No longer boots

[gimps]

So my system has been running fine and dandy for quite some time... along the lines of over a year. Well, about a month ago or so, I wanted to see if there were any BIOS updates. Oh yeah, this is a DFI LanParty NF2 Ultra Rev. A board... Well I downloaded the BIOS update, I can't remember if, at the time, I thought I had a Rev. A or B board. Anyway, it wouldn't update the BIOS. So I tried a couple more. Well, one of them finally went through. Seemed to run fine... later on, wether it was that day or not I can't remember. I looked through my crap and saw that I did have a Rev. A. Well, the BIOS that it DID have WAS the most current for Rev. A. But, everything was fine so oh well.
Over the last week or so, it's been having issues. First, I realized it was only running the FSB at 100 mhz, instead of 200 (XP 3200+), so I increased FSB to 200. Ran fine.. until the next restart. The BIOS screen popped up, and said something along the lines of "Error detected.. reset to defaults." So it reset back to 100 FSB. I let it go.
And then today, I reset my computer to change back to 200 FSB, plus I wanted to play some Doom3 and the computer had been running for a few days. Anyway, I reset, and the screen never came back on. My monitor keeps switching between Analog and Digital (20" LCD), as if it's not getting a video signal. I cleaned the hell out of the case a while back, and everything seemed to be fine. Well, I checked EVERYTHING I could, and the computer will not POST. The "Diagnostic" LEDs on the board are useless, they are all ON, according to the manual meaning "Continue Booting" or something. I've reseat the video card, checked RAM, checked all connections.. everything's fine.
Oh, and I'm also getting NO error Beeps. Any clue?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

I'm not sure I follow. Did you or didn;t you install the correct BIOS update? n incorrect BIOS install will definately screw things up.

Some mobos have a dual BIOS feature that allows you to boot using an alternate backup BIOS. Check your manual.

Have you tried clearing the CMOS?

Pull all cards except the video card, disconnect EVERYTHING from the mobo (all LEDs, switches ribbons etc) except the power cable and power switch. Also pull the power cables off all the drives and even your vid card (if it uses one). It's possible something else other than the mobo is shorting the system out.

Do you have a digital multimeter? Check the 5 volt and 12 volt bus and see it they're within 5%.

Off hand sounds like your mobo died, but you need to eliminate all other possibilities.

Good luck.

 

[compusaguy]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. BIOS should never be updated unless you are having problems.

 

[gimps]

I honestly don't know if it was the correct BIOS or not... What I do know, is that several didn't work, saying "Hardware ID (xxxx) does not match," but then one did.. so I honestly don't know. But like I said, it worked fine for over a month, with a few reboots and no problems except for the 2 I said.
The LanParty does not have a dual bios feature, unfortunately. Atleast, I don't think it does but I'll double-check.
Out of curiosity.. regardless.. the video BIOS should post onto the screen, if it's just the BIOS, correct?
Also, not sure if this helps any or not, but the HDD light stays solid on... unlike before.

 

[gimps]

oh, and I have tried clearing CMOS, by using the jumper, and also by removing the battery and removing all power from the computer.

 

[compusaguy]

Originally posted by: gimps
I honestly don't know if it was the correct BIOS or not... What I do know, is that several didn't work, saying "Hardware ID (xxxx) does not match," but then one did.. so I honestly don't know.

I'm laughing my ass off at this thread. Why would you just start trying to install as many BIOSs until one worked? Don't you think that's just a little wreckless??? What were you thinking???

 

[gimps]

Originally posted by: compusaguy

Originally posted by: gimps
I honestly don't know if it was the correct BIOS or not... What I do know, is that several didn't work, saying "Hardware ID (xxxx) does not match," but then one did.. so I honestly don't know.

I'm laughing my ass off at this thread. Why would you just start trying to install as many BIOSs until one worked? Don't you think that's just a little wreckless??? What were you thinking???

quit bein such a prick, man. Look, I know it was stupid. But whatever, it's done, it worked for a while, meaning I'm assuming it wasn't the culprit. Also, I didn't just "try as many BIOS'es until one worked." I could not honestly remember if I had the Rev. A or B, and for whatever reason I swear it was the B. Well, it was Rev. A.
What's done is done, no need for you to be such a jackass.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

If the mobo BIOS is dead, it'll never get far enough to initialize the video BIOS.

Seriously, you NEVER "just try" different BIOSes. There's nothing to stop you from installing the wrong version. I agree it's unlikely that it's the BIOS if it did manage to run for a month, but it's also possible that the incorrect BIOS may have been radically overclocking the CPU without you knowing and toasted it (unlikely but possible).

 

[gimps]

nope, no overclocking. Ever since I installed my 3200+, it's only been running at 1.1 GHz. The mobo never correctly set the FSB to 200, and has been running at 100 FSB.

 

[gimps]

and.. out of curiosity if either of you know, what would cause the mobo to "just die" when I attempt to reboot?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

What I meant was that if you had installed the wrong BIOS, it COULD have been overclocked and you wouldn't know it.

Mobos "just die" all the time. I do computer repair and it's common. Mobos just fail. Usually it's a capacitor or a regulator. Sometimes it's out of the blue, and sometimes it's due to a power surge. Surge protector helps but is no guarantee.

 

[gimps]

according to motherboard monitor just before I rebooted, it was running at 11000 mhz and temp was at 37C.
I have had problems with power surges before, so I bought a Belkin UPS... so I was hoping that it would fix any surges... I lost a powersupply in this system (dual PPro, haha) due to a surge.
I'll try removing what I can, and see if I can even get a beep.
I don't get this though... according to the mobo manual, it shows 3 wires for the internal speaker.. the speaker only has 2 wires.. how normal is that? Every internal speaker I've seen only has 2 wires..

 

[FlyingPenguin]

All speakers are 2 wires, but the header usually spans 3 or 4 pins.

"I lost a powersupply in this system (dual PPro, haha) due to a surge."

That could have been the beginning of the end right there. The surge may have damaged the mobo and it just took a while to die.

 

[gimps]

I know they span 4 pins.. but even the manual shows "13 - Speaker Data, 15 - N.C, 17 - Ground, 19 - Speaker Power"
and hmm.. I hope it wasn't.. can't afford another mobo, argh.

 

[gimps]

actually... now that I think about it.. I do think you're right. Because when the surge took out the powersupply in this system, one of the onboard LAN connectors on my other system stopped working..

 

[FlyingPenguin]

"Speaker Power" is a new one. Never seen that before. A normal speaker doesn't need it though.

 

[gimps]

well, all the diagnostic LEDs and Standby power LEDs stay on... the HD light is not staying on.. I disconnected everything but the video card and 1 harddrive. I tried without the videocard, and could not get a beep code. The 2 leads from the speaker go to 13 - Speaker Data, and 19 - Speaker Power

 

[gimps]

is the WinBond chip the CMOS chip?

 

[gimps]

also, are there any other ways to test if the mobo is shot?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Winbond is not the actual CMOS chip, no. You can't easily change the BIOS chip on a modern mobo if that's what you're thinking. Has to go back to the factory.

Other than testing your PSU, CPU and memory on another mobo, no.

 

[gimps]

argh, blah. thanks anyway guys.

 

[gimps]

well I got a reply from DFI Tech Support. They said I'd be able to remove the chip, mail it into them, and they could reprogram it. So we'll see how that goes.
Also recommended getting an RD1 BIOS Savior, so what the hell. Might as well haha