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Please Help, Can't Get Computer To Start Right

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by adidasallstarguy

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ok so here is my problem, when powering on the fans like to kick on then power down before the whole computer starts. Sometimes I will get one long beep, others I can't even get anything to show up on the screen. I have got a few post codes, it is a Biostar board with award bios. Below are the post codes listed. I have tried 3 sticks of Buffalo Select Ram that I am pretty sure is good, and some new Kingston memory.

(17)Test struck 8259?s interrupt bits; Turn off interrupt then verify no interrupt mask
register is on. Setup video I/O operations.

32)Display the Award Plug & Pla y BIOS extension message(PnP BIOS only).Test
EISA extended memory; If EISA mode flag is set then te st EISA memory found in
slots initialization, T his test is skipped in ISA mode and can be skipped with ESC
key in EISA mode.

16 replies

by Former member

You might want to check your processor is seated properly. Solution: take out and give a good clean, apply a very very small amount of thermal paste on it an spread evenly around the processor. Next give the heatsink and fan a good clean and replace on top of the processor and lock it down firmly.

Take out your graphics card and replace it firmly, then boot up your computer.

Continuous long beeps:
Graphics card not inserted properly.

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.
If this information is useful, please mark as helpful. Thanks.

by adidasallstarguy

It has onboard video, I wish I had a card to test on it but I don't. Do you think my onboard is bad? Let me know if you got any more ideas. Thanks.

by adidasallstarguy

ok so I tried another power supply and I bought a video card, neither worked, its got to be the cpu,right or is there anything else to try.

by adidasallstarguy

Award (C1)Memory presence test; OEM specific -test to size on- board memory. Bad SIMM.

This is the error I get most often.

by willcomp

What mobo (model #)? Specifics for memory (not brands but specs)?

by adidasallstarguy

Biostar I945G-M7 Version 2.0 board and 2 sticks of Kingston 1gb memory KVR667D2N5K2/2G Also tried 3 sticks of 1gb memory of Buffalo Select D2U533B-1G/BJ

by willcomp

Memory should be compatible with a P945 chipset.

Can't get a copy of mobo manual on Biostar web site. "Legacy" products are being added back according to message. They must be revising web site.

C1 error is a motherboard specific error (look in mobo manual) but is supposed to be memory related.

Have you tried single sticks of RAM and different slots? A memory controller or memory slot problem is possible.

Are you using a POST card or does mobo have a POST display?

by rob miners

C1 = Memory presence test. (OEM Specific-Test to size on-board memory). I haven't seen that one before but your suggestion above is spot on.

by adidasallstarguy

I am using a post card to test it, and I have tried single sticks in different slots. Is there anyway to fix a memory controller or memory slot or is the board just considered bad?

by willcomp

Also could be a faulty BIOS but there is no way to flash BIOS on a PC that will not POST. See if motherboard has an emergency BIOS recovery -- not clearing CMOS but loading factory BIOS. I've never seen an emergency BIOS recovery on Biostar motherboards.

by oh smeg

Remove the RAM and look see if the Contact Edge is dirty. Use a soft Rubber/Eraser to clean it and refit 1 stick and try to power on. If you only have 1 stick try it in a different M'Board or try a different stick of RAM in this M'Board to see if that makes a difference.

Col

by oh smeg

Means a Bad M'Board that isn't repairable.

This is because the M'Boards components are not easily replaceable and they need specialized equipment to repair them for anything but a Simple Transistor/Resistor replacement.

When you start looking at needing to replace a VLSI Integrated Circuit it's not possible to use a Soldering Iron you need a Ultraviolet Soldering station with the ability to pick & place components. Not many are willing to spend well in excess of $50,000.00 to repair a $100.00 M'Board.

Col

by adidasallstarguy

I decided to try an IDE hard drive and it seems to past the post test everytime but I haven't got it so it will go into windows. If you boot from a cd it will go through the steps of installing windows only when it restarts it won't load Windows setup where it left off after the restart.

by oh smeg

To test the HDD here?

It really sounds as if the HDD isn't being correctly identified in BIOS so it's incorrectly mapped causing the Software load not to appear when you next boot the unit.

The HDD Testing Utilities are available here just click on the name of the HDD Maker and you will be prompted to where you want to download the Testing Utility.

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

Test the HDD in this computer and if it fails remove it test again in another computer or a USB Caddy and if it passes this time the M'Boards IDE Controller is faulty.

I was going to say you can replace the BIOS Chip with a new one available from here

http://www.biosman.com/

But as it's now booting you can Flash it to a newer one if possible.

Just out of curiosity is the HDD correctly Identified in BIOS? Do you need to Set the HDD in this BIOS?

Col

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