Boot problems

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23 Mar 2009
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Evening guys,

Got a few issues, with my ole rig (see sig)

quite simply as of this morning it wont boot, wont even reach the bios screen most times and when it does it just hangs.

So I pulled the rig apart and effectively rebuilt it. To no avail. I'm suspecting it's the mobo as it simply hasn't been able to overclock for some time as it simply won't stick to the fsb i set it (volts etc. would change though). I reset CMOS (took battery out for >10 mins) However with computers being the fickle beasts they are i can't help but think it may be something else.

I would test ram but i simply don't get to any stage where i can run memtest, I will try each stick individually and report back after I've cooked dinner. I doubt it's the GPU's, one or 2 makes no difference and the odds of them both going instantly are somewhat remote.

Surely a HDD fault could not cause this either, Only other thing i can think is PSU but everything fires up (fans, HDDs etc.) when i turn it on so no obvious signs there.

Only other PSU I have is a generic Dell box which i may try (with a spare 7300 i have lying around for graphics). Thing is i don't know if the connections actually match so we'll have to see.

So OcUK any ideas or do you agree with me it looks like motherboard failure?

update: right now we're getting past boot screen with one screen and one gpu but now I get a screen with a column of H's :confused: hmmmm have i botched something here.
 
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You could try a new cmos battery 2032 type about the size of a 2p and cost a quid or so. particularly if the cmos does not remember settings. Should be at or about 3.1V but 3V at least.

my 2p worth.

andy
 
If you are saying the values you set in the BIOS are then erased when you exit and save, this is an indication of a failing battery like the man above me mentioned. They can be had in packs of 3 for around 2 quid including delivery on a certain auction site.

This may also cause it not to boot properly. If you can get into the BIOS, set some values... save the values and exit (F10) power off the machine... wait 10 seconds.... back into BIOS and see if the values are what you set them too.
 
it crashes in bios if im not quick too. It used to remember settings just would not remember the fsb one, voltage and such would be remembered. which would surely imply the battery is fine. tried various ram sticks in different combos to no avail too. Time to bust out the dell psu i think.
 
it crashes in bios if im not quick too. It used to remember settings just would not remember the fsb one, voltage and such would be remembered. which would surely imply the battery is fine. tried various ram sticks in different combos to no avail too. Time to bust out the dell psu i think.

Definitely. If it's crashing and turning off etc, PSU is always a good place to start.
 
Definitely. If it's crashing and turning off etc, PSU is always a good place to start.

In the process of pulling everything apart so we'll soon see if this is the case. Doesn't explain why the mobo previously wouldn't set FSB but if i rule out PSU it only leaves that or my q6600 and we all know they're indestructable.
 
Nope dell psu has no further luck. some lights keep lighting up on mobo tho.

No other ideas before I try and find a large anti-static bag and a big box?

Edit: So anybody had much experience with gigabyte RMA services?
 
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got an rma going on right now with a gigbyte mobo, they were quick to give me the all clear to post, and i'll let you know when i get it back (sent on friday)
 
did you send it directly to gigabyte? I bought it from a place that seems to offer only a 1 year warranty with their stuff (I bought it before learning about OcUK's excellent customer service).
 
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