No BIOS and Desparate

This is a real brain buster. I had a working system that I decided to shutdown due to storms. After the threat was over I powered up the PC and no BIOS. So I replaced the mainboard. No BIOS. So I replaced the CPU. No BIOS. So I replaced the video card. No BIOS. So I replaced the Power Supply. No BIOS.

What in the world could possibly be left to replace that would stop BIOS? Does anyone have any hints as to what would prevent the BIOS from coming up other then the above? TIA.

 

Is there power at the outlet that the PC is plugged into? Do you hear anything trying to start?

 

Assuming you checked the above, you need to test the replacements and original items in a known working computer. Something you replaced is not working. I have several computers around just for that purpose.

Clearing the CMOS is also a good idea whenever something changes, like memory or the CPU.

 

RAM ?

I don't see it listed.

 

Further to Sparrow's comments and along the same line of thought, it would be pretty difficult at this point in time to assess your original problem. I am in total agreement that your first move should have been to clear CMOS but you elected to start changing out major components. What you have now is a different machine - we might as well call it a new build with an old hard drive that won't boot. And, just as Sparrow has suggested - how confident are you that the replacement "parts" are any good? Perhaps there is a Clairvoyant in the crowd that can lend some assistance.

It sounds like a familiar tale. Just the other day, my neighbor's car wouldn't start. He replaced the cam and milled the heads. Still no go. Resleeved the cylinders and replaced the rods and rings. Still no go. Changed the timing belt, put in a new water pump and coil. Still no go. Put in new plugs and changed the battery. Still no go. Swapped the transmission and rear end. Finally replaced main bearing seals - all to no avail. Lastly, he decided to consult a mechanic and asked what else should he replace?

 

It powers up but no BIOS.

 

Unfortunately, I don't have a way to do that. I have to assume that 2 components failing in exactly the same way is too remote to consider, at least at this time.

I did not try clearing CMOS since the original problem happened after a simple shutdown. I'll give that a try however. Thanks.

 

Since the RAM test occurs after the BIOS starts, I figured that didn't matter since it doesn't get that far.

 

Now you know my frustration. I am stumped as to what it could possibly be. I was hoping someone might suggest something I did not think of. That the BIOS will not come up eliminates the HDs and other external components, does it not? Other then mainboard, CPU, video card and maybe the power supply, what else could possibly prevent the BIOS even putting up an error? All I get is the monitor telling me there is no signal (yes the monitor is working as I am using it now). As to the replacement parts, my confidence level is pretty high particularly since it seems too remote that 2 different components would fail in exactly the same way at the same time.

As I said everything appears to be powering up, lights come on, on all the various components that have lights. CPU fan is running, video card fan is running. There just doesn't seem to be anything else that would prevent the BIOS from displaying something, anything. Obviously, however, there must be, but what? Can memory or an external component really prevent the BIOS from coming up at all? That seems like the only things that are common but I didn't think they could have anything to do with BIOS starting.

 

PS2 ports for keyboard and mouse?
Does board also have on-board video?
Yank every card out of there except video.
Temporarily pull and clean memory contacts and video card contacts.
Put memory and Video card back in.
Disconnect everything except mouse, keyboard and monitor.
Reset CMOS as follows:
Unplug unit from power receptical
remove main power connector from PSU to MoBo.
Move CMOS jumper from 1&2 to 2&3
Wait 10 - 15 seconds
Re-jumper 1&2
Re-connect 20 or 24 pin power
Attempt startup while dancing on the Delete key

Please report back and include board make, model and revision #.

You'd be surprised what all can stop a machine from posting.

 

Yes to the first question and no to the second.

I'll give the rest of it a try but replacing the mainboard would have accomplished most of that anyway except the CMOS reset. However, it never hurts to retrace steps. Thanks.

 

Hi gw1500se, This post sure makes interesting reading. When you Shut down because of storms, did you unplug from the power outlet? Just wondering whether there might have been a power surge which may have upset the PSU. As the PSU would still be alive to the M/B, there may be a possibility of damage to BIOS. I don't recollect you saying the computer gives a POST beep when starting. Is your Monitor powered through the PSU or is it connected to a power outlet? Neil.

 

Thanks for the reply. Everything is/was on a UPS. I shutdown that machine so I could keep another up longer in the event of a power failure. In any case, as I said, I replaced the PSU to no avail and the monitor is what I'm using now. I haven't had time to reset the CMOS or pull cards but I hope to try that this weekend.

 

Quote
"After the threat was over I powered up the PC and no BIOS. So I replaced the mainboard. No BIOS. So I replaced the CPU. No BIOS. So I replaced the video card. No BIOS. So I replaced the Power Supply. No BIOS. "



Maybe I'm a bit confused but what mainboard did you replace?
I have a Intel PIII board here that has similar problems & all I did was upgrade the RAM.
Regards Jac

 

I replaced a MS-6330 ver 2.1 with a MS-6330 ver 5. It is my guess that neither is bad.

 

Thanks to everyone that has contributed so far, this is getting beyond frustrating and into the sublime. I reset the CMOS and removed all cards except the video card (which was replaced earlier). I also disconnected all devices. There is no joy in Mudville.

The only thing I haven't tried (because it is so hard to get to without removing all the drives, is the memory). However, am I correct in assuming that even if it were bad, the BIOS would come up and tell me when it checks it?

Here's what I've replaced/checked so far, in order:

Mainboard
CPU
Video Card
Power Supply
All Drives (unplugged IDE cables)
Monitor obviously works as I am using it

There is nothing left. How can 2 components, independently acquired, fail in exactly the same way at the same time? All I can think of is a cascade failure. One component that was replaced, failed the same way because of a preexisting failure in another component that was replaced later.

Unfortunately I do not have a practical way to independently verify each component to see which one(s) is(are) bad. Any more suggestions?

 

Have you as RSINFO suggested checked the ram, try a different set, I maybe wrong but I've never been able to get a board to go anywhere with out ram?

 

Thanks. I guess that is about all that is left. I'll give it a try as soon as I build up the wherewithal to pull the drives out of the way. This particular case is not conducive to moving drives in and out.

 

You will need to remove the motherboard from the case, put it up on a sheet of cardboard or the antistatic bag and test it that way. There could be a "short to earth ". If the m/b is not seated correctly in the case. Even misaligned bolts can cause shorting on the m/b.

Did you disconnect everything including drives? Just start with CPU, RAM, Video Card, mouse and k/b (and swap mouse and k/b with others).

I am wary of ordinary quality cases.

Matt

 

Have you checked at the motherboard manufacturer's website that the model of the CPU is compatible with your motherboard?