Dead motherboard?

[MichaelD]

Specs:

Mobo: EVGA NF-41 (NF4)
CPU: Athlon 4400 X2
Memory: 2 x 1GB Crucial
Videocard: EVGA 7800GTX
HD: 2 x SATA using onboard RAID controller
PS: Sparkle EPS 550 (24-pin)


Nothing is overclocked at all. It's been running perfectly, not a single problem, for two or so months now. Voltages and temps have been excellent...problem-free system up until now.

This morning, I went to open up Photoshop and the application hung. It wouldn't open. System became unreponsive. So, I did a Shut Down/Restart.

It shut down fine, but on the reboot the bios just hangs at the EVGA splash screen; it doesn't proceed with the boot device. So I hard booted it with the power button several times. I get the single "Beep" indicating all is well, but it just hangs at the splash screen. Esc/Del does nothing.

I didn't have time to open up the case and reset the bios (I had to get to work), but I figured I'd post here and see what ideas we come up with.

It's a really weird problem.

Thanks for the help.

 

[MichaelD]

Up.

 

[Woody419]

Unplug all the peripherals and try starting. A friend has a USB printer that causes the same type of lockup. If that doesn't work start removing parts and reseating them. Also try plugging/unplugging both hd's and booting from a boot disk (Bart's, Ubuntu, floppy, etc.) just to see if it will run.

 

[lordsaytor]

Yeah Woody's solution is a good one. Try to remove one peripheral at a time so you can isolate the problem.

 

[Topweasel]

If your system Locked and now isn't booting its probably from a disagreeable memory or CPU setting. Depending on how your motherboard handles that splash screen it could also be a a bad HD or something simple like like a disagreeable CD-R in your drive.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks very much, Woody, lordsaytor and topweasel. All very good suggestions. I will try them all when I get home.

I have a game CD in one of the drives and a USB printer hooked up...though I've never had any problems rebooting before with them as is.

I'll give it all a shot tonight.

 

[imported_Kiwi]

The only time I've seen that behavior is with an ATI video card in a DFI Lanparty system, that had a "small" four-pin power jack on it I didn't recognize at first (uses the spare floppy drive plug on the psu), and when I finally plugged that in, the POST proceeded normally. Interestingly, nVidia's cards will put up an error message on the screen when you don't plug into their power jacks (not saying I have had very many VGA adapters that wanted extra power until quite recently, so it might just be two isolated examples).

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks, Kiwi.

My videocard takes the 6-pin PCI-E power connector, which is plugged in.

I've had zero problems w/this setup since the day I built it two months ago.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Woody419
Unplug all the peripherals and try starting. A friend has a USB printer that causes the same type of lockup. If that doesn't work start removing parts and reseating them. Also try plugging/unplugging both hd's and booting from a boot disk (Bart's, Ubuntu, floppy, etc.) just to see if it will run.

YOU. I could freakin' KISS you (but I won't....maybe a manly handshake).

I get home and say "OK, let me turn the printer off (Epson CX6400) to see if that's causing the problem"

/hit power button
/hit power button

/hold power button
nothing

My printer was locked up. That has never happened before.
I unplugged the printer and the PC booted right up.

Thank you very much; you saved me from having to take the damn case apart. I've had memory, CPUs, hard drives, cables go bad. I've had jumpers fall off the motherboard too....some difficult problems there. But I've NEVER had a printer cause this.

[kyle] You know, I learned something today...[/kyle]

Thanks again very much! :beer:

 

[suicidalpigeon]

d00d you are a 4 years old member with 24k posts and you dont know the basic troubleshoot? i feel superior!

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: wafflesandsyrup
d00d you are a 4 years old member with 24k posts and you dont know the basic troubleshoot? i feel superior!

Well, I've never run into this problem before. Don't feel too superior; even rocket scientists make an error every now and then.

 

[Woody419]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
YOU. I could freakin' KISS you (but I won't....maybe a manly handshake).

Glad it worked out. Yes, the USB printer hang is a real obscure problem, I was really stumped the first time it happened too.

And a handshake will be just fine, thank you very much.