Computer troubles. Suggestions?

Please help me find out what’s wrong with this computer.

Symptoms:

-Computer freezes while loading OS.
-After a reboot I get no video signal to the monitor (not before or after POST)


Actions taken:
-Tried different monitors (both TFT and CRT) with different cables (VGA and DVI). No effect.
-Replaced video card. No effect.
-Cleared CMOS. No effect.
-Took out video card altogether, motherboard not signalling missing videocard.
-Took out RAM, motherboard not signalling missing RAM.
-Disconnected everything, HDD, CD-ROM, Video card and RAM. No audio signals from the motherboard.


System specifications.

-Motherboard: MSI KT4V-L (Socket A)
-Processor: AMD Athlon XP 1900+ Palomino
-Memory: 512MB (Crucial PC2700 DDR-DIMM 512MB CL2.5 6ns)
-GPU: nVidia GeForce 4 Ti4200 AGP or alternative (replace) nVidia Riva TNT2 Ultra AGP
-OS: Ubuntu Linux 5.10 Breezy Badger (probably not relevant right now since I cant reach it anyway!)
-PSU: Antec 400W


Any suggestions on what is causing this? The system has worked flawlessly for several months and I have not done any modifications to the hardware nor software (ex. BIOS) during this time. The problem just fell out of the sky.

So basically the computer crashed while booting, and ever since then you have not been able to get any video signal to the monitor at all?

Your actions seem logical.  Try a borrowed Mobo (or old one) next.  You don\'t necessarily have to remove and replace (it can be such a pain) if you have a good static-free work area and it\'s non conductive set up a mobo outside of the case on non-conductive foam or styro.  G\'luck.

Questions:

Are you hearing the post at all?  beeps?  Are the beeps normal?  Did you make sure you put back the jumper for resetting the CMOS - cause your mobo won\'t start up if that\'s still set.  If you have a D-bracket on your particular mobo, watch the 4 led cycle during startup (16 steps, fast).  They are
1-2
3-4

If it stops on any particular combo (for this situation) like 2-3-4, 2-4, or 1-2-3 those would be informative.  If they are stopping on anything but ALL OFF then tell us what they\'re stopping on.

Actually, here, the post beeps for your comp:

    Verify POST beep codes
          Continues beeps or 1long 2short beeps = possible memory error
          • Try re-seating memory or test with different memory
          1long 2short or 8short beeps = possible video card problem
          • Try re-seating video card, test system with known good video card
          High/Low tone (siren sound)= CPU is overheating.
          • Verify that CPU heatsink is properly installed and power connected
          
Deep Code         Description
1 short         DRAMS refresh failure
2 short         Parity circuit failure
3 short         Base 64k RAM failure
4 short         System timer failure
5 short         Process failure
6 short         Keyboard controller Gate A20 error
7 short         Virtual mode exception error
8 short         Display memory Read/Write test failure
9 short         ROM BIOS checksum failure
10 short         CMOS shutdown Read/Write error
11 short         Cache Memory error
1 long, 3 short         Conventional/Extended memory failure
1 long, 8 short         Display/Retrace test failed

Have you recently installed a new hardware on it? Like a new card?

my first guess would be a blown motherboard.  Did you unplug and re-connect all power cables coming from the PSU?  Check the voltage selector on your PSU?

Is the system still getting power?  (fans & lights coming on?)

looks like you\'ve replaced everything except the motherboard, so i\'d try another socket A board if you can get a hold of one

Try a borrowed Mobo (or old one) next.

I have an old EPoX Socket A motherboard which I replaced with the this MSI one. I’m not sure I should use the old one since it has busted capacitors (almost all of them).

Are you hearing the post at all? beeps? Are the beeps normal? Did you make sure you put back the jumper for resetting the CMOS - cause your mobo won\'t start up if that\'s still set. If you have a D-bracket on your particular mobo, watch the 4 led cycle during startup (16 steps, fast). They are
1-2
3-4

No beeps at all.
Yep, the CMOS jumper is set at ”Keep Settings”
No D-bracket.

Thanks for the beep diagram. I had the siren beep once when I got the motherboard (back in September), turns out the CPU Cooler was placed the wrong way, that was solved and the system has worked flawlessly ever since. The CPU temperature was never higher than 48-49 Celsius (118-120F)

When I have the main RAM and video card removed from the motherboard and run the system I should at least get these signals

Continues beeps or 1long 2short beeps = possible memory error
1long 2short or 8short beeps = possible video card problem

Very weird that its not detecting the missing components.

Have you recently installed a new hardware on it? Like a new card?

Nope, none. The system hasn’t been touched in months, and by that I mean I haven’t had the side panel off, of course the system has still been used but no alterations in the BIOS software or system hardware.

my first guess would be a blown motherboard. Did you unplug and re-connect all power cables coming from the PSU? Check the voltage selector on your PSU?

I’m leaning towards that also, I didn’t mention it because I want to keep an open mind and get ideas from you guys.
Nope I haven’t re-connected the cables yet, I’ll try that ASAP.
I had Xsensor installed on the PC and sometimes checked the values of the PSU, they were always within range when the system was running. Also Antec is supposed to be a good brand.
I’ll see if I can check the values tomorrow via a multimeter.

Is the system still getting power? (fans & lights coming on?)

