Desktop not booting :/

[Batman88]

So I left my desktop sitting in my room for over a year without use because I had to move away for school. It has not been used at all during this time period and now when I plug it all up for the first time, it does not boot. I cannot even get to bios. It just powers on and sits with black screen. The motherboard has two diagnostic lights that are supposed light up as green if everything is functioning right but instead I have one blinking red and one off. In the manual, it only talks about the light as on or off and not flashing. And the closest one I match that error code to is ram error. I'm confused how this could happen if I haven't touched it for so long. Any ideas what's up?

 

[4ghz]

After a year, some parts might have creeped loose. Re-seat every parts and every cables. Also check CMOS battery and do a CMOS reset in case it got scrambled.

 

[Batman88]

Tried cmos reset and connections already :/

 

[Law-II]

Hi

To assist other member of the TPU community; to provide the best advice possible
fill in system specs here [Manufacturer Names ; Model Number where possible]

atb

Law-II

 

[Batman88]

Ok filled out my specs!

 

[Aquinus]

Ok filled out my specs!

You may need to check off to show it because I still don't see it.

Do you have a piezo speaker installed? Does it give any beep codes?

 

[Batman88]

You may need to check off to show it because I still don't see it.

Do you have a piezo speaker installed? Does it give any beep codes?

Fixed!
Problem is I don't have that speaker. I'd have to order one but I figure it's odd cuz I haven't even touch this thing and it was functional before I stopped using it

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Maybe this



Power down system and switch off the PSU and unplug from the wall [wait a couple of minutes for the power to discharge from the motherboard and or press and hold the system power on button
Remove RAM and vga card or *cards [*cards if running SLi or Crossfire]

Note: If the RAM is *not new clean the blade: use a coffee filter and isopropyl alcohol and use a can of air duster to clear out the DIMM slots; [this same process can be used for the vga card if required]
Unplug 24pin / *8pin or *4pin power from the motherboard [*If required by motherboard]
Clear CMOS
[Note: If cmos cannot keep accurate time within the motherboard bios *It may be time to replace the motherboard battery type CR2032]

Note: Run system at default clock speeds while testing system; [do not set any overclocks, *if any]
Use minimal hardware setup; PSU, Motherboard, CPU & Heatsink , One Stick of RAM [DIMMA_1] Edit:{test each stick of RAM one at a time}, *Vga Card [*If required by motherboard]
Attach power cables to the motherboard, power on the PSU and boot the system

Ensure monitor cable is attached to either; onboard vga or vga card [make sure it is attached to primary vga]

If system boots to bios; [start to add back other hardware one item at a time]

atb

Law-II

 

[satindemon4u]

I am assuming the RAM. I had this same exact problem a few weeks ago. My Desktop was sitting for 2 or 3 months (not a year I know) and I tried to boot and got nothing but a black screen. :/ Turns out it was a bad stick of memory.

 

[Batman88]

thanks for the suggestion! i'm going to try that and see if i can get it to post.

and the thing about the ram issue is what are the chances that both sticks of ram are faulty? I feel like it is the ram too but jeez my luck...

 

[Law-II]

Hi

what are the chances that both sticks of ram are faulty?

Slim but not impossible; lets hope it's the RAM blades not making good contact and or [If possible borrow a compatible stick of RAM from a friend that you know works to test]

atb

Law-II

 

[webguy09]

Check the graphics card.

It's hard to say without pictures.

Also I just saw you said the error light is a RAM error. Well then you should try a different, new or tested working RAM stick and remove your current RAM.

You could also:
Unseat and then reseat your RAM. Sometimes it just gets loose is all.
Try one ram in one slot, take out other(s). Now try it in the other slot. If still isn't working, then do the same with the other stick(s).

 

[satindemon4u]

As suggested earlier, pull one stick; boot. Replace the stick and pull the other, boot. Post results.

