Cold Boot Issue?

[Skrying]

Have a computer issue I can't solve for the life of me. When going to turn the computer on the monitor, keyboard, and mouse will not respond. Leaving it unplugged for a bit and then plugging it back in and trying fixed the issue for about a week. But now it won't get response to those parts no matter what I've tried. I've cleared the CMOS using the jumper, cleared it using the battery, left it unplugged for an hour and tried plugging it back in, even tried unplugging it while running. Nothing will wake up the monitor, keyboard or mouse. I've tried trying each stick of memory by itself as well... nothing.

Any clues as to what is causing this? The only thought in my mind is that the motherboard battery is starting to go out.

 

[AlphaWolf]

Does the motherboard beep any errors or it seems to load?

 

[Skrying]

Does the motherboard beep any errors or it seems to load?

No error beeps and seeming to load... can't tell myself. I'm trying to solve this over the phone for a friend. Which complicates the issue considerably.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Have him replace the mobo battery, I've had that help in similar situations before. It's either that or something is going bad.

How is his PSU?

 

[BRiT]

Are any of the capacitors on the motherboard bowed out or leaking?

 

[Davros]

can you get hold of a ps2 key + mouse try that
or usb if your allready using ps2

 

[Skrying]

The build is comprised of spares from my computers over the years, though the motherboard is only about two years old now. I've never had to replace a motherboard battery, I'm guessing you might be able to find these in some local stores as they're used in calculators?

As far as the PSU. It's about three years old now, never really pushed hard. The system itself is rather low end now. Pentium D, 6800GS, 1GB RAM. So I'm doubtful it's that. The system is rock steady stable when running as well.

Tried different keyboard, not mouse though. Didn't change anything.

 

[Skrying]

Tried replacing the CMOS battery... still same issue as before. I'm thinking either motherboard or PSU, seeing if I can secure a cheap or free PSU but any more ideas or suggestions would be great.

 

[AlphaWolf]

Do you have a pci or pcie USB card you could try the kb/mouse on?

 

[Skrying]

Do you have a pci or pcie USB card you could try the kb/mouse on?

No, but they work on another computer.

 

[AlphaWolf]

No, but they work on another computer.

I was thinking by using a different USB controller it might isolate if there's an IO issue on the MB. I'm not sure it would even work if there was though. Mostly I'm just chucking darts blindfolded.

 

[Skrying]

I was thinking by using a different USB controller it might isolate if there's an IO issue on the MB.

Ah, well I've had her boot the PC up without the mouse and keyboard connected but still no response on the monitor.

 

[AlphaWolf]

is it onboard graphics? If it is maybe try a video card. (I'd recommend using one you can live without )

I don't know if the southbridge could partially die and cause all this or not really, but might not hurt to try.

 

[Skrying]

is it onboard graphics? If it is maybe try a video card. (I'd recommend using one you can live without )

I don't know if the southbridge could partially die and cause all this or not really, but might not hurt to try.

Not onboard, 6800GS in PCIe slot.

 

[Skrying]

Think I might have narrowed it down to the graphics card. Replaced the motherboard and tried a different PSU, didn't fix the issue. Tried removing the graphics card and booting the system and suddenly the keyboard and mouse come to life. Put the graphics card back in and same issue as before. Any other clues what might cause this? At this point will likely try to return the motherboard and hopefully nab a cheap 8800GT or something similar.

 

[Sxotty]

I am having a similar issue with an Asus P5B-VM I Freaking hate this motherboard.

When I bought it suddenly my aiw x1900 sometimes would not wake the monitor.

If I turned off the power strip and then turned it on everything worked peachy. It wasn't a real problem as I turned it off everytime I turned off computer.

Then the AIW died, and personally I am inclined to blame the mobo, but who knows.

I have an 8800GT in there now. Same problem, only now I have other stuff in the power strip so I don't want to turn it off every time computer shuts off.


I have googled a bit, but haven't found anything conclusive. My problem though is different than yours b/c my computer boots fine, everything is working and when I finally get monitor to detect a signal it would have the screen saying "windows was not shut down properly", or windows did not boot properly last time. In other words PC is working fine except the stupid video card wont send a signal to monitor. (This is over 3 different cards). I tried turning off onboard graphics in the bios to no avail as well. This time it said "overclocking failed" though I haven't overclocked. It might just be b/c of the repeated power cycles though...

 

[Skrying]

New video card arrived and still the same issue. The motherboard gives beeps only when the graphics card is out, it sounds like 5 short beeps overall but it's more like two rapid beeps then 3 that follow. It uses an AMI bios and from looking up the codes 5 beeps is a CPU failure and there's nothing for the more specific 3,2 pattern.

Any guess? Could a failed CPU cause this? This is really tiring me out. Replaced the motherboard (sending that back now, as it produces same issue as old), PSU, and video card. Same issue, remove the video card and the mouse and keyboard show life but get the beep errors.

 

[Albuquerque]

That is pretty bizarre. Suppose it's a connector issue rather than a specific video card issue? As in, do you have a cheap shoddy PCI video card laying around somewhere that you could try instead?

CPU failure is pretty far out there for the symptoms you describe; maybe try reseating it (along with reseating the ram)... That's some pretty wierd stuff.

 

[Skrying]

I'm not sure. I've having it sent to me so I can just swap in parts. Shipping isn't cheap but I rather someone know what it is then this wild guessing game right now.