Computer will not post on reboot

Discussion in 'hardware' started by TimaN, Feb 29, 2012.

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  1. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    I'm having a difficult time troubleshooting this one. My computer when restarting will not post most of the time. Everything powers up, but no post. HDD light lights up solid for about 30 seconds, then goes off. The only thing that solves the problem is unplugging it for a couple of minutes, only then it will boot up. I'm not overclocking anything. Once up and running, everything works great and stable. Please let me know what other info I can provide to narrow this down. Thanks in advance!
     
  2. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    Any ideas?
     
  3. philby

    philby Registered Member

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    I had a machine that presented apparently inexplicable intermittent boot failure and fixed it with chkdsk c: /r from WinPE disk. You could also schedule it for next reboot from within Windows.

    Worth a try?

    Also, anything in Event Viewer when you do get to boot?

    philby
     
  4. pidbo

    pidbo Registered Member

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    Last edited: Mar 1, 2012
  5. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    Does it boot consistently from WinPE or a Linux LiveCD?
     
  6. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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  7. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    Nothing interesting in the Event Viewer, nothing that could relate to the issue. I will run chkdsk on the next startup.
     
  8. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    I had similar symptoms only in my case, it was permanent, and I couldn't get the computer to boot at all, ever. After Googling quite a bit, I came to the conclusion that my motherboard was fried. The PC was 4 years old. Doesn't sound like that's your situation, but maybe there's an impending failure of some sort coming? No idea, otherwise....
     
  9. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    I suspect my motherboard failing. Maybe bad capacitors. I've read they go bad with time.
     
  10. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    TimaN, perhaps a review of this POST article could be helpful.
     
  11. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    Yes, would've been nice if it gave me a beeping error code if something is wrong with my hardware.
     
  12. AlexC

    AlexC Registered Member

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    Since English is not my native language can someone explain me the meaning of " will not post"? Thanks!
    edit: means that doesn't show image, no beeps, nothing?

    @TimaN
    Is that a desktop or a laptop?
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2012
  13. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    AlexC, POST refers to Power-On Self-Test and probably TimaN is not seeing the pre-boot sequence images in the monitor.
     
  14. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    Yeah, mine didn't do that either....
     
  15. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    Perhaps a CMOS issue. Resetting it may help.
     
  16. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    It's a desktop.
     
  17. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    Unplugging it from the wall for over a couple of minutes helps. It boots right up. But when I restart next time, it won't boot. Power is there, all fans spin, but no go.
    I tried resetting CMOS by removing the battery, that did not help.
     
  18. AlexC

    AlexC Registered Member

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    @JRViejo
    Thanks!

    @TimaN
    Try to test the memories.
    Download and burn Hiren's boot CD ( hxxp://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/ ). Boot from the cd and run Memtest. Are you using a graphic card? if so, remove it and connect the vga cable directly to the mobo.
     
  19. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    AlexC, you're welcome! Take care.
     
  20. Keyboard_Commando

    Keyboard_Commando Registered Member

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    Try a working/different PSU. Sounds like the problem to me.
     
  21. AlexC

    AlexC Registered Member

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    Agree. Anyway try to do those simple diagnostics before you consider buying a new power supply unit, unless of course you have a sparing one.
     
  22. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    Seems like resetting CMOS with a jumper helped. I tried doing this before by removing the battery, but that method did not work. It boots fine for now. Thanks to all who took time to help! :thumb:
     
  23. TimaN

    TimaN Registered Member

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    UPDATE: The problem is back. I think I have the CMOS battery to blame. It is 6 years old, and it's one thing I need to try replacing.
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2012
  24. pidbo

    pidbo Registered Member

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    If you have more than one stick of ram try removing one and using the other and visa versa...it may be a bad stick of ram.



    Seperately

    Often, if you are having a problem with capacitors you can see the bulge in the top or bottom..they have a little cross mark on the top which makes it easier to see bulged ones.
     
  25. mack_guy911

    mack_guy911 Registered Member

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    beep could be cmos bettery problem or ram or anything else

    some times memory backup in also corrupted i face it many times in linux as well windows best is try

    http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=partedmagic

    run memory test also replace cmos bettery

    if it give you bad memory error before making sure your ram bad try removing one ram and run pc and test again if it work then insert ram and run again

    also try with diffrent removing ram inserting the 1st one ......etc

    if that dont work hope one of solution work for you

    also you can test or replace cmos bettery .....etc

    check your motherboard/PSU if you can or if all dont work make it local tech person test they have all devices they replace one by one and test which one is not working ...............

    edit: try someone who do it in front of you or else they make heavy bill of useless things
     
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