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

djinacoma · 19 Jan 2016 at 11:53

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

djinacoma · 19 Jan 2016 at 12:11

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.

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 · 19 Jan 2016 at 12:28

Devlish said:
Have you tried clearing the CMOS?

Is that removing the battery from the mobo with the power off? If so, then yes!

djinacoma · 19 Jan 2016 at 13:05

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

djinacoma · 19 Jan 2016 at 14:35

Idleman said:
What motherboard do you have and does it have any LED indicators on board.

I have a Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H

Don't think there are any LED indicators on it

djinacoma · 19 Jan 2016 at 14:36

ExoMale said:
maybe you need to reinstall the operating system?

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

djinacoma · 23 Jan 2016 at 15:28

BuToNz said:
Will it allow you to get into the BIOS with the hard drives unplugged completely?

Nope. Tried with all drives unplugged including Cd-ROM

djinacoma · 23 Jan 2016 at 15:30

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.

Can't see any LEDs on the mobo. Tried the dual BIOS with no luck

djinacoma · 23 Jan 2016 at 15:31

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.

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?