Computer hangs on Mobo Splash Screen, Can't Access BIOS - What do I need to do aside from testing individual memory sticks?

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3nk1du

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Dec 8, 2015
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I turned on my computer this morning (no changes since last boot) and all of a sudden I'm hanging on my BIOS screen. I've already tried the following:

Reset CMOS via jumper
Removed GPU (it had been acting up on some higher intensity games like Battlefield, so I figured maybe it had an issue that was causing it to mess with power draw or something like that)

Neither of those worked. I know the next step is to test individual memory sticks one at a time to see if one of them is bad; I'm just wondering what else I need to try.

Specs:
CPU: Intel i5 3550k
Mobo: ASRock Z77 Extreme 6
Primary HD: OCZ ARC 100
PSU: Corsair HX Series HX 750
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3 1600
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 670
 
Solution
terry4536
That would indicate that you do have some bad RAM sticks. I would look into getting a new matched set of RAM.

Now that you have some life in the motherboard. Do you have another power supply that you can swap out? The GTX 670 has a system requirement of a 550 watt power supply.

Actually a power supply can cause most of the problems that you listed. As a power supply ages the power output declines. So the watt output may be reduced to the point that it doesn't provide enough power to run the system. Components that draw the most power will be affected most like the graphics card. But it would also mean that the power available would be fluctuating.
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terry4536

terry4536

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Mar 28, 2010
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I would reseat the each Ram stick (clean the contacts and blow out the slot). I would remove the battery on the motherboard for 30 minutes or so. Then reinstall and test the system.

Another possibility is to update the BIOS. I think that you can update it without the OS on that motherboard.
 
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faalin

faalin

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Feb 22, 2012
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Do you have any other HDD or optical drives plugged in or is it only the SSD? To me it sounds like its hanging on boot up trying to figure out a drive.


Try removing everything but one stick of ram, and the SSD with the OS on it, and run the onboard graphics to see if it will boot up.
 
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3nk1du

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Dec 8, 2015
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I do have two other drives! I'll do a run with both of them unplugged and see what I can see, though I can't test it until tonight since I tried to repair it before coffee and ended up losing the CMOS jumper. Now I gotta go to the store and find a new one.

Man, it is really not my day.
 
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3nk1du

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Dec 8, 2015
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My local computer store opens in about 45 minutes; gonna call them and ask if they have a spare one lying around, and if not I guess I'll be doing some tin foil surgery.

Serves me right for trying pre-coffee computer repair, I guess.
 
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3nk1du

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Dec 8, 2015
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Well things have gone a bit downhill since my last post. I got a new jumper and took out everything but the SSD, GPU, CPU, and one stick of RAM. Now, however, booting the computer doesn't even get me to a signal. All the fans spin up as normal, but my monitor says it's not getting a signal. USB peripherals with lights (like the CAPSLOCK key on a keyboard) appear not to be getting any power since their lights are off. Tried resetting CMOS both via button and the new jumper, and discharging the capacitors in the mobo by unplugging the tower and holding down the power key for about 30 seconds.

Any ideas? A tech savvy friend thinks I managed to brick the mobo somehow.

 
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terry4536

terry4536

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Mar 28, 2010
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The message that it is getting no signal is likely from the monitor not the system. I would remove the graphics card, and plug the monitor into one of the motherboard video outputs. Then try booting the system again.

The possibilities at this point are that the power supply isn't supplying enough DC power, the graphics card is bad or the motherboard is toast.

The lights on the keyboard being out with the fans on would point towards the motherboard.
 
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3nk1du

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Dec 8, 2015
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I've tried the integrated graphics with the GPU removed; no change. I'd be astonished if it's a PSU issue both because of the keyboard lights like you mentioned and because, from my (admittedly small) experience, PSU errors don't tend to be this...consistent I guess? They're not as easily replicable and tend to be a little different every time depending on when the unit fails to send enough power. At least, that's my understanding.

I actually haven't tried the other RAM sticks (I was getting a wee bit frustrated last night); I'll give those a whirl and see what I see, but I'm not holding out too much hope. Only thing I have plugged in that isn't part of the breadboard config is the SSD, and I'll take that out too.
 
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3nk1du

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Dec 8, 2015
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Exciting new development!
I swapped out the RAM stick I had in and removed the GPU again, and now (with PSU, CPU, Mobo, SSD, 1x stick of RAM) I am back where I started. Peripherals draw power, and the PC goes to the ASRock splash screen, but I can't get to the BIOS (keyboard inputs aren't working, though the keyboard is drawing power because some of the lights on it are lighting up).
 
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terry4536

terry4536

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Mar 28, 2010
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That would indicate that you do have some bad RAM sticks. I would look into getting a new matched set of RAM.

Now that you have some life in the motherboard. Do you have another power supply that you can swap out? The GTX 670 has a system requirement of a 550 watt power supply.

Actually a power supply can cause most of the problems that you listed. As a power supply ages the power output declines. So the watt output may be reduced to the point that it doesn't provide enough power to run the system. Components that draw the most power will be affected most like the graphics card. But it would also mean that the power available would be fluctuating.
 
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