35 replies to this topic

[eniparadoxgma]

Well, apparently I've killed my computer somehow.

Here's the story:

I decided to reformat so I could move from the Windows 7 Trial to Windows 7 Professional. I backed all my stuff up, then restarted to reformat.

For the record I did the USB method (thanks for the info, MO).

Here's what I was trying to do partition wise:

I have a big RAID +0 array that has 4 partitions.

The first partition: 40gb Windows XP 32 bit
2nd partition: 150gb Windows x64
3rd partition: 200gb Windows 7 Trial partition (and the one I used almost all the time)
4th partition: 800gb data partition with downloads and stuff on it (FULL BTW)

(the sizes are estimates, I don't remember the exact numbers)

So my plan was to delete the first three partitions and make it all one big partition for the new Windows 7 install since I never used the XP partitions anyway.

It read the USB Windows 7 just fine and got to the install screen where I chose the "Custom Install option". I was ableo to delete the three partitions in question. However, they didn't merge as I had hoped into one big "non formatted space". The first 40gb partition remained separate. Point being, no matter what I did it would not let me install the new Windows 7 on the 40gb partition or the new unformatted space. I tried formatting the unformatted space and just about everything I could try to do. However, nothing I tried worked.

So, I decided to just cancel the Windows install, go back into my Windows 7 Trial install that I've been using, and then see if I could work some magic with Partition Magic or something similar.

When I restarted I got the dreaded "NTLDR is missing, press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to restart".

After messing with the boot order and what not that message kept appearing. So I then tossed in the Windows 7 Boot disk I made for just this reason (the disk you can make that gives you system repair/recovery options etc).

I booted off the disk and chose system repair. When it finished I checked the log and it said something to the effect that it fixed the fact that there was either no system partition or something about the system partition was missing...or something lol.

I rebooted and got the same error.

I rebooted off the disk again, retried the System repair, got the same log message, then restarted.

...and all hell broke loose.

I restarted and the system never gave me the familiar "beep" I hear before it goes into POST. Nothing ever came up on my monitor. My video card fan never went from "super high start up speed" to the medium speed it spins down to once the PC goes into POST.

It just sits there with fans spinning...doing nothing that I can see.

And that's how it remains.

What I've tried so far:

1. Messing with the RAM, taking 1 stick out at a time, changing slots, etc
2. Clearing the CMOS repeatedly
3. Moving the video card to another PCI Express slot
4. Different monitor
5. Different video card

None of the above has worked.

The 2 digit code on my motherboard is giving me "FF" for fully functional.

All the fans I can see are spinning.

Yet, the PC apparently can't even get to POST all of a sudden and I have no idea why.

I guess later I will start by taking it all apart, unplugging everything except the bare essentials and start from there.

However, any help/suggestions/etc are most definitely appreciated.

If you need a newfound respect for your PC, get stuck using a 5 year old Dell Inspiron 1100 laptop for awhile. Blech.

[Sphere]

have you tried inserting any completely bootable CD/DVD (Windows, Linux, UBCD or anything), with all harddisks disconnected?

I don't know, maybe it can tell you something.
I've had the "no beep" problem too, I eventually had to buy a new motherboard to solve this.

[eniparadoxgma]

Sphere, on Oct 3 2009, 03:25 PM, said:

have you tried inserting any completely bootable CD/DVD (Windows, Linux, UBCD or anything), with all harddisks disconnected?

I don't know, maybe it can tell you something.
I've had the "no beep" problem too, I eventually had to buy a new motherboard to solve this.

Just tried it. Nothing.

I would think the motherboard would give me some kind of error message, but nothing...

[Nvyseal]

Disconnect EVERYTHING from the MOBO then listen for a beep? try a new power supply or check connections to the power supply to the MOBO?

[eniparadoxgma]

Nvyseal, on Oct 3 2009, 03:52 PM, said:

Disconnect EVERYTHING from the MOBO then listen for a beep? try a new power supply or check connections to the power supply to the MOBO?

That will be my next move...the dreaded dissection.

I thought about the power supply but it seems as if everything is running alright physically. The fans spin, the lights on the GPU/MOBO/etc come on...

[Sphere]

Most common issue, when there's no beep, there's not enough power to feed the RAM.

Since you've swapped your RAM already, it's either defected RAM slots, or PSU.

At least, that's what ASUS told me when my motherboard died:

Quote

The very first beep you hear, is the RAM being initialized. If there are completely no beeps, the RAM is not initialized correctly. This can be due to several causes, but most common is a failing power supply or motherboard

Best way to test if this is indeed the problem, get a very lightweight (low amount of MB's ) RAM-strip, the lowest you can get, and make sure it works.
Test this one strip, on every slot, one by one.

That's all I can think of for now, but I'm afraid, your motherboard is in need of a funeral.

