[NTLUG:Discuss] Hardware Question

[Steve Baker]

It's worth disconnecting even the video board in an effort to get a beep
code out of it.

Without a beep code - you're looking at something terminal in the CPU,
the BIOS ROM or the motherboard itself...or the power supply is dead (is
the power LED and fan on?). There isn't much else involved in getting a
power-on beep - and if any one of those things has failed then you won't
get a beep.

Sadly, short of swapping in a 'known working' CPU and BIOS ROM (assuming
it's even socketted - which it's probably not) there isn't any easy way
to find out more.

So at this point, you'll need to swap something to narrow the fault down
further.  If you have another similar PC to swap with - try swapping the
power supply.  Failing that, you'll probably have to buy either a new
CPU or a new motherboard (which includes a new BIOS ROM...with something
like a 50/50 chance of then having to go out and buy whichever you
didn't replace next!

When this happens to me, I invariably end up deciding to upgrade - so
probably I buy both CPU and motherboard and transplanting everything
else into the old case.

 -- Steve


Ralph Green wrote:
> Howdy,
>   I saw some advise, but not a specific answer here.  No, you don't need
> a case.  In fact, if you are having problems getting it to come on, I'd
> simplify as much as possible to see if it will boot.  Connect a power
> supply to the motherboard with RAM and the CPU and a video card if the
> motherboard does not have integrated video.  Disconnect everything else
> and see if it will come on.  Put the motherboard on a book or something
> non-conductive while you run this test.
>  There are likely to be two power cables, with one being 20 or 24 pins
> and the other being 4 pins.  Be sure you have connected both of those.
> Good luck,
> Ralph
> 
> On Tue, 2009-02-10 at 11:01 -0600, Dennis Myhand wrote:
>> different boards and I cannot get either one to post.  Does a socket 775 
>> mobo need to be in a case to post?  I would like to put these two to 
> 
> 
> 
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