One Computer Failing At The Post !.

[tickmike]

Hello All.

 

I have one machine on the network that's being a pain, It keeps freezing on POST , It checks the hard drives ok ( but some times it cannot find them) but when it gets to the DVD and CD rom drives It fails to find them.

The only way to get it past POST is to turn the mains switch off then on again (some times twice) to get it working again.

Done all the usual checks Eg, are the cables plugged in etc.

I'm just defragging the hard drive.

In POST is it just the Bios used or is it using the Boot sector.

 

while the screen got stuck I took down the bios details.

25/5/2002

American Megatrends Inc.

62-0523-001131-00101111-040201-via_k7-k7vmm

 

Do you think it needs a bios flash or is it too old ?

The os is W2K pro.

 

Michael

[Ric_]

Sounds like a dodgy disk controller - unfortunately this means a replacement mobo.

[mattx]

Do you have identical PCs on your network ? Some basic PD should help - [ remove HD and swap it with a known working PC etc etc ] - or build the HD in the duff PC in a good PC and then swap it back - [ just to test etc ]

Also - do you have a multi meter ? May be worth checking the output of voltage on the HD connectors. I've had problems with power supplies before - may be worth swapping one of those out too.

As Ric says though - to me my first thought would be a disk controller.....

[tickmike]

Hi Ric and Mattx.

This one machine is a odd one out being different to the others,

I will check out the PS.

Thinking back we had to change the hard drive last year, but that was quite new and I was surprised when it went, all seamed ok until a few weeks ago when we are getting the same symptoms as before that drive went.

Maybe it wasn't the drive and like you say could be the MOBO !

 

Michael

 

edit...Is it any good to bios flash it ?.

[Ric_]

Assuming that you find the correct BIOS and all goes OK, you shouldn't have any problems with a BIOS flash.

[OutToLunch]

If this is an old AMD ECS board, I'd give up on it - I had so many problems with mine it was unbelievable. 2 swap outs for an identical board and still had the same POST problems (not quite the same as yours)... Should be easy to pick up a cheap and cheerful replacement and save your time and sanity.

[tickmike]

Hi.

 

I have taken this machine out of service but would like to get it going as a spare.

 

It uses a socket 'A' AMD Duron cpu, I have found an new mobo in the spares box and that uses socket 'A' Athlon XP or Duron .

 

So could I just use the old cpu out of the old mobo in the new mobo ?.

 

Edit ....Do I need to check the spec's or can I just plug it in ?.

 

From Michael.