Reasons why my machine will not start up at all (power okay just no Bios screen)

Hi there,

I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
firing up on bootup.

If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
HD.

Any ideas ??

The power comes on, but the monitor doesn't fire up.

I'm wondering whether it'd be worth checking the Ram, taking it out,
putting it back in etc, checked cables everything looks fine.

Any ideas how to get this thing back to the land of the living.

Even if I put a floppy in the drive - nothing !!

What could be up ??

Thanks in anticipation of your help.

MB is a Supermicro P6DGU - dual P3 1000, 1024mb ram, Maxtor D740X-6L
75gb, Matrox G400dualhead.

I tested the hard disk in another machine, it's fine, (it's got 2
partitions, and 15gb of unformatted free space). Maxtor utilities
said the disk is fine.

I'm 100% certain this has nothing to do with the HD (this is a new hd
and this problem was happening with prior with a different HD).

Thanks.

On 1 Sep 2004 12:31:16 -0700, (A_Newsreader) wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
>firing up on bootup.
>
>If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
>example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
>HD.
>
>Any ideas ??
>
>The power comes on, but the monitor doesn't fire up.
>
>I'm wondering whether it'd be worth checking the Ram, taking it out,
>putting it back in etc, checked cables everything looks fine.
>
>Any ideas how to get this thing back to the land of the living.
>
>Even if I put a floppy in the drive - nothing !!
>
>What could be up ??
>
>Thanks in anticipation of your help.
>
>MB is a Supermicro P6DGU - dual P3 1000, 1024mb ram, Maxtor D740X-6L
>75gb, Matrox G400dualhead.
>
>I tested the hard disk in another machine, it's fine, (it's got 2
>partitions, and 15gb of unformatted free space). Maxtor utilities
>said the disk is fine.
>
>I'm 100% certain this has nothing to do with the HD (this is a new hd
>and this problem was happening with prior with a different HD).
>
>Thanks.

If you're not even seeing a bios splash screen, you're correct that the
problem is highly unlikely to have anything to do with the hard drive.

Try reducing the problem to a single dimm (if possible) and single processor
(definitely possible) and disconnect or remove everything other than the video
card (you don't need hard drives, CDROM, diskette drives, network cables, etc
to start). If you still don't get to a bios splash, perhaps the power supply
is toast, or the bios rom has gone to Heaven...

/daytripper

On 1 Sep 2004 12:31:16 -0700, (A_Newsreader)
wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
>firing up on bootup.
>
>If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
>example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
>HD.
>
>Any ideas ??
>
>The power comes on, but the monitor doesn't fire up.
>
>I'm wondering whether it'd be worth checking the Ram, taking it out,
>putting it back in etc, checked cables everything looks fine.
>
>Any ideas how to get this thing back to the land of the living.
>
>Even if I put a floppy in the drive - nothing !!
>
>What could be up ??
>
>Thanks in anticipation of your help.
>
>MB is a Supermicro P6DGU - dual P3 1000, 1024mb ram, Maxtor D740X-6L
>75gb, Matrox G400dualhead.


If it is a P3 slot, maybe that the connector is a bit dirty. I had a
similar problem and cleaning with alcohol the connector solved it

Nick

Hi Daytripper,

From what I've read, it could also perhaps be the battery on the mb.
I'm going to test that later today.

I'll let you all know how it goes.

Thanks for the ideas - though I don't think/hope it's not what you
suggest !!



daytripper <> wrote in message news:<>. ..
> On 1 Sep 2004 12:31:16 -0700, (A_Newsreader) wrote:
>
> >Hi there,
> >
> >I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
> >firing up on bootup.
> >
> >If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
> >example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
> >HD.
> >
> >Any ideas ??
> >
> >The power comes on, but the monitor doesn't fire up.
> >
> >I'm wondering whether it'd be worth checking the Ram, taking it out,
> >putting it back in etc, checked cables everything looks fine.
> >
> >Any ideas how to get this thing back to the land of the living.
> >
> >Even if I put a floppy in the drive - nothing !!
> >
> >What could be up ??
> >
> >Thanks in anticipation of your help.
> >
> >MB is a Supermicro P6DGU - dual P3 1000, 1024mb ram, Maxtor D740X-6L
> >75gb, Matrox G400dualhead.
> >
> >I tested the hard disk in another machine, it's fine, (it's got 2
> >partitions, and 15gb of unformatted free space). Maxtor utilities
> >said the disk is fine.
> >
> >I'm 100% certain this has nothing to do with the HD (this is a new hd
> >and this problem was happening with prior with a different HD).
> >
> >Thanks.
>
> If you're not even seeing a bios splash screen, you're correct that the
> problem is highly unlikely to have anything to do with the hard drive.
>
> Try reducing the problem to a single dimm (if possible) and single processor
> (definitely possible) and disconnect or remove everything other than the video
> card (you don't need hard drives, CDROM, diskette drives, network cables, etc
> to start). If you still don't get to a bios splash, perhaps the power supply
> is toast, or the bios rom has gone to Heaven...
>
> /daytripper

On Wed, 1 Sep 2004 19:31:16 UTC in
alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.supermicro,
(A_Newsreader) wrote:

> I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
> firing up on bootup.
>
> If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
> example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
> HD.

