PC Tech
10-16-2002, 5:34 PM
Hi,
I have been having problems with two identical PCs built within days of each other. The only difference is the video card and sound card, but both are displaying the same symptoms.
Problem:
They are located in an area where brief power outages (1-5 seconds usually) frequently occur (I do not have UPS supplies yet). When this happens, they will not POST again and I have yet to figure out exactly what is going on. When the power cuts off, the computers stop running (that's obvious right?). Pressing the power button starts the CPU (the fans start running on the board and in the case), the power light to the motherboard main connector is green. However, right before the POST beep and harddrive spinnup, it just seems to hit a plateau and nothing happens. The power remains on but it will not POST. The monitor is blinking with a no input signal at this point.
What I have tried to resolve the problem:
I have replaced the harddrives twice and I am now certain that they are fine. I have replaced the motherboard once and the same problem results. The video card has remained the same throughout all the changes. When the power goes out and this problem occurs, I turn the PC on its side and disconnect all the power cords and the main power connector on the m'board. THen i reset the CMOS and cross my fingers. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. Often times, just leaving it for an hour or two and trying to turn it on (while the PC is on its side) gets it going again. That and a good kick. Just kidding.
I read somewhere in one of my A+ books that weird, unpredictable behavior can sometimes be caused by a bad power supply. Anybody think this might be it? I really don't want to have to replace the power supply but I've had it with this problem.
Anyway, any suggestions, similar stories, solutions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the essay.
PC Specs:
Enlight Case 250 Watt case
IBM 20 GB Deskstar
ASUS A7A266 board with latest BIOS
512 MB DDR RAM
VooDoo 3000 AGP 16 MB
SOundblaster PCI 128 sound card
Linksys NIC
Windows 2000 with latest service release/packs
AMD 1.2 GHz Athlon
NO UPS supply yet
Thanks in advance,
Wes Shi
I have been having problems with two identical PCs built within days of each other. The only difference is the video card and sound card, but both are displaying the same symptoms.
Problem:
They are located in an area where brief power outages (1-5 seconds usually) frequently occur (I do not have UPS supplies yet). When this happens, they will not POST again and I have yet to figure out exactly what is going on. When the power cuts off, the computers stop running (that's obvious right?). Pressing the power button starts the CPU (the fans start running on the board and in the case), the power light to the motherboard main connector is green. However, right before the POST beep and harddrive spinnup, it just seems to hit a plateau and nothing happens. The power remains on but it will not POST. The monitor is blinking with a no input signal at this point.
What I have tried to resolve the problem:
I have replaced the harddrives twice and I am now certain that they are fine. I have replaced the motherboard once and the same problem results. The video card has remained the same throughout all the changes. When the power goes out and this problem occurs, I turn the PC on its side and disconnect all the power cords and the main power connector on the m'board. THen i reset the CMOS and cross my fingers. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. Often times, just leaving it for an hour or two and trying to turn it on (while the PC is on its side) gets it going again. That and a good kick. Just kidding.
I read somewhere in one of my A+ books that weird, unpredictable behavior can sometimes be caused by a bad power supply. Anybody think this might be it? I really don't want to have to replace the power supply but I've had it with this problem.
Anyway, any suggestions, similar stories, solutions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the essay.
PC Specs:
Enlight Case 250 Watt case
IBM 20 GB Deskstar
ASUS A7A266 board with latest BIOS
512 MB DDR RAM
VooDoo 3000 AGP 16 MB
SOundblaster PCI 128 sound card
Linksys NIC
Windows 2000 with latest service release/packs
AMD 1.2 GHz Athlon
NO UPS supply yet
Thanks in advance,
Wes Shi