pc issue

floz · 3 Dec 2012 at 20:08

Hey guys,

Got an issue with my pc. Was on it the other day when i noticed it lost a load of power. The screen went blank. Ive left it for a while and it started up and gave me a cmos errpr. It then reset and again wont give me a screen. Managed to get that by removing the bios battery. Also, the power buttons do not have an affect once pc is on. Have to switch it off at the back.

Any ideas guys? Is it the mobo or psu?

Thanks guys!

linwelin · 3 Dec 2012 at 20:42

only way to be sure is to test them, if you have another PC test the PSU in it.

floz · 3 Dec 2012 at 21:28

Aint got a spare. Worth buying a post card?

floz · 4 Dec 2012 at 19:12

Managed to get it running long enough for a pic. Does this shed any light on what it might be?

floz · 8 Dec 2012 at 10:42

Got a post card which was rubbish. Didnt tell me anything. My main concern is getting stuff off my ssd. When i plug it into a laptop via esata and i try and go into a folder it will deny access. If i put it through a caddy it thinks the ssd needs formatting. Any ideas?

Silenced · 8 Dec 2012 at 10:44

floz said:
Got a post card which was rubbish. Didnt tell me anything. My main concern is getting stuff off my ssd. When i plug it into a laptop via esata and i try and go into a folder it will deny access. If i put it through a caddy it thinks the ssd needs formatting. Any ideas?

Which OS's are you running off your SSD & laptop? Windows 7 likes to make you take ownership of documents in order to have access from them if you put another drive in. Usually you can just click take ownership and it will work for you, if not then you'll probably need to do some more complex method to get it off there.

Edit: Also, try buying a new battery for your motherboard (From memory its a usually a CR2023)

floz · 8 Dec 2012 at 10:53

I thought the cmos battery was just for the initial start up? Is it always in use? Yeah both windows 7 but laptop is a works one so its a bit locked down. Doesnt let me take ownership. Just got a new caddy, could it be faulty if it wants me to format when esata doesnt?

Silenced · 8 Dec 2012 at 11:01

floz said:
I thought the cmos battery was just for the initial start up? Is it always in use? Yeah both windows 7 but laptop is a works one so its a bit locked down. Doesnt let me take ownership. Just got a new caddy, could it be faulty if it wants me to format when esata doesnt?

They are used in order to keep memory for the BIOS + the system clock, mine went before and the BIOs would reset after a power cut. I'd change it just to check, only costs like £1 for one to try.

floz · 8 Dec 2012 at 11:07

Fair. They sell them in supermarkets or do i need a specialist shop? Thanks for your help!

Silenced · 8 Dec 2012 at 11:09

floz said:
Fair. They sell them in supermarkets or do i need a specialist shop? Thanks for your help!

Yeah I'm pretty sure I've seem them in Tesco with all their batteries

tres_kun · 8 Dec 2012 at 11:10

You do not really need a bios battery
The only thing it dose is to keep powering the bios wen the motherboard has no power
For example if you do not have one every time you cut power to your motherboard the bios settings go to default
And if the motherboard does not power off from its button is sounds bad could be just the bios faulty

floz · 8 Dec 2012 at 11:14

How would i fix a faulty bios?

Silenced · 8 Dec 2012 at 11:24

Other things you could also try -
- CMOS reset
- Try booting with only one stick of RAM

floz · 8 Dec 2012 at 11:29

Tried the one stick of ram. How do i reset the cmos? Ive tried taking the battery out and putting it back in. Will get a new one later. Only a quid so may as well try.

Silenced · 8 Dec 2012 at 11:43

floz said:
Tried the one stick of ram. How do i reset the cmos? Ive tried taking the battery out and putting it back in. Will get a new one later. Only a quid so may as well try.

Easiest way is to just remove the battery from the motherboard for 5 minutes, then put it back in and fire up PC and see if anything happens. If not then I would recommend swapping it out, a possible £1 fix and a few minutes of effort beats a more expensive and possibly un-needed fix.

floz · 8 Dec 2012 at 12:11

Fair point. Thanks for your help!

floz · 9 Dec 2012 at 00:36

New battery didnt work

I guess it must be a new mobo then?

Silenced · 9 Dec 2012 at 00:42

floz said:
New battery didnt work

I guess it must be a new mobo then?

Ah thats a shame, is it possible to get into the BIOS to see any settings?

tres_kun · 9 Dec 2012 at 12:23

How can you give wrong advice?
Where in the world does is say that a bios battery can be the folly part in a PC?
To reset the CMOS remove the battery and the power cable and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds
To test the motherboard unplug the 4/8pin EPS(CPU plug) and power it up
It will power for a couple of seconds and shut down
If you can power off from the button before that time then we are getting somewhere
Next remove the video card and plug in the EPS back and case speaker
It should bip
Remove ram power up and wait for bip
You do all of that without HDD and front panel USB or audio
If no bip and motherboard unresponsive to any test
Then it is the motherboard at fault
You do not need to remove the CPU just unplug the EPS plug for the tests
Last step is to remove the CPU and try to get it to bip or power off with no components on it(ram,video)

floz · 9 Dec 2012 at 16:59

No joy. Thanks for info. Looks like a new mobo.