- Dec 29, 2011
- 24
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- 18,520
A PC that was off duty for half a year was switched on and Windows 7 updated. Result: a fireworks of BSOD and Q-Codes. Rather than fiddling around, I cleaned the PC, checked for loose cables, updated the BIOS, re-installed Windows 7 from the original DVD with formatting the SSD, re-installed the drivers from the original ASUS DVD, got the PC running, updated Windows, updated drivers - the PC worked like it was first built in January 2012.
But after two days uptime, the PC is dead again. While it was on, everything worked fine: restart, hibernate, sleep, wake on LAN. This is exactly what I did, in that order, before it died:
Result: black screen, no POST, VGA_LED constantly lit, Q-Code 9A. When switched off by pressing the power button for four seconds, both USB keyboard LEDs remain lit. Now mostly Q-Code 9A (USB initialisation started), sometimes 0E (microcode not found). No change when monitor, ethernet, mouse and keyboard are connected or not. Same result. Occasionally, when using the reset button, I got Q-Code B2 (legacy option ROM initialisation) as an "alternative" with a blinking cursor top left, but practically 9A all the time. I tested the PSU, the memory, the graphics card in another PC - they worked. I swapped in a HDD with OS on it - 9A. I swapped memory between slots, started with USB devices connected and without - 9A. Tried a bootable USB-stick - 9A.
What is going on? I am very puzzled. Obviously, the shutting down, switching off and unplugging of the power cord did something. What can I do now?
But after two days uptime, the PC is dead again. While it was on, everything worked fine: restart, hibernate, sleep, wake on LAN. This is exactly what I did, in that order, before it died:
shut down
detached monitor, ethernet, mouse and keyboard
switched off PSU
detached power cable
screwed back on the side of the case
carefully carried the PC back to its former place
attached power cable
switched on PSU
attached monitor, ethernet, mouse and keyboard
pressed "on" button on PC
Result: black screen, no POST, VGA_LED constantly lit, Q-Code 9A. When switched off by pressing the power button for four seconds, both USB keyboard LEDs remain lit. Now mostly Q-Code 9A (USB initialisation started), sometimes 0E (microcode not found). No change when monitor, ethernet, mouse and keyboard are connected or not. Same result. Occasionally, when using the reset button, I got Q-Code B2 (legacy option ROM initialisation) as an "alternative" with a blinking cursor top left, but practically 9A all the time. I tested the PSU, the memory, the graphics card in another PC - they worked. I swapped in a HDD with OS on it - 9A. I swapped memory between slots, started with USB devices connected and without - 9A. Tried a bootable USB-stick - 9A.
What is going on? I am very puzzled. Obviously, the shutting down, switching off and unplugging of the power cord did something. What can I do now?
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