Still Can't Get Computer Running?!?!?

xcelbeyond · Dec 12, 2006

Got my Biostar MB to replace the old burnt up one. Also got a new Radeon 9550 video card as I originally thought it was bad (but probably is fine). Mounted it all in a new case. It still doesn't work!

Power supply is on and running fine, all fans are working. You can usually faintly hear the hard drive churning when it boots up, but I can't hear it. My RAM is ECC, Registered (two - 512mb). CPU is Intel Prescott, socket 478 P4, 3.0 GHz, 1mb Cache. When I turn on the monitor, I get "No Input Signal" then it goes away.

What's the next logical thing to replace - the CPU? the memory?

Thanks

philml28 · Dec 12, 2006

give me the model # of your MB and i will research it for you.

xcelbeyond · Dec 12, 2006

It's a Biostar P4M80-M4

Kaiser · Dec 12, 2006

No input signal on your monitor is usually due to 1) Frequency of your video output is out of range, or 2) Input is incorrectly set. This message comes from the mo nitor itself, not usually the motherboard or computer itself. Was this the message that you used to receive? Do you even get a BIOS screen? If you are using an AGP video card make sure that the card is well seated. Press hard as there are 2 levels of pins on an AGP card. You can also check your monitor to make sure if it has 2 inputs (usually 1 DVI & 1 VGA) that it is correctly selected. What kind of monitor are you using? Can you connectly another PC up to your monitor to confirm the correct signal settings? Fill me in step by step on what your computer does when you power it on.

xcelbeyond · Dec 12, 2006

Kaiser said:
Was this the message that you used to receive? Do you even get a BIOS screen? If you are using an AGP video card make sure that the card is well seated. Press hard as there are 2 levels of pins on an AGP card. You can also check your monitor to make sure if it has 2 inputs (usually 1 DVI & 1 VGA) that it is correctly selected. What kind of monitor are you using? Can you connectly another PC up to your monitor to confirm the correct signal settings? Fill me in step by step on what your computer does when you power it on.

This is the same message as after the burn down.

It's an AGP card and I made sure it and RAM are properly seated (the two that are usually problems).

The monitor is a DVI and nothing was changed from before. I do not believe there is a pin setting to change on the video card as it wasn't mentioned in the instructions.

It doesn't matter if I turn on the monitor or computer first, I get the same No Input Signal message. Everything sounds like it's running but I can't hear the hard drive clicking away (very faintly of course).

I can hook up my monitor to another computer if you think that could be the problem.

Kaiser · Dec 12, 2006

xcelbeyond said:
This is the same message as after the burn down.

It's an AGP card and I made sure it and RAM are properly seated (the two that are usually problems).

The monitor is a DVI and nothing was changed from before. I do not believe there is a pin setting to change on the video card as it wasn't mentioned in the instructions.

It doesn't matter if I turn on the monitor or computer first, I get the same No Input Signal message. Everything sounds like it's running but I can't hear the hard drive clicking away (very faintly of course).

I can hook up my monitor to another computer if you think that could be the problem.

Yes, hook it up to another computer to rule it out. Once that is done, we'll know whether to try a videeo card or not. On that motherboard you can also try an old PCI video card. No there will be no pins that you have to change, but if you try an old PCI for testing, take the AGP out. You will need the VGA to DVI converter that probably came with your monitor for one of those or you will have to hook the monitor up with a VGA cable. Keep in mind like i said before, if the monitor has both VGA and DVI, there will be a button sequence that will select VGA or DVI. Usually this is what happens believe it or not. People do not realize there is a selector switch on their monitor.

xcelbeyond · Dec 12, 2006

Kaiser said:
Yes, hook it up to another computer to rule it out. Once that is done, we'll know whether to try a video card or not.

It's a BRAND NEW video card. I have been using this monitor hooked up as DVI ever since I bought it over a year ago. I'll try the monitor on another computer but I'll shit if it doesn't work.

Kaiser · Dec 12, 2006

xcelbeyond said:
It's a BRAND NEW video card. I have been using this monitor hooked up as DVI ever since I bought it over a year ago. I'll try the monitor on another computer but I'll shit if it doesn't work.

OK, on the BRAND NEW card. My question still stands, does the monitor have dual input VGA and DVI?

philml28 · Dec 12, 2006

it would apear that alot of people in the past 6 months have been having problams with this board here are some examples:

Pros: Nice paint job!

Cons: No post, no beep codes, fan and hdd spun, but nothing else finidng similer problems with this and other biostar boards reading online reviews. I took it back to the dealer, his entire lot we tested and they were all bad, not one working board! He had 12 in stock. No answer from Biostar tech support!

Other Thoughts: Waist of my time, gas, and energy, I am profession repair tech, Time is money! My review is based on high understanding of coputer science, and I do not recomend this board to my worst enimy!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pros: The fan spins.

