Hi there,

I have done extensive searches and not really found a problem that matches the one a friend of mine is having. A while back he started having problems with his PC - it would cut out and not boot up properly. He took it to a repair place, who said he had two faulty RAM sticks. He took these out and everything was fine for a while, but then the problems started again.

We have cleanly installed the operating system, as we thought this may help, but it doesn't. When the PC is powered on, all fans come on and all the lights, however, there is no "beep" and nothing appears on the monitor. This happens continually. I have tried changing the RAM sticks, and this makes the computer start up properly first time around. However, once the PC is shut down and started up again, the same problems occur. Every time I change the RAM that is installed, the computer will start up first time, but not beyond that.

Any help would be appreciated. Like I say, I hav tried looking up solutions but not really come across anything.

I have attached the file created by Belarc Advisor beow if that is of any use.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Operating System

System Model

Windows 7 Professional (x64) Service Pack 1 (build 7601)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United Kingdom)

No details available

Processor a

Main Circuit Board b

2.67 gigahertz Intel Core2 Duo
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
4096 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded

Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5K-E Rev 1.xx
Serial Number: MS1C76B8A400261
Bus Clock: 333 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 0401 05/30/2007

Drives

Memory Modules c,d

500.00 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
451.64 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR-H30N ATA Device [Optical drive]
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H62N ATA Device [Optical drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

Generic- Compact Flash USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 1
Generic- MS/MS-Pro USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 4
Generic- SD/MMC USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 3
Generic- SM/xD-Picture USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 2
WDC WD5000AAKS-00YGA0 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WCAS80495761, rev 12.01C02, SMART Status: Healthy

2048 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM0' has 1024 MB
Slot 'DIMM1' has 1024 MB
Slot 'DIMM2' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM3' is Empty

Local Drive Volumes

c: (NTFS on drive 0)

500.00 GB

451.64 GB free

Network Drives

None discovered

Users (mouse over user name for details)

Printers

local user accounts

last logon

 -----

26/04/2011 21:26:20

(admin)

local system accounts

Administrator

14/07/2009 06:08:59

(admin)

Guest

never

HomeGroupUser$

never

Marks a disabled account; Marks a locked account

Microsoft Shared Fax Driver

on SHRFAX:

Microsoft XPS Document Writer

on XPSPort:

Controllers

Display

Standard floppy disk controller
ATA Channel 0 [Controller] (3x)
ATA Channel 1 [Controller] (3x)
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller (3x)

Radeon X1950 Series (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Display adapter]
Radeon X1950 Series Secondary (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Display adapter]
Samsung SyncMaster [Monitor] (22.0"vis, s/n H1AK500000, January 2008)

Bus Adapters

Multimedia

Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2934
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2935
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2936
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2937
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2938
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller - 2939
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293A
Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 293C

High Definition Audio Device

Virus Protection [Back to Top]

new Group Policies

Microsoft Security Essentials Version 3.0.8107.0

Scan Engine Version 1.1.6802.0

Virus Definitions Version 1.103.480.0

Realtime File Scanning On

None discovered

Communications

Other Devices

Marvell Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller

primary

Auto IP Address:

----

Gateway:

----

Dhcp Server:

----

Physical Address:

----

Microsoft ISATAP Adapter

Realtek RTL8187 Wireless 802.11b/g 54Mbps USB 2.0 Network Adapter

APIPA Address:

----

Dhcp Server:

none responded

Physical Address:

----

Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Networking Dns Server:

----

LSI 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller
USB Input Device
Standard PS/2 Keyboard
HID-compliant mouse
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Root Hub (8x)
Generic volume shadow copy
F:\
G:\
H:\
I:\

Hi Clemmenza

try unplugging all the USB extra stuff flash sticks camera etc & check you main-board manual to clear reset the Bios

did you unplug the rig prior to swapping ram sticks ?

what PSU do you have ?

let us know and welcome to HH

Only USB device plugged in is the mouse.

Unplugged it prior to switching RAM sticks, yes.

PSU is a CaseCom ATX 500W.

Going to try the reset now.

Thanks for the welcome!

Welcome to our site.

Try a known good PSU on the system. Yours is probably wonky.

Is there any way of testing the PSU currently in there using the PC, or is it a case of taking it out and using a multimeter or something similar?

Have now updated the BIOS, tried a new PSU (not a brand-named one, but one I know works on a similar spec PC) and we are still experiencing the same problems. PC only seems to want to boot up when one stick of RAM is inserted now, as opposed to two.