Yep, fans powering up, lights coming on, that way everything seems fine.
I did notice that the power button does not work when you try to press it quickly (=one fast click). You have to hold the button down for a good 5-6 seconds before the system powers off.

looks like you\'ve replaced everything except the motherboard, so i\'d try another socket A board if you can get a hold of one

Yeah I had a look for Socket A cards but they are hard to find. I recently got this MSI card from a PC Hardware vendor, it was sold at a cheaper price because it had been used as a demo product. When I got the card it looked like it was in a good condition, no dust or anything.

I got the card in September of 2005 so the warranty is still valid (3 years I think). The problem is they might not be able to replace it since I can’t find any Socket A cards left in their selection.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

[§ôµÏG®ïñD]

Try removing the bios battery and unplugging power. Leave it for about 5 mins. Put it back in and boot. If you haven\'t already that is.  You\'ve pretty much done everything else, so your best bet would be to test all the parts from your pc on a different board.  1 by 1.   I personally would put it down to a dead mobo.   IF it has onboard graphics, after u remove the bios batt and put it back in etc, try using the onboard graphics and see if u get anything. If not, i\'d really say your board is in heaven.

Try removing the bios battery and unplugging power. Leave it for about 5 mins. Put it back in and boot. If you haven\'t already that is.  You\'ve pretty much done everything else, so your best bet would be to test all the parts from your pc on a different board.  1 by 1.   I personally would put it down to a dead mobo.   IF it has onboard graphics, after u remove the bios batt and put it back in etc, try using the onboard graphics and see if u get anything. If not, i\'d really say your board is in heaven.

I\'m trying that right now. I\'ll leave it disconnected for about 20 minutes, just to be sure.

I contacted the PC hardware vendor again and they don’t have any Socket A left, as I suspected. They said that I could choose another item to replace the mobo, so I\'m thinking of getting rid of my trusted AMD and get a budget Celeron D 2.53GHz instead.

Just one problem, I noticed that the newer Intel boards have a 24-pin ATX power connector, the PSU I have used for the AMD only has 20-pins. Do you think it would be OK to connect a 20-pin ATX cable in the 24-pin slot? What are the extra 4-pins for anyway? HT-technology? A Intel Celeron D does not have that as far as I know.

Edit: Seems the 4 extra pins are for PCI-E, which I dont plan on using anyway.

I\'m trying that right now. I\'ll leave it disconnected for about 20 minutes, just to be sure.

Thats a no go.

Farewell trusted computer, you have served me well.
* 2001
† 2006

Thanks to all of you that tried to help me out. :thumb:

[GmanJoe]

I betcha it\'s a bad video card. Some PCs won\'t get much farther if the card is kaputski.

Just one problem, I noticed that the newer Intel boards have a 24-pin ATX power connector, the PSU I have used for the AMD only has 20-pins. Do you think it would be OK to connect a 20-pin ATX cable in the 24-pin slot? What are the extra 4-pins for anyway? HT-technology? A Intel Celeron D does not have that as far as I know.

Edit: Seems the 4 extra pins are for PCI-E, which I dont plan on using anyway.

yeah, you can use a 20 pin ATX cable with a 24 pin slot.  My MSI Neo4-F has the 24 pin slot and my PSU has the 20 pin cable.  Did my research and found out that it would work just fine, I\'m not sure that it affects pci-e as my 7900gt works just fine.

I betcha it\'s a bad video card. Some PCs won\'t get much farther if the card is kaputski.

I reconnected my old EPoX motherboard (the one with the blown capacitors) and had a go with the RAM, VGA-card and processor. Everything booted up nicely so I know the VGA-card is alive.

yeah, you can use a 20 pin ATX cable with a 24 pin slot. My MSI Neo4-F has the 24 pin slot and my PSU has the 20 pin cable. Did my research and found out that it would work just fine, I\'m not sure that it affects pci-e as my 7900gt works just fine.

Sweet. I had a look at Antecs website and indeed a 20-pin ATX PSU will work with a 24-pin board. *puh* thats one less thing I have to replace

I\'m thinking of having my MSI card replaced with a ASUS P5V800-MX and then getting an Intel Celeron D 326 (2.53GHz) processor, I should be able to use the 512MB PC2700 that I already have. I should get away with paying just $102.

Please reconsider the celeron buy.  For GOD\'S sake, anything but a celeron.

If you aren\'t even getting post beeps, but the powers on, the mobo is blown.  Recently replaced my blown mobo for the same reason.  A power surge got through my very expensive surge protection (lightning hit the pole to the house), and blew my mobo, and lan card.

Please reconsider the celeron buy.  For GOD\'S sake, anything but a celeron.

If you aren\'t even getting post beeps, but the powers on, the mobo is blown.  Recently replaced my blown mobo for the same reason.  A power surge got through my very expensive surge protection (lightning hit the pole to the house), and blew my mobo, and lan card.

Haha. I think a Celeron will get the job done (the biggest advantage it has is the low price), remember its replacing a XP 1900+. This will not be my main PC, it will only be used as a internet PC and not for gaming.

You think a power surge might have killed mine also? We haven’t had any lightning so far this year. Maybe electrostatic shocks somehow got to the motherboard, the PC is placed right next to a heating radiator.

I have a problem with the clock on my PC. I don\'t know if its hardware related or what. Anyways it keeps falling behind, very behind. Right now its 2 hours behind and I set it to the correct time about 2 weeks ago.

Anyone know whats wrong?

Lots of ways for them to short.  Dust is by far the most common way to blow a board (with heat, or a bit of conductivity where it shouldn\'t be).  Could be other reasions though: a manufacturing defect that was borderline and needed time/heat to fail; moisture on the card; or a surge from one of the attached boards or cables.