Cons: Nothing else works! This board was purchased to replace a clients failed motherboard. As a general rule I avoid Biostar but this was the only board that had the proper configuration for the processor/memory from the failed computer. The board would not even POST, not a single beep. My suggestion; stay away from Biostar, much less this board. Bad products and, from past experience, horrible support.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

so yes their is alot of hate in the reviews listed above but if you sift through the emotion it looks like the same thing you are experiencing. and it is consistantly the same problem fans go but nothing else. in the past 6 months 38% of reviews are verry negative.

i hope this helps.

xcelbeyond · Dec 13, 2006

I have two relatively new DVI/VGA monitors. Neither one have any switches, just use either a DVI or VGA cord - they're not interchangeable (of course). The monitor works fine on the other computer, but I did have to hook it up as VGA (the old DVI video card is going into my backup computer).

philml28: That's not good news. The new MB is acting just like the burnt up one

The only incident I had in changing over MB is with removal of CPU. I disconnected the CPU fan hardware, then when wiggling it loose from the CPU, it didn't release from the CPU and pulled the CPU out of the socket without releasing the lever (which I couldn't get to as I have a HUGE Zalman fan/fins in the way). It didn't seem like anything was damaged.

Kaiser · Dec 13, 2006

xcelbeyond said:
I have two relatively new DVI/VGA monitors. Neither one have any switches, just use either a DVI or VGA cord - they're not interchangeable (of course). The monitor works fine on the other computer, but I did have to hook it up as VGA (the old DVI video card is going into my backup computer).

philml28: That's not good news. The new MB is acting just like the burnt up one

The only incident I had in changing over MB is with removal of CPU. I disconnected the CPU fan hardware, then when wiggling it loose from the CPU, it didn't release from the CPU and pulled the CPU out of the socket without releasing the lever (which I couldn't get to as I have a HUGE Zalman fan/fins in the way). It didn't seem like anything was damaged.

The CPU pulling out of the socket happens all of the time. Not to worry. You might want to verify that if the monitor has two inputs, that a button sequence doesnt make it switch to the other input. Some of them use two buttons at once.

The next step would be to remove all cards, and unplug all drives including power especially. If once has a short, it will cause this problem. You should hear 3 or 5 beeps when you power it up and there is no hard drive connected. This would be a good sign. Next leave everything unplugged and remove the memory. You should still hear beeps the next time you start up. I thought you said you replaced the motherboard with a new one however. Lets start with a baseline. list all parts your have rpelaced with new ones.

philml28 · Dec 13, 2006

id try a new mobo you should be able to exchange it if you got it from a good company and if not i would never use them again and would spend a little time bashing them for not standing behind the products they sell.

xcelbeyond · Dec 13, 2006

Kaiser said:
The next step would be to remove all cards, and unplug all drives including power especially. If once has a short, it will cause this problem. You should hear 3 or 5 beeps when you power it up and there is no hard drive connected. This would be a good sign. Next leave everything unplugged and remove the memory. You should still hear beeps the next time you start up. I thought you said you replaced the motherboard with a new one however. Lets start with a baseline. list all parts your have replaced with new ones.

I don't understand when you say "remove all cards, and unplug all drives including power especially." If I unplug the power, how will I power the MB up?

Besides what I already listed (which was all new), I have two PCI cards, A TV in and a sound card. I have a SATA HD, floppy drive (still

), DVD/CD R/W/RW.

I can see where a short in a device could cause the MB to not function but isn't it more likely to just cause the device to not function? I'm so frustrated at just trying all this stuff cause it seems to point at the MB is bad.

Kaiser · Dec 13, 2006

xcelbeyond said:
I don't understand when you say "remove all cards, and unplug all drives including power especially." If I unplug the power, how will I power the MB up?

Besides what I already listed (which was all new), I have two PCI cards, A TV in and a sound card. I have a SATA HD, floppy drive (still ), DVD/CD R/W/RW.

I can see where a short in a device could cause the MB to not function but isn't it more likely to just cause the device to not function? I'm so frustrated at just trying all this stuff cause it seems to point at the MB is bad.

I meant power to the drives. Not the motherbvoard power itself. The very remote chances that this new motherboard that you bought to fix the same problem, is bad is telling me that it is not the motherboard.

xcelbeyond · Dec 14, 2006

I took everything out (PCI cards) or disconnected it, inc the RAM - as barebones as possible, hoping to get the Bios up. NADA - nothing.

So - I assume the CPU is bad?

Kaiser · Dec 14, 2006

xcelbeyond said:
I took everything out (PCI cards) or disconnected it, inc the RAM - as barebones as possible, hoping to get the Bios up. NADA - nothing.

So - I assume the CPU is bad?

If you have power to the motherboard with processor in slot, with nothing else mounted and you get nothing, not even a beep, you are probably looking at a processor. Spend the money to take the box to a quality computer place to diagnose further as it is hard for me to diagnose one post every 12 hours to a significant amount. If you would like PM me for my number and we will walk through every step prior to processor replacement. Back and forth here is just not going to cut it at this point, but I would be glad to help you by phone xCel.