 

[Arjai]

Hi

Maybe this

View attachment 54375

Power down system and switch off the PSU and unplug from the wall [wait a couple of minutes for the power to discharge from the motherboard and or press and hold the system power on button
Remove RAM and vga card or *cards [*cards if running SLi or Crossfire]

Note: If the RAM is *not new clean the blade: use a coffee filter and isopropyl alcohol and use a can of air duster to clear out the DIMM slots; [this same process can be used for the vga card if required]
Unplug 24pin / *8pin or *4pin power from the motherboard [*If required by motherboard]
Clear CMOS
[Note: If cmos cannot keep accurate time within the motherboard bios *It may be time to replace the motherboard battery type CR2032]

Note: Run system at default clock speeds while testing system; [do not set any overclocks, *if any]
Use minimal hardware setup; PSU, Motherboard, CPU & Heatsink , One Stick of RAM [DIMMA_1] Edit:{test each stick of RAM one at a time}, *Vga Card [*If required by motherboard]
Attach power cables to the motherboard, power on the PSU and boot the system

Ensure monitor cable is attached to either; onboard vga or vga card [make sure it is attached to primary vga]

If system boots to bios; [start to add back other hardware one item at a time]

atb

Law-II

+1

Ram is probably the most common cause of a failed boot. Next is the CPU not seated properly.

Good luck!

 

[Solaris17]

As suggested earlier, pull one stick; boot. Replace the stick and pull the other, boot. Post results.

this pretty much standard procedure.

check caps for bulges or venting.

 

[Batman88]

Forgot to mention, tested each stick of ram already in the beginning! Going to be cleaning it all tonight so I'll update right after to see if it boots!

 

[Batman88]

Wow I think I found the culprit. My cpu heat sink is literally out of place. Like only have of it is even in the cpu.... How does that happen!?

 

[Law-II]

Hi

Wow I think I found the culprit. My cpu heat sink is literally out of place. Like only have of it is even in the cpu....

Going to need to reseat that then as part of the fault finding process; make sure to have some fresh thermal paste on hand

How does that happen!?

Without a picture and or make and modle of the heatsink and fan combination in use; it's a speculative reply.
Assumming it's a generic AMD Heatsink & Fan

Spoiler

It may be caused by the plastic housing fracturing from fatigue however unlikley; load up some pics if possible

atb

Law-II

 

[Batman88]

aw dang i already removed the heat sink and

Hi



Without a picture and or make and modle of the heatsink and fan combination in use; it's a speculative reply.

Assumming it's a generic AMD Heatsink & Fan

Spoiler

View attachment 54422

It may be caused by the plastic housing fracturing from fatigue however unlikley; load up some pics if possible

atb

Law-II

aw dang i already removed the heat sink and cleaned off all the thermal compound. thing is its a OCZ vendetta. i hate stock fans. they suck lol. picked up the vendetta for $5 a long time ago haha. i used MX-2 or something like that for compound but i can't find it anymore....so i gotta go pick up some thermal paste sometime tomorrow or something.

im just so shocked of the shift in position! i've never seen anything like it. i completely missed it too cuz thats the last thing i'd expect to happen seeing how the latch is so tight.

 

[Law-II]

Hi

thing is its a OCZ vendetta. i used MX-2 or something like that for compound

Well fingers crossed once the Vendetta is seated the system will boot with know debug LED's flashing [maybe a good time while the heatsink is removed to reseat the CPU just for continuity/probable cause
atb
Law-II

 

[Arjai]

+1

Ram is probably the most common cause of a failed boot. Next is the CPU not seated properly.

Good luck!

Hmmm...

 

[satindemon4u]

Odd that it was....shifted haha. Has the problem been fixed?

 

[Batman88]

did not work! idk what it is then. ive tried cleaning, reseating everything, fixing cpu heatsink up and all. no clue



wait moved one stick of ram to first slot and removed other stick after cpu heatsink has been fixed and now its booting!! going to test the ram now and see. i believe it was the heatsink + the ram that was causing issues

 

[Ja.KooLit]

you could also try changing the CMOS battery. At some point that is causing it. Just give a shot. Battery cost less a dollar or so. Atleast thats the price here. One of our computer at work failed to boot. We know for the fact that it is working. I just tried to borrow one of the CMOS battery from other computer and well well. We found the problem ^_^

 

[Batman88]

reseated ram one more time and all is completely functional. seems the main issue was the cpu heatsink barely on contact with my cpu. good thing it didnt fry! haha thank you all for the help!