PC doesn't reach POST

Samik · 11-06-2009, 02:24 PM

Hey all, thanks in advance for any help. I was using the PC in question last night to play games, and when I was done I watched a bit of a movie then turned it off and went to sleep. I woke up, turned it on, and alas the PC does not seem to be reaching POST, as the monitor stays in standby mode (Waiting for a signal?) and the keyboard only lights up when I hit the power switch.

When I press the power switch it turns on, the Proccesor is running (Proven by heat on the heatsink?), all fans are spinning and my hardrive appears to be on (Regardless this wouldn't stop it from showing anything on the monitor).

I have tried a multitude of fixes including resetting CMOS (In addition to removing and replacing the battery), testing each RAM stick individually and then a different one alltogether. I have completely dissassembled the rig and investigated for blown capacitors and short-circuits. I have tried a different DVI cable and my onboard video, I don't beleive it is the video card or the monitor.

Motherboard : Biostar T-Series TA780G M2+
Video Card : Nivdia Geforce GTX 160 (Unsure on specifics, Its new and I cant access the PC's DxDiag)
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 2.8ghz
Memory : 2 sticks of OCZ 2048 at 400 mhz

Not sure about the power supply but I've used it with the GTX160 for months and a 9600 before that and its been fineunder full load, and all the fans ad lights are going so I am assuming its fine too.

I am waiting on an internal speaker to evaluate if there are any beeps when attempting to start, does anyone else have any suggestions?

Tumbleweed36 · 11-06-2009, 05:32 PM

And, the brand name and wattage of the power supply is???? How old is it?

Samik · 11-06-2009, 07:24 PM

Its old and I remember it not being particularily good (Pretty sure it was horrible, I just kept it because i've never had a problem, the brand name is Ultra and its 600W thats all I know), also it had more than enough amps on the 12v rail for the video card. Is it worth testing another power supply with the system? maybe it crapped out? Also I wont be getting the new internal speaker anytime soon.

EDIT: The video card is a GTX260.

Tumbleweed36 · 11-06-2009, 07:34 PM

If you can get a decent 650 to 750 watt power supply to try in there, I would do it. Actually, you are lucky the Ultra went as long as it did, because they are known to be a rather weak supply.

Samik · 11-06-2009, 07:44 PM

Can I use an older supply for the purposes of investigating whether it was indeed the PSU at fault? Its the only one I have on hand. Maybe with the onboard graphics?

Tumbleweed36 · 11-06-2009, 08:00 PM

If it is enough to pull the onboard graphics, should be fine. Just don't use an underpowered supply to pull that GTX260 or you risk burning something up. If you try the 260, don't try it with anything less than a Quality 600 to 650.

Samik · 11-06-2009, 09:23 PM

Just another quick Q, if it doesnt work with that other PSU is there a way to tell whether its the CPU or the Motherboard? As the memory has been confirmed to not be the culprit.

Samik · 11-06-2009, 09:44 PM

Ok so two different PSU's couldnt get the dang thing to POST or get the monitor out of standby at the most barebone level using the intergrated graphics, I assume that means its a mobo or PSU issue? (Hopefully PSU, I could use an upgrade. :P)

Tumbleweed36 · 11-07-2009, 04:45 AM

I am still betting on the power supply not being up to the job.

Testing a Power Supply with a Multimeter

/or/

How to test a Power Supply with a Multimeter

Samik · 11-07-2009, 11:18 AM

If it was the PSU then wouldnt the system have worked with the other two I tried? I realize its a bad PSU but im not made of money and can't replace two things, so Im trying to find the broken part.

Tumbleweed36 · 11-07-2009, 01:23 PM

One doesn't know because we don't know the wattage and brand name of what you tried in there. Give us more info and we might have a better idea.

11-06-2009, 02:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Samik Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Sp2	PC doesn't reach POST Hey all, thanks in advance for any help. I was using the PC in question last night to play games, and when I was done I watched a bit of a movie then turned it off and went to sleep. I woke up, turned it on, and alas the PC does not seem to be reaching POST, as the monitor stays in standby mode (Waiting for a signal?) and the keyboard only lights up when I hit the power switch. When I press the power switch it turns on, the Proccesor is running (Proven by heat on the heatsink?), all fans are spinning and my hardrive appears to be on (Regardless this wouldn't stop it from showing anything on the monitor). I have tried a multitude of fixes including resetting CMOS (In addition to removing and replacing the battery), testing each RAM stick individually and then a different one alltogether. I have completely dissassembled the rig and investigated for blown capacitors and short-circuits. I have tried a different DVI cable and my onboard video, I don't beleive it is the video card or the monitor. Motherboard : Biostar T-Series TA780G M2+ Video Card : Nivdia Geforce GTX 160 (Unsure on specifics, Its new and I cant access the PC's DxDiag) Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 2.8ghz Memory : 2 sticks of OCZ 2048 at 400 mhz Not sure about the power supply but I've used it with the GTX160 for months and a 9600 before that and its been fineunder full load, and all the fans ad lights are going so I am assuming its fine too. I am waiting on an internal speaker to evaluate if there are any beeps when attempting to start, does anyone else have any suggestions?

11-06-2009, 05:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,652 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC doesn't reach POST And, the brand name and wattage of the power supply is???? How old is it? __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 11-06-2009 at 05:33 PM.

11-06-2009, 07:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Samik Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Sp2	Re: PC doesn't reach POST Its old and I remember it not being particularily good (Pretty sure it was horrible, I just kept it because i've never had a problem, the brand name is Ultra and its 600W thats all I know), also it had more than enough amps on the 12v rail for the video card. Is it worth testing another power supply with the system? maybe it crapped out? Also I wont be getting the new internal speaker anytime soon. EDIT: The video card is a GTX260.

11-06-2009, 07:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,652 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC doesn't reach POST If you can get a decent 650 to 750 watt power supply to try in there, I would do it. Actually, you are lucky the Ultra went as long as it did, because they are known to be a rather weak supply. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

11-06-2009, 07:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
Samik Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Sp2	Re: PC doesn't reach POST Can I use an older supply for the purposes of investigating whether it was indeed the PSU at fault? Its the only one I have on hand. Maybe with the onboard graphics?

11-06-2009, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,652 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC doesn't reach POST If it is enough to pull the onboard graphics, should be fine. Just don't use an underpowered supply to pull that GTX260 or you risk burning something up. If you try the 260, don't try it with anything less than a Quality 600 to 650. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

11-06-2009, 09:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
Samik Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Sp2	Re: PC doesn't reach POST Just another quick Q, if it doesnt work with that other PSU is there a way to tell whether its the CPU or the Motherboard? As the memory has been confirmed to not be the culprit.

11-06-2009, 09:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Samik Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Sp2	Re: PC doesn't reach POST Ok so two different PSU's couldnt get the dang thing to POST or get the monitor out of standby at the most barebone level using the intergrated graphics, I assume that means its a mobo or PSU issue? (Hopefully PSU, I could use an upgrade. :P)

11-07-2009, 04:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,652 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC doesn't reach POST I am still betting on the power supply not being up to the job. Testing a Power Supply with a Multimeter /or/ How to test a Power Supply with a Multimeter __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 11-07-2009 at 04:46 AM.

11-07-2009, 11:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
Samik Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Sp2	Re: PC doesn't reach POST If it was the PSU then wouldnt the system have worked with the other two I tried? I realize its a bad PSU but im not made of money and can't replace two things, so Im trying to find the broken part.

11-07-2009, 01:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,652 OS: XP Professional	Re: PC doesn't reach POST One doesn't know because we don't know the wattage and brand name of what you tried in there. Give us more info and we might have a better idea. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.