How to find out what bit of PC isn't working properly?

djinacoma

djinacoma

djinacoma

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28 Oct 2012
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Hi, I'm having a problem with my computer. WHen turning it on it gets to the BIOS screen and gets stuck! I can't enter Bios or do anything, it just hangs for about 10 seconds then restarts and gets stuck again!

I tried cloning a hard drive but it didn't really work and since then I've had this problem. I've tried booting with all drives and CDROM unplugged but still no luck. Could it be the mobo thats broke?

Thanks
 
Likely to get moved to 'General Hardware', but if it were me i'd remove all sticks of memory bar one and start from there. I've had similar issues with mismatched or damaged sticks of RAM.
 
SMN said:
Likely to get moved to 'General Hardware', but if it were me i'd remove all sticks of memory bar one and start from there. I've had similar issues with mismatched or damaged sticks of RAM.
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Sorry, thought I'd posted in General Hardware.

I've tried removing the memory, and trying one stick in different slots then trying the other stick and still no luck. Could they both be damaged?
 
djinacoma said:
Is that removing the battery from the mobo with the power off? If so, then yes!
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Ill just paste this here! Its old but seems logical. *edit* sounds like youve done most of that anyway.



Your system is hanging up on post (power on self test).
Since it wont let you into bios, it's probably not the old Keyboard not found, hit any key to continue.
You checked the ram. that's good. Now you need to check the drives, one at a time.
That would include hard drive cd/dvd drives and any old floppies/usb t\drives etc.
Just disconnect the drive, and try to get to bios.
If it's not the drives, check any add in cards you have, like nic, modem (ya some people do still use phone modems), sound card, etc. Just pull them out, and try to get to bios.
BTW if you just added a second drive to an existing pata cable, you may have forgotten to designate one as slave, the other as master.
Please remember to turn power off, before disconnecting, pulling anything. I use the power switch on the back of the psu, as that keeps the system grounded.
Good luck
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Tried reseating the CPU? Once you've got the CPU out, take a look at the pins too, make sure none are bent.

Re-seat all the cables on the motherboard including PSU connectors (the big one) and any fan connectors, etc.
 
OK, so I've just hooked a blank hard drive up, unplugged every drive except for CD with the Windows CD in. Powered up (it's been off at the mains overnight) and a message popped up saying BIOS has been reset! Booted into Windows set-up and all seemed to be working until it restarted and now I'm stuck at the same screen! I haven't unplugged anything since it booted just now, tried taking the battery out to reset Bios but still no luck
 
Gigabyte! Bet it has dual bios and one is corrupt or has bad settings. Turn off. Wait 20 seconds. Turn it on and hold alt and press f12 a few times until you are at the point it resets. Then see if it boots

Also look at motherboard when it boots are in there any lights or led display.
 
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I had a similar problem with GAZ77D3H. It would power on and leave a blank display on the monitor with the fans spinning for about 10 seconds then it would power off and restart in a loop. I could leave the kettle leave unplugged and then sometimes power the system up and be prompted to load the bios as default and rarely the system would power on as usual, when the system passed windows I could stress the system in games and leave it on overnight no problems. My advice would be to do the paper clip trick with the PSU and if you can try the CPU in another board.
 
djinacoma said:
At the moment that's not possible. I can't get the Bios screen. Where you press 'Del' to enter Bios but nothing works. The keyboard has power as the caps lock LED works
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you dont need to enter bios, whack in a spare hard drive, get a disc or usb stick with windows on and boot the installation as normal, you only need a trial os.
 
varkanoid said:
Gigabyte! Bet it has dual bios and one is corrupt or has bad settings. Turn off. Wait 20 seconds. Turn it on and hold alt and press f12 a few times until you are at the point it resets. Then see if it boots

Also look at motherboard when it boots are in there any lights or led display.
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Can't see any LEDs on the mobo. Tried the dual BIOS with no luck :(
 
CrixxzeH said:
I had a similar problem with GAZ77D3H. It would power on and leave a blank display on the monitor with the fans spinning for about 10 seconds then it would power off and restart in a loop. I could leave the kettle leave unplugged and then sometimes power the system up and be prompted to load the bios as default and rarely the system would power on as usual, when the system passed windows I could stress the system in games and leave it on overnight no problems. My advice would be to do the paper clip trick with the PSU and if you can try the CPU in another board.
Click to expand...

Yes, I think I could have the same problem. Managed to get once after having mains power off for a few days but can't seem to do it again! How did you fix it in the end? was it the mobo or the PSU?
 
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