Question [SOLVED] PC Does Not Boot

[arnuld]

I have a desktop built (self-assembled) back in Aug 2019. In last 2 months, while it was running, video display just went off e.g. on one occasion I was watching youtube. The youtube video kept on playing (because audio from the speakers was fine) but monitor went off saying no signal. Restarting solved the problem in all of the cases. Then 10 days ago it did not turn on. It happened again but after a while it was fine. Now it has totally gone off. It simply does not boot:

• I have tried to power it on directly using MOBO's power pins
• I have rearranged RAM sticks on the slots. Tried both and single RAM too
• Power it on directly without using the UPS

But nothing works. I can hear a sound (something like TING or TICK) from the MOBO or the PSU when I power it on but it does not turn on ( does not matter whether I do so directly form the pins or using power button). I thought of getting a new PSU but what if MOBO or CPU or both are gone?

Any guess?

MOBO: MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
RAM: ADATA XPG Spectrix
PSU: Corsair TXM850
UPS: APC Back-UPS BX1100C
SSD: Crucial MX500 M.2
Graphics Card: Asus Radeon RX Vega 64
Monitor: LG Ultra Gear 32"
DVD Drive: Lite-On 24X SATA Internal DVD+/-RW Drive
Case: Antec GX202

 

[mikeymikec]

Do you have a little 4-pin speaker to plug into the board's speaker header? You might get a helpful beep code then.

I would also try removing the graphics card (with said speaker plugged in), and see if you get any sort of beep code. I would progressively disconnect everything to see whether any beep codes are given out, including the CPU, and if they aren't then you've probably got a dead board.

 

[arnuld]

Yes, I have a smaller speaker there. It used to beep, now no more. I will try removing graphics card (it's monster size) and check. BTW, there is no integrated GPU on this CPU, so there would be no display. but let's see if it beeps

I think system won't even boot even if remove CPU. Right or Wrong?

 

[mikeymikec]

Yes, I have a smaller speaker there. It used to beep, now no more. I will try removing graphics card (it's monster size) and check. BTW, there is no integrated GPU on this CPU, so there would be no display. but let's see if it beeps

I think system won't even boot even if remove CPU. Right or Wrong?

Any working board should give out specific beep sequences to indicate issues such as no/bad CPU, no/bad RAM, no/bad gfx.

For example: 1 long beep followed by 3 short beeps is a typical 'no graphics' sequence.

I don't remember the beep sequences for the other scenarios, my strategy has always been "is it giving out a specific beep sequence for this scenario or not". Some boards do different beep sequences, especially a proprietary one like a Compaq board. I would expect that if a machine was missing all three components then no CPU would be reported, then if a good CPU is in but no RAM and gfx then a RAM beep sequence would be reported, etc.

 

[Paperdoc]

Note that the normal beep code if the POST process actually DOES complete normally is ONE beep at the end of the POST. You say you get NO beeps anytime now?

 

[arnuld]

Note that the normal beep code if the POST process actually DOES complete normally is ONE beep at the end of the POST. You say you get NO beeps anytime now?

No beep at all. Zero.

 

[arnuld]

Any working board should give out specific beep sequences to indicate issues such as no/bad CPU, no/bad RAM, no/bad gfx.

For example: 1 long beep followed by 3 short beeps is a typical 'no graphics' sequence.

I don't remember the beep sequences for the other scenarios, my strategy has always been "is it giving out a specific beep sequence for this scenario or not". Some boards do different beep sequences, especially a proprietary one like a Compaq board. I would expect that if a machine was missing all three components then no CPU would be reported, then if a good CPU is in but no RAM and gfx then a RAM beep sequence would be reported, etc.

So, I tried these:

- remove Graphics card
- remove CPU

Both cases, no beep at all. I thought MOBO is gone.

I had to take out the MOBO from the case to remove CPU because of MOBO's design. I put it on a cardboard and tested because I had doubts if MOBO us touching the case and earthing is happening. All tests behaved the same on cardboard too.

One thing: I found out that TICK/TING sound I mentioned in my original post is coming from the PSU. This means either PSU or MOBO is gone.

 

[mikeymikec]

When the CPU is installed, does the CPU fan spin?

 

[arnuld]

When the CPU is installed, does the CPU fan spin?

I built it in 2019. No beep, nothing turns on. It's like dead

 

[mikeymikec]

I'm leaning towards the PSU. Do you have a spare PSU to test with, or a PSU tester, or are you happy to rig up a PSU test by shorting two pins in the PSU motherboard connector?

 

[arnuld]

I'm leaning towards the PSU. Do you have a spare PSU to test with, or a PSU tester, or are you happy to rig up a PSU test by shorting two pins in the PSU motherboard connector?

