Desktop won't POST - Hardware & Software

Right now I'm on my netbook as my main computer won't start up. This whole problem started a few months ago, my computer would hang out of nowhere, the only way to reboot was to pull the plug as the reboot button did nothing. After I shut it down, it would take a few power cycles to get it through or to POST, afterwards on the first full boot into windows it would hang after a few minutes. Then I'd repeat this process and the computer would work fine for days. I never shut it down because if I did I'd need to do this all again. Finally last night while I was browsing facepunch then computer stalled again. Used to this I just flipped the power switch on the PSU, waited a few seconds, and let it cycle a few times. However, no matter what I did it just wouldn't boot. It being 2AM I went to bed. After I got up this morning the computer still refused to boot. I did manage to get it to POST three times but the computer hanged in BIOS options and then in the bootloader, and finally during a memtest86+. It hasn't POSTed since. I've tried a few troubleshooting steps with yumyum, but the computer still isn't booting. We've tried [list] [*]All sorts of RAM combos (I have 2 2GB sticks and 4 slots) [*]Checking connections [*]Clearing the RTC [/list] So please FP, help me out.

Maybe your CMOS battery needs replacing? Why the dumbs?

[QUOTE=UnstableIsotope;19254819]Maybe your CMOS battery needs replacing?[/QUOTE] Maybe, let me try another battery.

you need to flash the bios with a newer verison

[QUOTE=JohnEdwards;19254857]you need to flash the bios with a newer verison[/QUOTE] I can't even get the thing to boot, I don't think I'll be able to do that.

[QUOTE=UnstableIsotope;19254819]Maybe your CMOS battery needs replacing?[/QUOTE] The machine has power so the battery is barely being utilized anyway. @OP: You seem to know a good deal about the problem so Bravo for being able to fully explain your issues. Anyway, have you tried a known good power supply just in case one of the rails on that one is going out? [editline]10:59AM[/editline] I suspect that the mobo just failed though.

Sounds like it could be the PSU.

CMOS Battery swap didn't fix it.

[QUOTE=compwhiziitothemax;19254884]I can't even get the thing to boot, I don't think I'll be able to do that.[/QUOTE] you don't boot to flash a bios...

[QUOTE=Specter;19254886]The machine has power so the battery is barely being utilized anyway. @OP: You seem to know a good deal about the problem so Bravo for being able to fully explain your issues. Anyway, have you tried a known good power supply just in case one of the rails on that one is going out? [editline]10:59AM[/editline] I suspect that the mobo just failed though.[/QUOTE] Thanks, The PSU has been known to have flaky caps so it's always a possibility. I'll see if I can get another PSU. Oh, and I forgot to mention, the machine does get power. My cathodes are lit, fans are spinning, hard drives are making noise. [editline]01:07PM[/editline] [QUOTE=JohnEdwards;19255055]you don't boot to flash a bios...[/QUOTE] fine ill try it [editline]01:11PM[/editline] To get into the BIOS flash utility I need to be in POST and hitting Alt-F2, however I can't even get to POST.

[QUOTE=JohnEdwards;19255055]you don't boot to flash a bios...[/QUOTE] You need to at minimum be able to get into the BIOS (assuming it has a flash utility) Unless you know of some way to inject code into an unpowered computer. (Or maybe you're talking about resetting the BIOS? In which case yea he did, he replaced the CMOS battery which if the computer was unplugged would have done it.)

[QUOTE=compwhiziitothemax;19255056]Thanks, The PSU has been known to have flaky caps so it's always a possibility.[/QUOTE] I would also check the mobo for dying caps, I had to rebuild a relative's machine due to defective caps fucking up the mobo.

Reseating Graphics card now. [editline]02:10PM[/editline] holy fuck it beeped [editline]02:12PM[/editline] All I did was unseat the card, take it outside and hit it with compressed air, and it beeped. [editline]02:12PM[/editline] no wait now we're back where we were before

[QUOTE=compwhiziitothemax;19256234]Reseating Graphics card now. [editline]02:10PM[/editline] holy fuck it beeped [editline]02:12PM[/editline] All I did was unseat the card, take it outside and hit it with compressed air, and it beeped. [editline]02:12PM[/editline] no wait now we're back where we were before[/QUOTE] Capacitors holding their charge maybe? Anyway, have you pulled everything and tried booting barebones?

How bare bones? Mobo RAM CPU Heatsink and Graphics card? [editline]02:28PM[/editline] [QUOTE=trainman1337;19255744]I would also check the mobo for dying caps, I had to rebuild a relative's machine due to defective caps fucking up the mobo.[/QUOTE] Don't see any.

[QUOTE=compwhiziitothemax;19256671]How bare bones? Mobo RAM CPU Heatsink and Graphics card?[/QUOTE] I'd take out the video card. (Unless you don't have onboard video) and boot with just what you have listed there.

Don't have onboard, so it'll stay in. Right then, give me a minute.

[QUOTE=compwhiziitothemax;19256671]How bare bones? Mobo RAM CPU Heatsink and Graphics card? [editline]02:28PM[/editline] Don't see any.[/QUOTE] One RAM stick, GPU,CPU Mobo

[QUOTE=Kialtia;19256849]One RAM stick, GPU,CPU Mobo[/QUOTE] yea, I guess one stick of RAM would be better, but he did already test them so meh.

Still nothing. I'n going to let the system sit unplugged for a few minutes so the PSU caps can drain.

[QUOTE=Specter;19255240]You need to at minimum be able to get into the BIOS (assuming it has a flash utility) Unless you know of some way to inject code into an unpowered computer. (Or maybe you're talking about resetting the BIOS? In which case yea he did, he replaced the CMOS battery which if the computer was unplugged would have done it.)[/QUOTE] floppy drive just retry until you get lucky

Okay after I've let the PSU sit unplugged for some time I plugged it back in and booted it up. The system hit POST however it then hung there and became unresponsive. [editline]02:48PM[/editline] Okay I'm in the BIOS flash tool. [editline]02:56PM[/editline] System just hanged during the BIOS flash :ohdear: [editline]03:22PM[/editline] I think I killed it. Fuck.

[QUOTE=compwhiziitothemax;19257190]Okay after I've let the PSU sit unplugged for some time I plugged it back in and booted it up. The system hit POST however it then hung there and became unresponsive. [editline]02:48PM[/editline] Okay I'm in the BIOS flash tool. [editline]02:56PM[/editline] System just hanged during the BIOS flash :ohdear: [editline]03:22PM[/editline] I think I killed it. Fuck.[/QUOTE] I think it was dead already. Not your fault.

Update: It's not dead, sorta. I'm in boot block right now, with a PS/2 keyboard and a floppy drive with the flash tool and BIOS on it. I can get it to run the BIOS flasher but it hangs during flash, the system goes sour before it can finish.

We've got a RMA from ASUS.

Went to the UPS store to have it shipped. Since it's going ground from NY to Cali, it'll get there a week from Friday. So it looks like I'm fucked for a few weeks.

Good luck. Hopefully it'll get here sooner than later.

Well I got the motherboard back (They sent a new one, new serial) and guess what. ITS STILL DOESNT BOOT. [b]FUCK[/b]

You mentioned in an earlier post you were going to find a different PSU, did you end up testing it out with another one?

Wow it's your psu not your motherboard just because your hdds and silly lights turn on doesn't mean the motherboard is getting enough power. A light and an hdd is about 15 watts the motherboard can be in the hundreds. Probably one of your +12v rails are dead leaving you to believe that it's not the problem because the other stuff works.