PC won't post unless I clear the bios.

Aralkis

Honorable
Nov 17, 2013
6
0
10,510
Hi. I kept my desktop turned off for a couple of months and when I came back to use it again, it fully loaded windows (it was one halt, I guess) and then, after a while, it froze. So I did a reboot and it didn't POST.

After a while I decided to clear the bios and restart. The POST detects the correct amount of memory and the correct CPU, HDD and DVD but ends with a "cmos wrong settings; cmos time/date not set. Press F1 to enter the setup" msg.
I press F1 and load optimum settings, save and exit. Then nothing. It doesn't POST, no video signal.

Things I've done since then, without success:

1)Changed the bios battery.

2)Tried using both integrated and offboard vga. (It loads the correct settings automatically somehow)
Tested PSU in another PC.

3) a)Restart without pressing F1 or without saving new settings. If I just press reset (even the one in the mobo) screen goes black and nothing happens and mobo led keeps high; b) if I turn it off and on again with the cmos cleared, I get the same POST error, led blinks twice. One long one short; c) If try to save setup changes, restart dos nothing mobo led keeps high. When power it off and on again led keeps low, no blinking.

4)I dont think it is memory but just to be sure, I tested with one, both and no memory module.

Here is my humble build:
Cpu Phenon II 965
Mobo ecs a790gxm-ad3 black edition
Memory 2x2g Kingston
Vga r9 270X
Hdd seagate barracuda 500gb
Monitor samsung 22" full hd hdmi cable.
Mouse n keyboard.
PSU 500W thermaltake (I know, I know but this build never gave me insuficient energy supply problems.)

I do the maintenance of my on PCs for over 20 years. This is the first time I can't solve my problem. I'm out of ideas. Very frustrating. My thanks to anyone who can give me a hand with this one.
 

Aralkis

Honorable
Nov 17, 2013
6
0
10,510
God darn it! I've been tackling this issue for a week. 5 min after posting I tried to turn it on with only one memory just to be sure and bingo! Problem solved!

Sorry for the useless thread. But I think that putting in writting every detail of the case really helped finding the problem. Also when I tried only one stick I might had a bad connection.

I'm just happy it was only the memory stick. I wouldn't like to spend money on much more than that. Actually, I'm going to try and get the memory working again.

Again sry for the thread.


Last edit: it wasn't a faulty stick it was a faulty slot. Maybe because of the time it stayed off use. Idk.
 

Aralkis

Honorable
Nov 17, 2013
6
0
10,510
Yeah, still dual channel. The faulty one is dimm3. So I connected them to 1 and 2. I will see if I can get it to work again. Right now I need to get my electronic fix.