Sadly , don't have any PSU. I checked local shops but no one seems to repair any desktops. Only laptop repair shops.

PSU tester? Never heard of it before but I can watch YouTUbe videos and find out

 

[mikeymikec]

Sadly , don't have any PSU. I checked local shops but no one seems to repair any desktops. Only laptop repair shops.

PSU tester? Never heard of it before but I can watch YouTUbe videos and find out

You can also buy a PSU tester, the advantage of which over just shorting the pins is that it will give you a readout about whether the PSU is delivering anything on particular voltage rails. If +12V was missing for example, that would be a pretty big PSU fail clue.

example of psu tester: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DIGIFLEX-Power-Supply-Tester-Diagnose-Black/dp/B004IO5CT8/

 

[arnuld]

You can also buy a PSU tester, the advantage of which over just shorting the pins is that it will give you a readout about whether the PSU is delivering anything on particular voltage rails. If +12V was missing for example, that would be a pretty big PSU fail clue.

example of psu tester: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DIGIFLEX-Power-Supply-Tester-Diagnose-Black/dp/B004IO5CT8/

I am in India, I got this one: https://www.amazon.in/Technotech-Power-Supply-Tester-SATA/dp/B00PYF7N1K/.

looks ok to buy?

 

[mikeymikec]

I am in India, I got this one: https://www.amazon.in/Technotech-Power-Supply-Tester-SATA/dp/B00PYF7N1K/.

looks ok to buy?

Yep, looks similar to mine.

 

[arnuld]

Yep, looks similar to mine.

Have ordered it. Will arrive in 5 days. Then will check and reply

 

[Paperdoc]

FYI about the beep codes. When they are working, the sounds will NOT come from your SPEAKERS. Those codes are sent out only on the two pins of your mobo' s Front Panel header (typically at the front bottom corner). Specifically, it has four pins in a line labelled "Speaker". If yours has NOTHING plugged in there, then you never will hear any beep codes. To hear them you need to add a cheap type of "speaker" like this

Amazon.com

Most computer parts / repair shops have these. They can be useful when things go wrong. BUT then you also NEED to find a list of what the Beep Codes mean on YOUR particular mobo - not all boards use the same codes although the single beep at the end of a successful POST seems universal.

 

[arnuld]

FYI about the beep codes. When they are working, the sounds will NOT come from your SPEAKERS. Those codes are sent out only on the two pins of your mobo' s Front Panel header (typically at the front bottom corner). Specifically, it has four pins in a line labelled "Speaker". If yours has NOTHING plugged in there, then you never will hear any beep codes. To hear them you need to add a cheap type of "speaker" like this

Amazon.com

Most computer parts / repair shops have these. They can be useful when things go wrong. BUT then you also NEED to find a list of what the Beep Codes mean on YOUR particular mobo - not all boards use the same codes although the single beep at the end of a successful POST seems universal.

Yes, yes, I have a tiny speaker right there. My MOBO had always given a single beep after successful boot. Now it is not booting, so no beeps. Also, my MOBO has tiny LEDs that tell if CPU, Graphics card, RAM or HDD/SSD is the issue. Currently nothing lights up because of PSU gone I guess.

 

[Paperdoc]

Yeah, completely dead points at the PSU.

 

[arnuld]

So I got Cooler Master MWE 750 Bronze V2 and MOBO lighted up as soon as I hit the button. So PSU was dead. Great , but not so great because now it won't POST, no speaker beep either. Monitor says no display . Here is what I have noticed:

MOBO had 4 LEDs: CPU, DRAM, VGA and BOOT. As per the manual if any one of the LEDs light up red then it means that part has failed or not detected. BOOT LED was glowing red on every boot. I googled and then cleared the CMOS as per the manual instructions (shortening some pins in the MOBO). Then machine started booting and it runs, graphics card fans running too. Monitor saays no display detected. Vega RX64 has 2 display ports, I tried 2nd one too but no lunck.

Sometimes, actually 1 out of 10 times, BOOT LED glows red. Rest 9 times, no issues. I removed MOBO from the case and put it on a cardboard to make sure it's not touching the case but still the same problem. I searched net and came across many people have same issues and tried all of their solutions like removing RESET switch from the MOBO pins, checking if CPU has power, making sure graphics card's power slots has power from 2 PCIe power chords etc but no luck.

Now I have a running machine but no display. How to find out what's going wrong?

 

[mikeymikec]

Any beeps in that scenario? Probably not but worth asking.

Board manual says: " [BOOT LED] indicates the booting device is not detected or fail."

Does it say anything on the screen when it fails to boot in this way? It's bizarre because aside from a very wonky boot drive I would expect to get an on-screen message for this one. How does the machine start without the boot drive connected?

