Postcode 83

[jnpdehart1]

I decided to help someone fix their computer after they tried cleaning it. Everything was going fine until I turned it on (haha), but afterwards it just sits and says 'WAIT...' after checking the memory.

I tried putting a postcard in it to see what code it displayed, and on both of my cards it gives code 83 which stands for 'Command byte written Global data init done. About to check for lock-key'.

Does anyone know why this would be happening?

 

[jnpdehart1]

Also, I just read about someone having code 83 display as well as hearing a siren-like noise, indicating overheating. Then I read about someone else having the same problem, one of the replies to their problem mention a possible problem with the northbridge.

So I decided to check and see if my northbridge was overheating, turns out its at 71 degrees celcius (158 degrees farenheight). Now I'm not sure how hot the northbridge is supposed to get, but that seems very hot considering I checked the temperature about 2 seconds after turning it on (had been off for about a hour prior to that).

 

[franklin97355]

It might be that in cleaning they removed a heatsink from the northbridge.

 

[jnpdehart1]

I beleive this is a Slot A motherboard, which I have never dealt with before. The cpu heatsink is overlapping a good 80% of the northbridge. There wasn't a single fan in the whole computer, and it apparently never had any. The southbridge was 30ºC lower than the northbridge (I always thought the southbridge was supposed to be hotter).

 

[BadBigBen]

Check your IDE cables... they may have become loose or damaged... also check the Power Connectors (all)...

Unplug the Keyboard, for testing, may also be a bad Keyboard or loose connection... dito for the Mouse...



Ben

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

 

[jnpdehart1]

Yea I've tried quite a few different IDE cables, round and normal. Didn't make any difference.

Had never bothered plugging a mouse in since it isn't required, and only becomes another thing to have to test when troubleshooting. I used two different keyboards as well (one that had a ps2 port on it for easier mouse installation, and one that used an extender since the original adapter was pre-ps2). Since I didn't have a normal keyboard on hand (oddly enough), I just had her bring her own keyboard (which I actually asked for in the first place, lol). Didn't have a problem turning on then.

When Windows XP started to load, it stopped. So I was about to try and do a system repair (her xp disk) and it seems that the operating system was never fully installed. So I tried doing a reinstall (after fdisking the hard drive), I wound up receiving a stop error saying 'PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON_PAGED_AREA'. I beleive this is has something to do with memory. Can anyone else confirm/deny this?

 

[BadBigBen]

Yes it could be... run MemTest86 or equivalent to test mem...

try also with another CD-ROM drive, as XP doesn't like some older drives at all...

now comes the hard question: How old is this PC, it may not be even XP compatible... considering that it has an AT connector!



Ben

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

 

[mainegeek]

Have you tried clearing the cmos.

 

[garebo]

There is a suggestion here that it could be a ram module causing the problem.

http://www.smartcomputing.com/techsupport/detail.aspx?guid=&ErrorID=21149

Badbigben mentioned that you mentioned an AT connector.
I read thru and didnt catch that reference but i am getting old so it might be there.
But it would be very helpful if you give us an idea as to the time period the mobo was made, like telling us what mhz cpu it has, and any other relevant info like that. You did mention it is a slot A.
I would also suggest you try re-setting the cmos. Its almost always real close to the battery and one should usually take the battery out for a minute or two when re-setting the cmos.




Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[BadBigBen]

@Garebo - He didn't actually, but I presumed it from this quote: "...one that used an extender since the original adapter was pre-ps2"

but like you mentioned more info is helpful here...



Ben

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

 

[garebo]

BadBigBen
I missed that part about the extender and the adapter, yes, its a very old mobo, could be AT.
You can always glue a heatsink to the northbridge, cant hurt any.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips