anything over $90 on that site.

  14. #14
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    You should attempt to remove the sensor completely Waldo.

  15. #15
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    Originally posted by ober5861
    You should attempt to remove the sensor completely Waldo.
    sorry,
    clarification: do i run the fans power off the psu after the sensor is disconnected, or will it run normally w/o the sensor while still being hooked up to the mobo?
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