Boot Up Problem

[TFK]

Here's the situation. I have a computer that was working fine. All of a sudden, it doesn't work anymore. I power it up, the computer starts, the fans spin, the hard drive sounds like it's starting up, but I no video, and I don't hear the beep that I normally hear when the pc starts up.

I take out all of the cards, then only put back the video card. I pull the cmos battery out and put it back in. The computer starts up fine.

I shut it down, then start it up again, and it doesn't start. This time I just reset the cmos battery and try booting, and it starts up. But once I shut it off, I get the same thing.

So every time I want to restart my computer, I have to pull the cmos battery out and put it back in.

What's the deal?

Thanks,
TFK

 

[Wishdiak]

TFK,

If the solution to your problem seems to be the CMOS battery every time, have you considered that maybe the battery is the problem? They're not that expensive to replace.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[TFK]

I replaced the cmos with a brand new battery, and it's still doing the same thing.

Any other ideas?

 

[stduc]

Does it do this trick if you only have the video card plugged in? No other cards, no disk drives. If so, then check you mobo for bad capacitors. Look for any that are bulging, or leaking.

Check the CMOS battery with a mult-meter. It should be at least 3.3V. Even new ones can be bad!

Does it only happen when you power cycle? Or is a warm re-boot enough to do it? If it does it on a warm re-boot (pressing re-set) then its almost certainly not a bad CMOS battery.

If the problem only manifests itself after you have booted the system. Then I would suspect a virus/malware of some kind is corrupting your CMOS memory.

It wouldn't hurt to check the power supply & verify that all fans are okay & the there is no chance something isn't over heating.

 

[TFK]

The only card I have plugged in is the video card.

The C-mos battery is 3v, the same kind that was working in the pc previously.

It happens both during cold and warm booting.

I ran a full virus scan today and there was no viruses found.

Power supply and fans also work fine.

I appreciate you guys helping, anyone else have any ideas?

 

[stduc]

You need to establish certain things. It could be the CMOS battery, it could be a drive related hardware issue, or it could be a virus or malware.

Is the CMOS battery good. Or is it flat? If so.... replace it.

Is the problem related to booting up? Or the hard drives? I suggest you pull the hard drive(s) and boot the system as far as it will go. Power off and see if the problem has gone away. If it has, try to borrow a drive and make a clean install. See if the problem stays away. If it has, then you simply have to have either a virus, or some kind of corruption on your system.

If the problem is still apparant without any drives attached then you either have a motherboard or CMOS issue. Try re-setting the CMOS.