PC Prob

[Slave to C:\]

Hi,

Hope somebody out there can help me! (and also if this is in the right forum? )

OK my friend recently bought a pc from another friend of his and the spec is as follows:

Motherboard Manufacturer and Model: Not known
BIOS Revision Number (if known): not known
CPU/Speed: P4 1.4Ghz
RAM Manufacturer/Type/Module Size: 128MB SDRAM
CDRW/CDROM/DVD Manufacturer and Spec: Hitachi 30x CDROM Pioneer 16x CDRW
Disk Drive(s): Manufacturer and Spec: Western Digital 20gb
Video Card: Manufacturer and Type: AGP 32MB unknown make
Sound Card: Manufacturer and Model: Sound on board
NIC Manufacturer/Model: On-board
Operating System: Windows XP
Anything else you think is relevant: nothing

OK when my friend went to buy / collect the pc from his friend the pc was in working order - collected the pc after seeing the pc worked took it home tried to switch the pc on, machine came on but displayed nothing to the monitor.

So he calls me to see what I can do as i like to explore around my own pc system

So i think its to do with the AGP graphics card (I also noticed there is 2 serial ports and no port for on board graphics which seemed strange to me) I replaced the AGP card with a PCI card which i took out from my own system but again the pc comes on but on the monitor displays nothing.

Now I think its to do with something with the Hard drive - so again I replace the hardrive with one out of my system making sure to connect the data cable and power cable onto the motherboard, but again the same problem - pc comes on but does not display anything.

I've also tried to take the on board battery out, then back in, replace the SDRAM memory modules with my own brand new pc133 512MB type, removing the pci network card, disconnected all data cables for cd drives AND tried to connect the pc to 2 CRT monitors and 1 TFT monitor but STILL no luck.

I'm stuck - i've taken the system apart put it back together but still cant get the system to work even though the system was working only a few days ago - any other ideas?

cheers for any help

[Cricket]

Hi Slave to C:\,

During transport from one place to the other, something may have come loose and gotten between the motherboard and the case, shorting the motherboard to the case. Remove the motherboard and see if you can get the system to start up and send an image to the monitor.

Follow the instructions here: Troubleshooter

You may want to test with another power supply too.

Cricket

[Slave to C:\]

will do cheers for the help

[Charger]

As Cricket mentioned, I have had this happen twice before. In transport the RAM module(s) came loose enough to not boot. Try re-snapping in the RAM and Video card.

When the PC comes on are there any beeps?

[Slave to C:\]

Hey Cricket - followed your advice and now it works

I think it was a loose CPU as i took it off then realligned it into position worked a treat

but I seem to have a problem with my memory - I bought a new 512MB SDRAM module @ 133mhz same speed as my current memory upon installing it then turning the pc on all i get is beep beep beep beep etc continued never ending beeping - I took the other memory out and left the new one in still the same even when I swaped the position to bank 1 on the motherboard - at present the motherboard has 2 SDRAM slots taking upto a max 1GB.

Any ideas?

Cheers

[Cricket]

Hi Slave to C:\,

Are you sure you're installing the RAM sticks fully into the memory slots? Are you able to lock the RAM sticks in with the side latches?

Try checking to see that the video card is installed fully into the AGP slot.

Cricket

[Slave to C:\]

Hi Cricket,

yup the ram definetly is in the bank properly as they "click" into position

[mike breck]

Hi Slave to C:\,

Download, install and run this little program called Belarc Advisor.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

That will (hopefully) identify your mobo and AGP card.

Which may be useful to know.

[Slave to C:\]

Board: Giga-Byte Technology Co., LTD 8IDML
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. 6.00 PG 08/06/2001
NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 100/200

If I upgrade the bios may this cure the memory problem?

[mike breck]

Are both sticks unbuffered and non-parity Ram as your mobo recommends?

How many memory slots does the mobo have - three?

Try every conceivable slot combination with the two new sticks.

If that don't work, then they may be incompatible - some branded and unbranded memory can be.

You might try using two sticks of the same brand.

HTH

[Slave to C:\]

Hi Mike,

Both sticks are the same make - they have IBM on them with a M logo on the other side - 1 is 128MB SDRAM PC133 (the working one) the other is 512MB SDRAM PC133 - I only have 2 slots which can be upgraded to 1Ghz, i've tried the different positions changing one from one bank to the other but still the same beeping noise.

[ellio514]

does it beep with just the 128(the original that it came with?) try just that one if you haven't

[ellio514]

could just be a bad 512 stick

[Slave to C:\]

Hi Guys,

The original stick seems fine no beeps - the 512 module is actually brand new - could there still be a problem with it?

cheers

[Cricket]

Hi Slave to C:\,

Some motherboards are picky when it comes to RAM and just won't work unless all the RAM sticks used are the same.

What kind of PC is this anyway...is it a home built or a store bought name brand computer? Some name brand computers will only work with RAM that is specified by the company.

Cricket

[ellio514]

return the 512 and put in a new 512 and make sure it is not just a bad stick. Narrow down the potential problems before tackling a solution. Does the 512 work by itself at all.( not paired with the 128)

[Slave to C:\]

Hi guys thanks again for the comments

it's a custom build - the 512 ram is the same make as the 128 model - they both have the same sticker on the back - with an M logo and IBM on the right hand side.

The 512 won't work alone or paired with the 128 module same beeping noise - I guess i'll go get some new ram and report back

cheers

[glc]

Crucial has 512mb modules guaranteed compatible with that motherboard on sale for $62.99 and there is also a $10 off coupon.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Slave to C:\ The 512 won't work alone or paired with the 128 module same beeping noise

Sounds like that 512MB stick is bad. Go to simmtester.com and download DocMemory to test the RAM.

Cricket

[glc]

How are you gonna test it with software when it won't POST with it installed?