How to ask for troubleshooting help V2

[Proximon]

That's a good point, but there are other ways a PSU can be inadequate for a build also. I'll link an appropriate FAQ.

 

[Hastibe]

Hi there!

Any help would be appreciated so much! I made my second computer a year ago, and it's been working beautifully. This morning, I came home from work to find that the computer had frozen. I powered it off, turned it back on and nothing happened--no beeps, no POST, just a blank screen.

I have removed all the computer's components, one-by-one, and now have the mother board on a piece of cardboard, with just the PSU plugged in and the front panel plugs in, so I can power it on, and I get the beep pattern indicating that there is no RAM installed.

If I install either sticks of DDR3 RAM (or both), though, I don't get any beeps, just silence and a blank screen.

Do you think my RAM modules just up and died today? Should I fill out a RMA for them (they have a limited lifetime warranty, and I do still have the receipts and packaging, hah)?

I've also already tried resetting the CMOS via the jumper on the motherboard and via removing the battery for several minutes.

 

[Mark Heath]

Nice guide prox, maybe you should add your red letter reply about asking for help at the top of the post?

 

[Proximon]

A few small updates.

 

[Reyaka]

Hi, I have spent approximately two days trying to fix an issue I have been having with a desktop that I have been trying to build for my father and am stuck at the same exact problem. The build I am currently using for this computer consists of the following parts (all of which are brand new):

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131730
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231421 (two of these)
Hard Drives: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769 (being used for storage and I also have a 320gb 7200 RPM drive that I planned on using for the OS installation and I can't find the URL for it.)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
CD/DVD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151235
Monitors: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009241
Video Card: The video card I'm using is an old nVidea GeForce 9400GT and I can't seem to find a URL for it.

When I initially assembled the components together, I was able to successfully boot the system long enough to install Windows 7 Professional edition on the 320gb hard drive. After the installation completed, I used the My Computer function to ensure both hard drives were being detected and found that the 500gb hard drive was not being detected. I decided to reboot the system to open the bios and see if the hard drive was being detected by the bios. However, this lead to me discovering that the bios had detected an overheating issue with the CPU (it was running at temperatures of 98C). I then disassembled the computer to examine the thermal paste on the CPU to see if it was making good contact, and everything looked evenly spread and ordinary. When I tried to reassemble the computer, however, I was no longer able to get a display to show up on the monitor and the boot sequence had changed.

Everytime I attempt to boot the system, the computer will turn itself on for about 15-20 seconds (all the lights on the motherboard flash, the hard drives start spinning and all the fans spin as well) and then turn itself off again, but then it will turn back on and stay turned on. During this entire time, however, I will not get any visual display to show on the monitor. The only thing the monitor does is show a message saying it has no signal, and then it enters the sleep mode. I have tried using replacement parts for both the CPU and the motherboard (same exact models) and I even tried using another brand new power supply (800W Cooler Master Gold edition) and I still get the same error, no visual display on the monitor. I have also tested to ensure the monitor isn't failing, and am all out of ideas as to why all my brand new parts (for some two new parts) fail to work. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated, as I would love to assemble my father's computer as soon as possible.

 

[Mark Heath]

Hi, I have spent approximately two days trying to fix an issue I have been having with a desktop that I have been trying to build for my father and am stuck at the same exact problem. The build I am currently using for this computer consists of the following parts (all of which are brand new)

Try here: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/Homebuilt-Systems/new-subject.htm

 

[e56imfg]

Could you at least put this thread here?
This thread could solve the "problem" much faster.

 

[oneeye_72]

Hi Proximon

On your first post you listed a number of resources, I would particularly like to read the one on the BIOS.

Unfortunately its a print only deal and closes the post if I close the print 'pop up.' So I can only 'see' the first page.

I don't have a printer, so is there another readable version that I could view?

Many thanks in anticipation of an answer.

 

[ken mattenlow Rivera]

sir i just really need help. I am very new to this community and i just need enlightenment. I cant messagge shortstuff_mt nor jsc. this regards to shortstuff_mt's post about computer problem. http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

he said there that " If you get the long beeps, add a stick of RAM. Boot. The beep pattern should change to one long and two or three short beeps. Silence indicates that the RAM is shorting out the PSU (very rare). Long single beeps indicates that the BIOS does not recognize the presence of the RAM."

I believe that my RAM is shorting my PSU, if only PSU and my board and HSF and CPU, it will give me 3short beeps. But when i put any ram, it will turn on and blink light's blinking for 3times then restarts. No POST, no anything. One more thing, it keeps restarting many times until it boots up eventually.

Can you please help me?

 

[Eduardo Ortiz]

Greetings,

This is my first pc build and has gone bad. My computer does not make any beep so it does not post. Guided by tomshardware I tried a lot of things from there. Disconnected the battery, cleared the CMOS and then tried removing component by component and when I removed all ram sticks it starts doing a restart loop like every 5 seconds or so, but only when removing all ram sticks, if I put one ram stick it stays there all fans spining but no beep or post. I haave change my mobo so this is the second one because I had the same problem with the first one.Please help.Here are my components:

Motherboard-Gigabyte Z97N-Gaming 5 Mini-ITX
PSU-Silverstone SFX series 450W Fully Modular gold.
GFXC-MSI GTX 970 gaming
CPU-Intel Core i5 4690K
CPU-Cooler- Zalman CNPS 8900
RAM-2X8=16GB Kingstone Fury Hyper X

I have tried everything on tomshardware check list with the exemption of trying with a dvi or vga cable instead of hdmi which is the only thing I have.

 

[ArtificialEye]

Hello Eduardo,

I have encountered with the same problem.. and our components are almost the same.. have find the cause and solution ? it might possibly work with me too...

 

[RadioactiveSnail]

Hello,

This is my first PC build and so far it's been a nightmare. I finally got all my parts, and I hook everything up and all and then I turn it on and don't hear any beeps. My mobo has a button that checks the RAM and I pressed it and the LED started blinking which meant something was up with the RAM. So I checked on tomshardware and tried everything I could to get it working and nothing worked. When I turn on the PC, all the fans spinning up and nothing comes up on my display.

Specs:
Mobo: Asus M5A97 R2.0
CPU: AMD FX-8350
RAM: G-SKILL Ripjaws X 16GB (2x8GB)
GPU: XFX R9 280X 3GB
PSU: CM 750W 80+ Bronze Semi-Modular

Thanks,
RadioactiveSnail