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10-15-2005, 02:16 PM
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#1 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
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graphics card keeps computer from booting??!!
hi. i'm new here, but would appreciate some help with a vexing problem.
on occasion, my computer will not start up. the fans power on, the hard disc starts spinning, but nothing else happens. it does not go into the boot sequence, and i do not get the telltale beep. i figured out that if i physically remove my graphics card, then reseat it, the computer starts up and works fine. the first time i figured it out, my computer ran fine for about 2 months. then it happened again. now it seems to more frequently, and sometimes i have to remove and reseat the graphics card 3 or 4 times before it works. i just cleaned all the contacts with alcohol (although i couldn't figure out how to clean inside the slots on the motherboard) and it is still doing it. what might be causing this? i could just buy a new graphics card, but i'm worried that it might be the motherboard. oddly enough, when the problem occurs, i don't get any beep codes. i thought when there was a real low-level problem, there was supposed to be a series of beeps that indicated what the problem was. i'm running windows xp pro sp 2. ati all-in-wonder 9600 pro series graphics card. msi 845pe max2-fir motherboard. thanks for your help. |
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10-15-2005, 03:32 PM
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#2 |
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Wx geek
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,638
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What about the power supply? What brand and wattage rating is it?
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"It is the way of man to make monsters and it is the nature of monsters to destroy their makers." |
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10-15-2005, 03:46 PM
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#3 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
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it's a silencer 400 atx 400W. so it's not shabby.
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10-15-2005, 04:00 PM
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#4 |
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Wrench Bender
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Plymouth,MN
Posts: 5,961
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Check the heat sink on the video card, could have come loose or some hold down point is broken. Also, check the CPU heat sink for the same problems.
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"When sliding down the banister of life; look out for splinters pointing up."
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10-15-2005, 04:08 PM
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#5 |
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Wx geek
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,638
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That's a Seasonic, no? You are right, that should be sufficient. Do you have another power supply you could swap with?
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10-15-2005, 04:16 PM
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#6 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
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i don't have another power supply, no. but if the problem is with the power supply, would the disc drive and the fans spin?
i'll check the heat sinks, if i can figure out where they are 
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10-15-2005, 04:28 PM
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#7 |
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Wx geek
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,638
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They could...I had this happen once to my Dell when the power supply started to poop out. Drives and fans would go on, but I got a video error (LED diagnostic codes) and nothing on the screen. The next time it happens, turn off the computer, and immediately start it back up. Do it several times in a row if necessary, see if that works instead of reseating the video card.
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10-15-2005, 04:33 PM
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#8 | |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
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Quote:
and flanzig, is it possible to tell me what the heat sink looks like, or is it too complicated... |
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10-15-2005, 04:34 PM
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#9 |
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Wx geek
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,638
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It's going to be the big thing protruding from the upper left hand corner of the motherboard. It'll probably have a fan on top of it.
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10-15-2005, 04:55 PM
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#10 |
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 106
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are you overclocking?
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10-15-2005, 05:16 PM
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#11 | |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
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Quote:
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10-15-2005, 06:23 PM
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#12 |
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 106
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next time it do not work,do not remove the graphic card but turn off the comp and turn it back on couple of times and i am betting it will turn on. One of my friend had this kind of problem but he was overlocking however whille he was doing the reasearch why problem was happening some people had problem with no oc. Try oc your board just a little and see if that makes a difference.
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10-15-2005, 06:28 PM
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#13 | |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
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Quote:
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10-15-2005, 06:32 PM
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#14 | |
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 106
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Quote:
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10-15-2005, 08:11 PM
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#15 |
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Wx geek
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 6,638
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Overclocking has a high risk of damaging parts, corrupting data, etc, especially if you have never done it before. And it will void waranties, so don't do it unless you are prepared to suffer the consquences of it going wrong. ie, burning your CPU and/or motherboard and having to buy a new one.
formerjudge, like I said I had the same problem as your friend - but I didn't have it overclocked...Only did it if the computer was turned off for several hours. Worked fine while the computer was still "warm" |
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10-15-2005, 08:39 PM
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#16 | |
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 106
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Quote:
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10-15-2005, 10:15 PM
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#17 | |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 12
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Quote:
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10-16-2005, 12:39 PM
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#18 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
Posts: 37,767
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Excuse me - the LAST thing you want to do when troubleshooting issues like this is overclock something! The FIRST thing to do when experiencing issues like this is REMOVE any overclocking that you may be doing.
What I would do first is try a different video card. |
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