Computer not booting up

[darnee]

My computer is refusing to boot. It switches on perfectly and everything seems to running fine except that it is not asking for the BIOS password which I have set. There is no display also. But this doesn't seem to be a software or monitor problem.

The motherboard is also not producing any beeps during the startup. As I said it is not asking for the BIOS password which I have set, so something before that is going wrong.

I opened the cabinet and both the fans seem to be working fine.

I am using Intel P4 with HT technology processor and Intel D865GBF/D865PERC motherboard with 512 MB of RAM.

What could be the problem and the solution for this?

Any help is greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.

[Ceyfer √]

My computer is refusing to boot. It switches on perfectly and everything seems to running fine except that it is not asking for the BIOS password which I have set. There is no display also. But this doesn't seem to be a software or monitor problem.

Check your videocard and monitor cable(s) ? 3 years ago, I had the same issue but later to find out it was my video card that was causing the mess.

[darnee]

I don't know how to check or where to look for the video card. Its definitely not a monitor cable problem as I have tried to start the system only by connecting the power cable and the keyboard.

[Raymond]

When there is no display and no beep, first is to confirm that your monitor works. Or even the cable that connects from monitor to computer is not loose.

If you're sure that your monitor works fine, try removing the ram and power up the computer. You should hear continuous beep where the beep last for 2-3 seconds.
This test will make sure that your motherboard is responding to basic error messages.

Insert back the ram and reset the CMOS. You'd have to check the motherboard's manual on where to locate the CMOS switch

[darnee]

When I remove the RAM and start the system there are no beeps but system keeps running. So does this mean that my motherboard is not working properly?

Another observation which I made is that before when I used to switch on the UPS, my CPU would automatically turn on for a SECOND or two and then switch off. I mean I could see the front LED's light up, I could hear the sound of the fans for a second or two. Now this is not happening. Could this indicate a fault with my power supply unit?

I have a set a BIOS password. Now since it is not even asking for the BIOS password, something which takes place before the BIOS asks for the password is going wrong.

[Raymond]

If you remove the RAM, powerup the computer and there is no beep, 99% of the time your motherboard is faulty.
Try to reset CMOS, there is a small chance that it could solve the problem.

[darnee]

If motherboard is faulty can I get it repaired or will I have to replace it?

Does resetting the CMOS mean removing the battery and then restoring it after one hour?

[INDRANIL]

Also another process is there. Power off the mechine. Open the cabinet Find the 3-pin jumper near the power supply on the motherboard, typically labeled "clear cmos" or "reset bios". Default position is 1st & 2nd Pin. Now Replace the jumper to connect the 2nd and 3rd pins. Power up wait for a min & power off. After that put the pin to default place 1st & 2nd position. Power up now. You are done . Good Luck .

[Raymond]

Whoa, do NOT powerup when the jumper is at the clear cmos/reset cmos.
All you need to do is just let it sit for 30 minutes and then put it back to the original jumper pin, then only power it back up.
You'll risk spoiling the motherboard by doing that.

Depending on what motherboard. Some CMOS doesn't get reset even if you remove the battery, namely HP.

[INDRANIL]

Thanks for the clarification Raymond. Correct me if I'm wrong

AMI and Award BIOSs:

C:\DEBUG (at a clear DOS prompt)
-O 70 17
-O 71 17
Q

Phoenix BIOSs:

C:\DEBUG (at a clear DOS prompt)
-O 70 FF
-O 71 17
Q