Java

Hi there everyone.

I've tried to solve the following problem on my own for the past 2 weeks and have yet to come up with a solid diagnosis.

After successfully upgrading both my RAM & video card, my monitor kicks the bucket (it was a bit overdue, since it's been running on & off for the past 1 or so). Sometime during this I made the blunder of upgrading my bios without backing up the original

Off I went to get a new Philips 107S66 monitor. Hooking it up to my ATI Radeon 9600 Pro, I find that the monitor stays in standby mode (green light blanks on and off) after I boot up the computer, as if there's no signal is being sent from the Video Card. The monitor finally starts up after I reboot (with the restart button) several times, the exact number isn't consistent - and is really dependent on how much my computer wants to piss me off in any given day .

During this no signal phase, I can hear normal clanking sounds during boot up, the CPU orange light goes on for a while, but no POST. The CPU light then goes off and I can wait for as long as I want with no change in monitor status. And so I reboot again just to get a Windows loaded...

Now here's the weird part. This no signal to monitor issue only creeps up if I've left the computer off for extended period of time (of say 2 hours), boot ups within that particular period (again determined by the whim of my computer) is fine.

The things that I've tried so far:
1) Re-socketed both the Graphics Card & RAM on numerous occasions
2) I've gone back to my original Graphics Card & RAM thinking that the new equipment is faulty. Problem still persists.

Although I don't mind playing reboot everytime I need to turn on my computer for the day. The constant reboots seem to have had effect on my Win2k from loading properly. Almost everytime after rebooting several times to get the monitor registered, the Windows load up freezes at the Splash screen (the one with the incremental blue bar).

My guess is that by upgrading my bios, I've somehow introduced a new feature that I haven't properly configured or isn't really used by my mobo.

I had wanted to downgrade my bios, but none of the download links at the Chaintech website seem to work

(http://www.chaintech.com.tw:8008/AP/...p?model=7AIA5E)

When I get a chance I'll swap monitors with my other computer to see if its my new monitor

But in the meantime, if anyone has ANYTHING to suggest (I've just about pulled out all of my hair trying to solve this), I'll be very, very grateful.

Thanks in advance.

dai

when upgrading the first thing to do is to make sure that you have enough power for the upgrade check your requirements here
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/
based on a quality supply and add 30% to the result

Java

Hey Dai. Thanks for the reply.

I'm currently running a GPU with only 200W power output. Which I know isn't enough. But I am baffled by the following:

1) If it is because of the power. Why would the monitor boot up after several restarts? Wouldn't you expect it not to work ALL of the time?

2) I'm currently running my old graphics card + RAM, which I've never had a problem with before, but the reboot issue is still there. I honestly thought that taking the computer back to original component configuration would solve it but it didn't...

I'm going to take out some of the unneeded components in my box to reduce power usage and see if that fixes the problem.

Cheers.

geekboy

I also have the same problem with one of my systems, but I haven't changed anything to cause this.

UncleMacro

One other thing you might consider is that some component in your computer refuses to run stone cold. My mom's computer needs to be on for a minute or two before the thing is willing to boot. On the first few boot attempts the video card seems to go haywire. Once it's nice and warm inside it boots just great. But if it's been off long enough to get completely cold, then it goes back to the "I'll boot when I feel like it" mode. You could test if that's the case if you could get the machine into the BIOS (not too difficult to do even if the monitor is off) and leave it sitting there for a few minutes. Then reset it once and see if it boots. If so, then you'd figure it's just a matter of some component reaching the proper temperature. In the case of my mom's machine, I think the motherboard won't work (probably the AGP slot) until the stupid thing is a little warm because the same thing happens with different video cards.

Java

geekboy: So what you did end up doing to fix the problem?

MacroUncle: The problem is I don't think I can even get to the bios. No post or anything, the computer starts with the clanking sound (normal), but no post sound (single beep you expect at start up), and CPU light on for a while before blanking out.

I have taken out one stick of RAM, and removed one of my CDRW drives, leaving in the old Graphics card, which supposedly uses less power than the new one.

It's been going ok so far, but really I think I need to wait for the computer to get cold (going by MacroUncle's advice :D) before I certify that it's really fixed.

Also, I've being looking at the possibilty of buying a new case with a built in 400W PSU whilest retaining all of my old internal components. But when I opened up my case just now to remove some of the components, I think that the motherboard is bolted (NOT screwed) on. Which means if the old case goes, so does the motherboard + CPU.

Since my most recent upgrades left me fairly short of cash, and seeing how I'm a cheap-a$$ by nature , I guess I'm gonna have to live with the old video card if this works.

Will keep you guys updated with the progress.

Thanks.

Terrister

I would wait until you can get a power supply to try the new video card again. When upgrading, it is good to do one thing at a time. Makes it easier to find what went wrong, if it does.

You could try putting the RAM back in. Should be ok.

dai

when p/s start to deteriorate erratic starting is usually one of the first signs

geekboy

I don't know if this helps to solve the problem or not, but I get a message on the first boot up screen saying something about an 80 conductor....any ideas?

dai

usually receive this when you are using anold 40 wire eide cable instead of the 80 wire eide cable

geekboy

Yup dai that was the problem, Java you may want to try that also. All I was swich the 40 pin with an 80 poin and its working great! :)

Java

Hey guys, thanks for the great response.

Unfortunately, removing the CDRW drive + one stick of RAM (saving about 32W of power - Dai's link), didn't solve the problem.

I ran into a friend today who suggested that I reset the Motherboard jumpers. Is there any merit in this?

And if so, how do I go about doing it? Please leave detailed instructions as I've never done this kind of thing before.

Thank you.

Java

Thanks for all the help thus far guys. I'm having too much trouble with this computer.

I've decided to get a new computer. This one has gone to my more tehnical savvy neighbour.

Cheers