 

[arnuld]

Any beeps in that scenario? Probably not but worth asking.

No beep at all. Beep only happens after POST and the screen display that comes up during POST. Since monitor says no display detected, hence no beep

Does it say anything on the screen when it fails to boot in this way? It's bizarre because aside from a very wonky boot drive I would expect to get an on-screen message for this one.

No display at all

How does the machine start without the boot drive connected?

This I should test next then. Will reply once done

 

[mikeymikec]

My money is on a faulty motherboard, based on my assumption that the boot drive is M.2 and how would that go about a little toasty-fried as a result of a dead PSU. I suppose the PSU could have let something go along the 3V rail which AFAIK affects little these days except M.2, though even then that rail is delivered through the motherboard.

Hopefully your data is backed up.

 

[Paperdoc]

This is a MAYBE. The complete mobo reset of BIOS has several steps.
1. Disconnect all power to the system.
2. Open the case. Find the coin-sized battery in its holder (mid-board just below middle). NOTE which side is "out" so you can put it back the right way. Remove the battery.
3. Go to the CLR_CMOS / Reset pin pair at bottom front of the board. Move the jumper to short together both pins for at least 10 sec. Move the jumper back to only ONE pin for storage. Re-install the battery with correct side out.
4. Re-connect power to your system, turn on the Monitor. Ensure monitor is plugged into the correct output port of your video card.
5. Use the normal case front power button to turn on. Immediately hold down the "Del" key while the board tries to boot.
6. Observe the monitor carefully and any board indicators. IF you can get some display on the monitor, keep that Del key depressed until you see the opening screen of BIOS Setup, then release. If you got this far, your have partial success and can proceed with last steps. If there is still NO display on the monitor you do have another major problem. You can skip the rest of this.
7. If you are in BIOS Setup, use the F10 key to reach the Exit Menu (see manual p. 56). There choose Restore Defaults to ensure a complete set of defaults is in place. Then choose Save Changes and Reboot.
8. Again, hold down the "Del" key to enter BIOS Setup as it reboots. If that gets you a display you can use it to work your way through Setup. You can go through and adjust any items you are sure need to be changed. These might include setting the Integrated Graphics Configuration (p. 51) to PEG so it always uses the video card and will not try for on-board graphics from your CPU that does NOT have this feature. On manual p. 54, these may need adjustment:

Full-screen Logo Display DISabled so you can see POST messages on screen.
Fixed Boot Order Priorities and Boot Option Priorities may need to be set for the correct boot device where your OS is located.

If you got this far and have made any adjustments, remember to use the F10 key and choose the Save and Reboot so your adjustments are saved. At this point you should have a stable system, and MAY decide whether you need to make any other small changes.

Of course, if you can NOT get any display on the monitor up on Step 6, you can't do any adjustments in BIOS Setup. This failure means the problem is in your mobo or video card. Or just POSSIBLY in your monitor. Can you use / borrow another monitor to see if that makes a difference?

 

[arnuld]

So

My money is on a faulty motherboard, based on my assumption that the boot drive is M.2 and how would that go about a little toasty-fried as a result of a dead PSU. I suppose the PSU could have let something go along the 3V rail which AFAIK affects little these days except M.2, though even then that rail is delivered through the motherboard.

Hopefully your data is backed up.

So, I tried booting it without my SSD. No change in the problem. So, I guess it is the MOBO. One question, look at the screws on which the MOBO sits:



Screws inside the blue boxed line are the ones where MOBO has holes but the scree circled with red has no matching hole on the MOBO. Is it possible that this screw has causes the SSD to fry or fried some part on the MOBO which is respobsible for the booting?

 

[arnuld]

This is a MAYBE. The complete mobo reset of BIOS has several steps.
1. Disconnect all power to the system.
2. Open the case. Find the coin-sized battery in its holder (mid-board just below middle). NOTE which side is "out" so you can put it back the right way. Remove the battery.
3. Go to the CLR_CMOS / Reset pin pair at bottom front of the board. Move the jumper to short together both pins for at least 10 sec. Move the jumper back to only ONE pin for storage. Re-install the battery with correct side out.
4. Re-connect power to your system, turn on the Monitor. Ensure monitor is plugged into the correct output port of your video card.
5. Use the normal case front power button to turn on. Immediately hold down the "Del" key while the board tries to boot.
6. Observe the monitor carefully and any board indicators. IF you can get some display on the monitor, keep that Del key depressed until you see the opening screen of BIOS Setup, then release. If you got this far, your have partial success and can proceed with last steps. If there is still NO display on the monitor you do have another major problem. You can skip the rest of this.
.. SKIP...

Yes, I tired the above all but no display. I guess the MOBO is gone.