i r stumped!!1! Created 18 years ago2005-11-04 12:47:00 UTC by Dorian27

Here is the scenario...

I pulled out my mom's computer to try and get it working again.

I turn it on to find that there is no OS. this is correct, because i formatted it.

I dont feel like reformatting right then so i decide to toy around in the BIOS.

I Overclock it by .2 GHz and now all I get is an amber light on the monitor when I turn it on.

Here are my steps to attempt to fix it...

-Remove CMOS battery for a few minutes, in attempt to clear any BIOS information.

-Reseat the processor and heat sink (with more heatsink compound, dont worry I'm not a tard.)

-Reseat graphics card (Rage 128 if you are wondering. I know, sucky, but she isnt gaming on this PC.)

-Try every possible RAM combination/arrangement.

-Unhook all unneccessary components (second HD, second CD-ROM, PCI-USB ports, Network Card, Sound Card) so basically, all that is left is Keyboard, Video and Mouse.

-Eat blueberry cake, and have some coffee.

My boss, Dave, thinks its the Motherboard and I am starting to believe him, I just dont want to pump much money into this thing.

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If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. I'd really like to get her computer up and running again.

Try removing the CPU and see if the situation changes at all. Do the same with all permutations of removing other central components (RAM and the graphics card).

Now, gimme some blueberries, boon.

I did

-Reseat the processor and heat sink (with more heatsink compound, dont worry I'm not a tard.)

I removed the processor after removing all of the other stuff. (I didnt put those steps in order, sorry, i just put them there in the order I remembered them.)

and... NO, YOU CANT HAVE ME BLUEBERRIES!!!!

Put the CCMOS jumper on clear for a couple of days. It actually takes a couple of days for the CMOS to be completely cleaned out. I had trouble with my mobo once, the BIOS had seemed to corrupt itself. It wouldn't POST. Not even an error beep, and the power button failed to shut the system off, I had to switch it off at the PSU. Clearing the CMOS for 20 mins didn't do anything. So I tried putting it on clear again, this time for an hour. I completely forgot about it and ended up clearing it for 2 days. When I put the jumper back, and hit the power button it roared back into life and greeted me with a nice POST screen. So the moral of the story is, a few minutes isn't long enough to clear the CMOS.

lol, nice story m0p. I think ill give that a try. she is in no rush to get it fixed, she has another pc (an e-machine.. eww) so I can spare a couple of days. I'll let you all know how it goes next week.

I was actually suggesting that you try to power up the PC sans CPU and see if it behaves differently. I apologise for not being clearer.

Wewt for storage-y FETs! I forget what the arrangements are called.

Seventh, powering up with a CPU in general, will cause no POST. For me at least, no CPU = no BIOS, at all. Not even an error message/beep.

It doesn't sound much like it's POSTing anyway, but it could be. Dorian didn't say explicitly.

Still, I think that the CMOS needs a good long reset, a CMOS reset can fix quite alot more than BIOS settings.

Aah, yes, complementary NMOS and PMOS.

Well, anyway, let us know how it goes.

sorry i didnt respond quickly, I was busy all weekend. Just for the sake of saying it, it didnt post. no beeps, nothing. just an amber light on the monitor. I have the CMOS batter in my pocket at the moment, when I get a chance ill put it back in and update you.
p.s. dont post so I can once I figure out if it worked or not.

Edit: m0p, you truly are a pastor of muppets!!! Im installing XP on the machine as i type.. OH, i love the world when things work out.
the moral of my story is - do not try to overclock an AMD 1.4 GHz if it is already running over 100 degrees F. =)
boredom could have been my demise, but, it is installing now.. joy joy joy..
/kiss m0p

No problem

PS: Never e-kiss me again, eww