[m.oreilly]

last time this happened to me, it was the keyboard. after banging it upside down, and letting all the junk fall out of it, the system posted. yeah, removing everything at this point is going to be the thing. you sure you vid card is sending a signal? no bent pins or that on the cable? i'd let it set with teh battery out for ran hour, short the battery holder contacts, etc. geez man

[m.oreilly]

i get beeps unless the vid card is not sending a signal, so everything is running, but you can't see it. maybe try a vga instead of a dvi? got another gpu to try?

[eniparadoxgma]

Sphere, on Oct 3 2009, 05:10 PM, said:

Most common issue, when there's no beep, there's not enough power to feed the RAM.

Since you've swapped your RAM already, it's either defected RAM slots, or PSU.

At least, that's what ASUS told me when my motherboard died:
Best way to test if this is indeed the problem, get a very lightweight (low amount of MB's ) RAM-strip, the lowest you can get, and make sure it works.
Test this one strip, on every slot, one by one.

That's all I can think of for now, but I'm afraid, your motherboard is in need of a funeral.

I appreciate the info. Just don't know yet. I probably won't have a chance to get back into it until my kid hits the bed (9-10EST).

If it's the mobo, it's the mobo. I think EVGA will give me a new one. (eVGA 780i btw) I guess I'll see what I can find out by pulling everything.

m.oreilly, on Oct 3 2009, 05:42 PM, said:

last time this happened to me, it was the keyboard. after banging it upside down, and letting all the junk fall out of it, the system posted. yeah, removing everything at this point is going to be the thing. you sure you vid card is sending a signal? no bent pins or that on the cable? i'd let it set with teh battery out for ran hour, short the battery holder contacts, etc. geez man

Hmm...I'm using a brand new keyboard (had it for a week). Something did just come to me though - Maybe Banjo can help me out here- but it's a Logitech G11 USB keyboard and for some reason I noticed that the lights on the keyboard weren't working one of the times I restarted (before the computer died). I'll yank it and try my old school PS2 keyboard in a minute since it's an easy fix.



What about the timing of all of this though? Why would a hardware problem just happen when I'm in the middle of trying to fix my boot issues?

Just seems strange to me, but I know that when I do a reformat Murphy almost always rides shotgun.

[eniparadoxgma]

m.oreilly, on Oct 3 2009, 05:44 PM, said:

i get beeps unless the vid card is not sending a signal, so everything is running, but you can't see it. maybe try a vga instead of a dvi? got another gpu to try?

Couldn't find a PS2 keyboard, but tried just unplugging the one I have to see if it would change anything. Nothing.

I bought another video card from Best Buy today and tried it. It didn't change anything.

I bought a DVI to VGA adapter and tried an old school CRT of mine. It didn't work either.

A couple thoughts:

Neither monitor will do anything except turn on. I can't access on screen menus or anything for whatever that's worth.

Also, one thing that makes me think it's not just the video signal is that typically when it's a video signal problem the computer will boot fine, I'll get the usual "beep" that tells me it's POSTing or whatever, my GPU will spin down, etc. My computer does none of those things. It just sits there at idle and never even getting to POST, no beep, no anything...

Hell if I know lol.

[eniparadoxgma]

I have it sitting with the battery out right now. What do you mean short the battery contacts, MO? I know how to short the motherboard to get it to come on without the use of a power button, etc (although this mobo does have a button for power and a button for reset) but I've never done what you're referring to.

[Sphere]

Most motherboards have a "quick entry" to the BIOS, via PS/2 (right?) keyboard.

While powering up, hold the SHIFT and INSERT button usually, to go directly to the BIOS, but it might depend on your manufacturer.

Ow, and yes, eVGA has very good support and service, if it is the m/b, even outside of the warranty, they usually supply you with a new one for just the cost of sending.

[eniparadoxgma]

Sphere, on Oct 3 2009, 07:23 PM, said:

Most motherboards have a "quick entry" to the BIOS, via PS/2 (right?) keyboard.

While powering up, hold the SHIFT and INSERT button usually, to go directly to the BIOS, but it might depend on your manufacturer.

Ow, and yes, eVGA has very good support and service, if it is the m/b, even outside of the warranty, they usually supply you with a new one for just the cost of sending.

Just tried 2 different PS/2 keyboards and they don't appear to even be getting any power. The lights don't show up on them when I start the computer and nothing happens when I hold down shift and insert.

Not sure if that narrows anything down or not, but I'm thinking mobo now.

[m.oreilly]

yeah, a borked chipset or the like. dang

[Sphere]

It's a long shot, but you could try the following:

>Ground your PC!!!
>Really! Even a standard power-wire to any unpainted part of water/heating system works
>Remove every card and RAM you got
>Get a can of compressed air
>Blow out every slot, until no dirt and dust remains anywhere close to any slot*
>Blow out the slots again to be sure(
>Leave the system earthed for an hour or so, only close it to make sure no new dust gets in

Do the same for all the connector-strips on your cards and RAM

Reconnect only the vital parts

* Don't overdo on pressure, high airflow creates static