I've had machines do this when the IDE cable is connected the wrong way
around or when the AGP card is not inserted completely (needs to go in
about another 0.1mm!). Otherwise you don't say what sort of work you'd
just been doing on it so it could be anything - mobo shorted on the
mounting plates etc or just plain dead.

--
Trevor Hemsley, Brighton, UK.
Trevor-

Hi Nick,

I tried everything on this machine that I could think of.

Haven't tried removing, cleaning and replacing the Processors though.

Is that what you are suggesting ??

I was wondering if it could be the on-board battery - don't know how
long those things are meant to last.

Regards.



Nick <char-DONTBUGME-> wrote in message news:<>. ..
> On 1 Sep 2004 12:31:16 -0700, (A_Newsreader)
> wrote:
>
> >Hi there,
> >
> >I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
> >firing up on bootup.
> >
> >If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
> >example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
> >HD.
> >
> >Any ideas ??
> >
> >The power comes on, but the monitor doesn't fire up.
> >
> >I'm wondering whether it'd be worth checking the Ram, taking it out,
> >putting it back in etc, checked cables everything looks fine.
> >
> >Any ideas how to get this thing back to the land of the living.
> >
> >Even if I put a floppy in the drive - nothing !!
> >
> >What could be up ??
> >
> >Thanks in anticipation of your help.
> >
> >MB is a Supermicro P6DGU - dual P3 1000, 1024mb ram, Maxtor D740X-6L
> >75gb, Matrox G400dualhead.
>
>
> If it is a P3 slot, maybe that the connector is a bit dirty. I had a
> similar problem and cleaning with alcohol the connector solved it
>
> Nick

Hi Nick,

Yippee !!!

Yes, that fixed it - thanks !!!


Nick <char-DONTBUGME-> wrote in message news:<>. ..
> On 1 Sep 2004 12:31:16 -0700, (A_Newsreader)
> wrote:
>
> >Hi there,
> >
> >I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
> >firing up on bootup.
> >
> >If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
> >example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
> >HD.
> >
> >Any ideas ??
> >
> >The power comes on, but the monitor doesn't fire up.
> >
> >I'm wondering whether it'd be worth checking the Ram, taking it out,
> >putting it back in etc, checked cables everything looks fine.
> >
> >Any ideas how to get this thing back to the land of the living.
> >
> >Even if I put a floppy in the drive - nothing !!
> >
> >What could be up ??
> >
> >Thanks in anticipation of your help.
> >
> >MB is a Supermicro P6DGU - dual P3 1000, 1024mb ram, Maxtor D740X-6L
> >75gb, Matrox G400dualhead.
>
>
> If it is a P3 slot, maybe that the connector is a bit dirty. I had a
> similar problem and cleaning with alcohol the connector solved it
>
> Nick

Hi Trevor,

Not sure I understand how an IDE cable can get put in the wrong way around ??

It's got a notch in it that has to marry up with the recipient connector ??

Or is there another consideration to be made ??


"Trevor Hemsley" <Trevor-> wrote in message news:<gjxI70UYBlcC-pn2->...
> On Wed, 1 Sep 2004 19:31:16 UTC in
> alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.supermicro,
> (A_Newsreader) wrote:
>
> > I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
> > firing up on bootup.
> >
> > If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
> > example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
> > HD.
>
> I've had machines do this when the IDE cable is connected the wrong way
> around or when the AGP card is not inserted completely (needs to go in
> about another 0.1mm!). Otherwise you don't say what sort of work you'd
> just been doing on it so it could be anything - mobo shorted on the
> mounting plates etc or just plain dead.

A_Newsreader wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I'm trying to resurect a machine but for some strange reason, it isn't
> firing up on bootup.
>
> If I power on, the machine whirls into some sort of life, but for
> example the it won't boot up from the CD, from the floppy nor from the
> HD.
>

FWIW, I've seen that when the CPU fan became disconnected -- I think
some BIOS may check for fan spinning before allowing a boot.

> Any ideas ??
>
> The power comes on, but the monitor doesn't fire up.
>
> I'm wondering whether it'd be worth checking the Ram, taking it out,
> putting it back in etc, checked cables everything looks fine.
>
> Any ideas how to get this thing back to the land of the living.
>
> Even if I put a floppy in the drive - nothing !!
>
> What could be up ??
>
> Thanks in anticipation of your help.
>
> MB is a Supermicro P6DGU - dual P3 1000, 1024mb ram, Maxtor D740X-6L
> 75gb, Matrox G400dualhead.
>
> I tested the hard disk in another machine, it's fine, (it's got 2
> partitions, and 15gb of unformatted free space). Maxtor utilities
> said the disk is fine.
>
> I'm 100% certain this has nothing to do with the HD (this is a new hd
> and this problem was happening with prior with a different HD).
>
> Thanks.


--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.

On Thu, 2 Sep 2004 20:16:27 UTC in
alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.supermicro,
(A_Newsreader) wrote:

> Not sure I understand how an IDE cable can get put in the wrong way around ??
>
> It's got a notch in it that has to marry up with the recipient connector ??
>
> Or is there another consideration to be made ??

There are cables that don't have the notch.

--
Trevor Hemsley, Brighton, UK.
Trevor-