• Welcome to Overclockers Forums! Join us to reply in threads, receive reduced ads, and to customize your site experience!

How to solve your computer EMERGENCY!

Overclockers is supported by our readers. When you click a link to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn More.
Status
Not open for further replies.

David

Forums Super Moderator
Joined
Feb 20, 2001
Thanks to the following members, who have posted material that I used as the basis for this sticky:
@md0Cer
johan851
Artisan
lanman31337
Dr*teeth
donny_paycheck

Thanks for contributing to the forums! :D


Troubleshooting Guide for No-POST Problems

Note: POST = Power On Self Test. This is the test the computer runs on its hardware at boot when it starts up. This involves checking CPU, RAM and video devices.

Problem Solving techniques
  1. Clear CMOS. The CMOS stores the various hardware settings for your computer, such as CPU speed and voltage, memory timings and IDE settings. If you set one of these settings to the wrong value it can stop the computer from starting. Clearing this restores the default (or often referred to as stock) settings. To clear the CMOS:
    - Unplug the power socket. The vast majority of newer computers are ATX, meaning that even when the PC is off, if the PC is plugged in it still has power flowing through it.
    - Press the power switch to dissipate any residual power in the computer.
    - Either remove the CMOS battery (small round silver battery) fir a few minutes, or use the board's CMOS clearing jumpers. This is simply a wee plastic tab that bridges a connection. Usually there are three pins - when the jumper is over two of them then the CMOS isnt touched. Switching the jumper over for a few seconds clears the CMOS. Set the jumper back, plug in the power and try to get the PC to boot again. Please see the manual for your motherboard for instructions on which jumper to move, and to what position.
  2. Check Connections. Make sure that all power cables, data cables, and peripheral cables are inserted fully, and in the right place. I myself have almost got frustrated because my monitor cable was loose!
  3. Run only the bare minimum. Remove all non essential devices etc. All you really need is:
    - Motherboard
    - CPU & CPU cooler
    - RAM - one stick
    - Video card
    - Power Supply

    You do not need:
    - Optical drives, such as CDROM/RW/DVD/etc
    - Floppy drives
    - Any cards, except video card. You dont need NICs, sound cards etc
    - Hard disks
    - More than one stick of RAM
    - A case, really. Although it may be easiest to leave it in the case, sometimes running the barebones on a bench can eliminate problems such as grounding problems etc.
    Make sure everything is at stock speeds and voltages.
  4. If the above works, add devices one at a time until it doesnt boot. Then you have found your problem. If it STILL doesnt boot....
  5. Try replacing components. Try and get a hold of a spare CPU, spare RAM etc. Try and figure out which component is causing the problems. Test each of the core components to make sure they work. When testing RAM, or boards, try the RAM in various slots, to make sure that one slot isnt damaged or something.

Common Problems
  • RAM, AGP, not properly seated, gold contacts are dirty.
  • Bent CPU pin
  • Smeared electrically conductive thermal compound on a component
  • PSU switch is off <- done this myself as well :)
  • Overclock pushed the PCI bus way out of spec causing corruption of data
  • Left CMOS jumper in the clear mode
  • Many boards will not boot if a fan is not attached to the first fan header, as a safety measure.
  • Screws/pieces of metal can go astray and cause short circuits.
  • Windows XP doesnt like it if you change hardware but use the same installation. Often you have to boot from CD and use the repair mode to get it to work.
  • Weak or faulty PSUs can often cause things like random reboots and shutdowns, or can be at fault when the PC will not start. If you get these sort of problems, check your voltage rails using a program like Motherboard Monitor or Speedfan.
  • Bad RAM can also cause many weird problems, such as random crashes, reboots or spontaneous and random errors. In the event of such areas, try a different stick of RAM to see if the errors go away.

BIOS boot codes

AWARD BIOS

Beep Sound Message
1 short(Beep) System booting is normally.
2 short(Beep) CMOS setting error
1 long - 1 short(Beep) DRAM ERROR
1 long - 2 short(Beep) Display card or monitor connected error
1 long - 3 short(Beep) Keyboard Error
1 long - 9 short(Beep) ROM Error
Long(Beep) continuous DRAM hasn't inset correctly.
Short(Beep) continuous POWER supply has problem.

AMI BIOS
1 short(Beep) DRAM Flash Error
2 short(Beep) DRAM ECC Check Error
3 short(Beep) DRAM Detect Fail
5 short(Beep) CPU Error
6 short(Beep) Keyboard Error
8 short(Beep) Display card memory Error
9 short(Beep) ROM Error
1 long - 3 short(Beep) DRAM Damage
1 long - 8 short(Beep) Display card or monitor connected error
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back