Computer hangs at initial motherboarde ID screen

[erniehogan]

My computer shows the initial screen identifying the motherboard and that's as far as it will go. It will not respond to any keyboard input.

Any suggestions to help rectify this situation will be most welcome.

 

[wolluf]

More information as to how this came about would be useful!
(eg, new machine, this is what happens from day1? Or, all ok, then you've just closed down and started up next day, this happens etc).

Have you got up to date antivirus? Do you have/run antispyware apps?

You'll get lots of useful suggestions when we've something to work on.

 

[Jump1ng]

If your computer doesn't come out of its post cycle its almost guaranteed to be a hardware problem.

Does it give you any beeps? Or is there any kind of diagnostic led's on the back of the pc? This is usefull when trying to track down the source of the problem.

There is some steps you can do to try and find out what components is causing the problem.

What I would recommend you to do is unplug everything just leaving the CPU and RAM plugged and video in.

Try changing videocard see if that helps.

If the computer still does the same, try changing RAM if you have more than one stick just leave one in and test if still the same try the other stick.

If you still have the same problem the problem must either be motherboard or the cpu. If you have an old cpu that fits the same board try that. See if that gives you anything different.

But after all this and still nothing it sounds to me like your motherboard is broken.

Have you updated your bios? An incomplete bios update could lead to the symptoms you described.


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Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.

 

[erniehogan]

I found the problem. I have a CD/DVD-ROM and a CD/DVDW on the same ATA cable. The cable appears to be the culprit as the computer only hangs when the end plug is attached to the master CD ROM. I have switched the two units and the result is the same, the computer hangs if the end plug is attached, but boots up fine if it is unplugged.

My thanks to the two people who were kind enough to offer assistance.

 

[BadBigBen]

@erniehogan - this is a simple MASTER/SLAVE device problem, either both are set to Master or Slave, set one as Master and the other as slave, look at the back of each unit there are jumpers there for MA (Master)/SL (Slave)/ CS (Cable Select)... plug the Master at the End of the Chain with the Slave between it and the MOBO...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...