The No Signal, No Beep nightmare

DanF

DanF

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Hi everybody,

I'm sure it's not the first time you had this problem with newly built systems. Sometimes it's just a nightmare to find what's really causing this, from a simple bad connection to a short circuit, or else due to a bad or just not compatible part.

What's really making me angry is that this is a new system I've build for a client around 2 - 3 weeks ago.

Basic info: LGA775 AsRock mobo (with onboard video, dual DDR2 & DDR3 slots), E5400 Dual Core, 450W PSU and the usual SATA and DVD disks. I'm using the onboard video and 2 x 1GB DDR2 RAM (both identical).

Looks like it worked fine for the first few days at the client's. The only problem she reported was the the front USBs were not working (and I knew that, just missed this as I've connected them from the inside and found out that they are not working, but forgot to re-check them afterwards). So I told her that I'm aware of the issue, excused myself and fixed an appointment to re-check the connections. Before proceeding, can this be the problem? (meaning connecting the USBs the wrong way).

Another issue I had was with the power supply when I was building the system. I used a 550W PSU (green power supply) and couldn't boot the system. It just boots and turns itself off (as if there was a short circuit). Found out that the 4-pin was kind of strange and didn't fit the 4-pin on the mobo :confused: So I have changed to the 450W PSU that is currently in the system and worked fine.

I don't really remember if I had any problems with the RAM, but as I'm going to visit the client tomorrow, I am thinking of simply replacing the 2x1GB DDR2 with 2 x 1GB DDR3 (since the motherboard has both). Other than that I will be trying a new PSU and also removing the front USB connections just in case they are somehow causing the problem. Other than that, I can't really imagine what else could be wrong with a new system.

What do you think about this situation?

EDIT: What can be ruled out if it beeps when RAM is removed? If it beeps when RAM is removed does it mean that mobo is good and it's not somehow shorting? Does it mean that the CPU is fine?
 
Last edited:
If no beeps, but your getting full power to the cpu fan, possible bad power supply.

If no power to the fan, no beeps, then bad motherboard.

either way, if it was bad ram, it would beep.

I think you either have a bad PS or motherboard, I would test with a good power supply first.
 
Thanks Knightsman.

I'll be at the client's in around an hour from now. Will troubleshoot in the following order:

- Connections.
- PSU (got a MS-Tech 450W, ever used this brand?)
- RAM (just in case)

After those won't work I'll take it off site and try a new motherboard. Will let you know of the results.
 
Tried a new PSU - Same Problem
Replaced the 2 x 1GB DDR2 RAM with 1 x 2GB DDR3 RAM (motherboard obviously has both versions) - worked ok
 
Re:

I was going to say, it's the RAM. I built 2 systems at work, LGA775, E7500 Intel Core 2 Duo, and the RAM was the problem. The manufacturer of memory that worked for me, was Nanya. Because of Dell not really using PCI slots in their systems (Optiplex 990, etc), I had to buy a custom made motherboard with 4 PCI slots and an ISA slot. The slots are for data acquisition boards for a manufacturing environment. Cannot use USB because of signal noises, bla bla.
The manufacturer swears it's compatible with the DDR3, 1066 MHz, but it depends on the memory manufacturer. Basically, I had to deal with poor documentation from the manufacturer; I chose to call them directly. First tech support gave me the wrong info because he was using an outdated sheet, the second guy had a newer documentation and was more specific and helpful.
The problem: the computer booted up just fine, no POST beeps (with or without memory installed), I just couldn't get the monitor to display anything.
Glad that project is over!
 
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Thank you guys, hope I will have the opportunity to help as much as I get help from TN :)
 
Looks like the client is having more problems with this system.

She said that she was just browsing and the system turned off completely. Then she pressed the power button and nothing happened, pressed it again and nothing. On the third time it turned on and it's working 'ok'.

Now, what could it be other than the RAM? Now I'm seriously thinking it's the motherboard or something, cause it doesn't make sense that the system turns off just randomly. Usually if it's the RAM it just freezes.
 
DanF said:
Hi everybody,

Another issue I had was with the power supply when I was building the system. I used a 550W PSU (green power supply) and couldn't boot the system. It just boots and turns itself off (as if there was a short circuit). Found out that the 4-pin was kind of strange and didn't fit the 4-pin on the mobo :confused: So I have changed to the 450W PSU that is currently in the system and worked fine.
Click to expand...

This seems odd to me.

Is it possible you were trying to plug a graphics card power supply into the mobo by mistake ?

I did this by accident a couple of years ago, and trashed the board.

Just a thought.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ........ Whilst proclaiming the machine fixed, grabbing the cash and running like hell.
 
DanF said:
Looks like the client is having more problems with this system.

She said that she was just browsing and the system turned off completely. Then she pressed the power button and nothing happened, pressed it again and nothing. On the third time it turned on and it's working 'ok'.

Now, what could it be other than the RAM? Now I'm seriously thinking it's the motherboard or something, cause it doesn't make sense that the system turns off just randomly. Usually if it's the RAM it just freezes.
Click to expand...

Swap that power supply out it what do the windows logs say about the shutdown?

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
 
op about what psu brand i use rosewill or coolermaster never had a problem with them!
 
Yes. In fact I didn't manage to successfully connect and get the front USBs to work. So I have discussed this with the client and disconnected them to avoid trouble like you mentioned.
 
I have seen and repaired the similar problem on a AMD 5200 x2 system.

I also replaced many parts and the same procedures as the poster did above.
The final answer is both CPU and mobo chipset are faulty.

This PC is impressive since we have moved this PC to and forth between client and the shop several time for repair needs! and evertime the PC just worked for a day or 2, and no POST again with a few seconds CPU FAN turning only at the other day!

Hope this helps!
Bill
Tech Manager WPTinc
 
Well, this is not occurring frequently. In fact, since the time I have created this thread it only happened twice, the latest being today; as she informed me again.

It happened at around 11pm, so she's been using it for quite some time. Due to this I will also check the temperatures just in case the CPU is not making a good contact with the heatsink... since she does not play any games or use any other high resource software, could be it goes up by time. Will also check the logs (but I doubt there is anything written since it just turns off, completely). Will use BurnIn to do a 15 min stress test. If everything is fine, I'm going to replace the PSU anyway.

These problems make me bang my head against the wall :mad: :o
 
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