Is there any way of testing the PSU currently in there using the PC, or is it a case of taking it out and using a multimeter or something similar?

just saw you other post but is some support to that que look here

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/techrepublic-tutorial-how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-power-supply/5032945

Quote:

""Once you remove all of the connections, repeat the same test. If the fan doesn’t spin up, this probably means the power supply is failing. To be certain, you can verify the failure with the multimeter. If you set the meter to measure DC voltage, using a scale that handles at least 15V, you can measure the voltage going to any of the peripheral connectors. By inserting the negative probe into one of the black wire contacts in the connector and the positive probe into the red wire contact of the connector, you should see the meter read 5V. If you move the positive probe from the red contact to the yellow contact, you should see 12V on that contact. If neither of these occurs, you know the power supply is not functioning.

In the event that the fan does spin up upon having removed all the connections, then you can easily figure out which component caused the failure. Just remove the power cord, and then reconnect the motherboard and test again with power. If the fan doesn’t spin up, you know the motherboard is hosed. If everything is ok, again remove power, and then reattach power to each of the other peripherals one at a time, and test. Whichever component prevents the fan from spinning up is the guilty party.""

***since you asked and may hep another time or others

Have now updated the BIOS, tried a new PSU (not a brand-named one, but one I know works on a similar spec PC) and we are still experiencing the same problems. PC only seems to want to boot up when one stick of RAM is inserted now, as opposed to two.

does it make if difference as to whether which mem slot ?  hope not a hairline 'crack' due to possible too much pressure inserting sticks without the necessary support

do you get all the fans and 'beep' with the different PSU ?

Nope. MB has four mem. slots. Tried them in different mix-ups in all the slots, still have the same problem. All the fans power up every time, it just doesn't beep on/show anything on the monitor. I'm confused as everything appears to work, just intermittently!

Yes, get the beep with the new PSU but, again, only intermittently (for some reason it's after changing the RAM sticks that are in). The PC also fails to wake up from hibernation.

battery week intermittent ?  got a new CMOS batt ? I know it's sounds lame a but possibility all the same and a cheap one too

see if you can boot into safe mode

how about posting all the hardware info not belarc s   make model info etc.

not sure at the moment  [re your mobo] are you able to remove the vid card and boot with on board video ? sorry if I missed it at this time

and all your current bios is auto defaults [fail safe ?]

BIOS has just been updated, so I'm assuming that all the settings are defaults (you'll have to excuse me, I'm quite an amateur!). The PC is custom built so I think all the info I could give you is there?

Re. booting into safe mode, the problem is that it doesn't start up properly. Once it boots up and we get the "beep", it loads up fine, it's just sometimes (most of the time) it doesn't beep!

I'll try taking out the vid. card. If that solves the problem, would that mean the vid. card is faulty?

EDIT: Also, where could I get a CMOS battery from? Would I need a specific type?

BIOS has just been updated, so I'm assuming that all the settings are defaults (you'll have to excuse me, I'm quite an amateur!). The PC is custom built so I think all the info I could give you is there?

the mainboard model number and serial is there not the Asus model # if you have a mainboard vid out try taking out the vid card and boot

EDIT: Also, where could I get a CMOS battery from? Would I need a specific type?

common CMOS batteries for mobo are CR2032 and can be found at a Walgrreens  etc unplug and take yours out &  bring to store about 5.00  or less

I hope you are a practicing safe static practices when working on your rig 

also make sure your pc is clean compressed air on those mem slots etc  you can grab a pencil eraser and gently rub the mem tabs ved card to a bit ghetto and old skool but may do .

a little more info about the CMOS battery FYI

"A basic but reasonably helpful video so thank you for that. However, the

CMOS battery does NOT store any memory or settings. It just provides

power to the small built-in memory chip on the motherboard, often a

small eprom, which stores the basic start-up command sequence. The CMOS

battery is often a small rechargeable cell that is charged all the time

the PC is switched on. Like all primary and secondary cells though, it

loses the ability to retain or accept a charge after a period of time".

hope some of this helps you out and as a community we all got your back !

***** Edit got your mainboard info  missed it before sorry about that !

Unfortunately no onboard video out, so can't take out the vid. card. Always take care w/ the static btw!

***** Edit got your mainboard info  missed it before sorry about that !   long morning here

certainly no intention to offend you  re: safe static practice

just want to troubleshoot without replacing parts unnecessarily ...having access to a new CMOS may a heck of lot easier than trying another working vid card but that would be next  ...how than vid cooler ?

and when was the last time you replaced the TIM on CPU and GPU ?