Computer has crashed...Need Help!

Razorbacx · Post by **Razorbacx** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:01 am

Friday night I attempted to boot up BF2 and the monitor went black on me. I had to reboot and I tried again. This time I was actually in game for about 10 minutes when the monitor went black on me again. I then cleaned out all the dust from inside of my case (I took care not too touch anything as I used an air blower to do so). My thinking was that maybe dust had clogged up the video card fan and needed to be cleaned out, which may have caused the GPU to shutdown. I then hooked everything back up and turned on my computer, but now I have no display whatsoever. I removed the video card and replaced it with an older one that I have, but got the same result...black screen. I thought maybe my monitor had crapped out and contacted Samsung and they concurred, however when I brought my monitor into work this morning to test it, it fired right up. I have checked over my mobo to ensure that everything was seated properly and that nothing was missing. Everything looks good. I am at a total loss and need some help.

Abit AV8 mobo
AMD Athlon 64 3500 Venice Core
Leadtek 6800GT Video Card
1 GB Corsair DDR2 Memory
NEO Power 480W PSU

Thanks,

Razorbacx

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:27 am

Well you know the monitor, video card and VGA cable are okay since you tested them on another machine.

A failed hard drive would still show a post screen. It could be a bad processor, motherboard, memory modules. The next easiest thing to check would be the memory... try swapping slots or using just one module. If you have a volt meter check the power supply and make sure it is okay across the 12V, 5V, and 3.3V's. Could have blown a cap in the power supply or something strange.

Post by **FZ1** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:32 am

Weird. Try clearing the CMOS and see what happens. Were you overclocking? Watch the boot codes on the board's display to see if any error messages come up. There are a list of the error codes in the manual.

Razorbacx · Post by **Razorbacx** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:34 am

FZ1, no I wasn't overclocking the video card or processor. I did not feel the need to do so as everything was running well enough for me. I'll try clearing the CMOS and will check for error codes on the mobo.

Apoptosis, if I had blown a cap in my PSU would it still power up? The fans are running and I can hear the HD working.

My plan is to remove everything from the mobo and then reconnect everything one component at a time. Hopefully, I can then identify the problem area and then address it.

I'm still going to pursue the warranty exchange with Samsung as maybe the problem does exist in the monitor as the problem could be intermittent...maybe.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for the responses.

Regards,

Razorbacx

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:42 am

Razorbacx wrote:Apoptosis, if I had blown a cap in my PSU would it still power up? The fans are running and I can hear the HD working.

Yes you can have a cap go bad and have the unit still partially work.

Post by **FZ1** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:54 am

If it ends up being your board, I have an AV8 laying around I can send ya. I think it has all the parts etc and the 3rd eye display piece.

Razorbacx · Post by **Razorbacx** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:47 am

Once again, thanks Apop and FZ for your responses and for the offer FZ! I'll let you know the status of what I find.

DAMN sure glad that LR is around for noobs like me...

Kind Regards,

Razorbacx

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:01 am

LOL... you're not a noob... best of luck to you and let us know what happened!

Razorbacx · Post by **Razorbacx** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 8:32 pm

Well, I disconnected everything and then reconnected. Booted up my computer and still no display. I'm getting error code 67, which states, "Prepare memory size information for function call: INT 15h ax=E820h". OK, this is latin to me, so if any of you could please translate I would be much appreciative.

The only thing that I haven't done thusfar is check my PSU, in which case I do not have a voltmeter or even know what to do with it once I get it. I'm an expert when it comes to AutoCAD, but I can't claim to be an electrician of any sorts. I'm stuck and need some help...any help...please.

If all things fail, I'm going to contact all the mfg'ers of my components and claim warranty on everything, sell it and then go buy a Dell...

Frustratingly Yours,

Razorbacx

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:09 pm

hum... thats an odd error code... kudos for ABIT making them in freaking latin... LOL

hum... try swapping out the memory. I've e-mailed ABIT USA and my contacts in Taiwan looking for advice for that error code. I can't help you because I only know what ABIT says the code means and have never seen it before.

Razorbacx · Post by **Razorbacx** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 10:59 am

Swapped the memory modules around and still nothing. I spoke to my IT dept head here at work and they feel like my motherboard is fried. Is there any sure way of knowing other than the smell of burnt electronics?

What I've done thusfar is swapped video cards, moved my memory around one stick at a time, ensured that everything was properly seated and then went ahead and reseated everything again to make sure. Cleared CMOS, removed every component and cable from the motherboard and then reconnected everything one item at a time. Received error code 67 on the mobo, which means......awaiting an answer on that one. The only thing that I haven't done is change out my PSU, although I do find it hard to blame it on that since I swapped my 6800 GT video card for an old NVidia card (I've forgotten the model number) that does not require a separate power connection. I can feel the HD working, the fans are all running, lights blinking, but I've got a black display screen. Could my memory modules have gone bad and caused this problem or would I have some semblance of life from my monitor?

Thanks Again,

Razorbacx

Post by **FZ1** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 11:26 am

PM me with your addy and I'll send over the AV8 board I have (if you want it).

Post by **Apoptosis** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:41 pm

just got word back from ABIT:

I may need the POST Sequence code from the power on until it stop at 67. If the system was a new assembly from a new motherboard, please have customer to clear CMOS memory using the motherboard CMOS Jumper and build the system from scratch with the bare components, CPU, Power Supply Unit, one stick of memory and video card.

If the system was working before, also try clearing CMOS memory using the Jumper onboard.

For further assistance, I would suggest customer to contact our support at (510)492-0968 or email to us at [email protected]

Bets Regards,
ABIT-USA

Razorbacx · Post by **Razorbacx** » Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:40 pm

Thanks Apop for the info! I cleared CMOS last night or atleast I believe that I did by changing the Jumper to the position indicated from my mobo handbook, but will perform that function again. I'll reboot and write down the sequences prior to stopping at code 67 and give ABit Tech Support a call. I have already rebuilt the system, but will do it again.

I really appreciate all the help that you and FZ have provided. Way beyond what I even expected.

LR freakin' ROCKS!

Razorbacx

Razorbacx · Post by **Razorbacx** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:23 am

I contacted Abit Tech Support and have narrowed my problem to two areas...mobo and memory. Code 67 basically states that the memory is not posting and thus I am unable to complete booting up. I'll test the memory at work today and hopefully I'll be able to determine which one is the culprit.

Thanks again to Apop and FZ for your help.

Razorbacx

Post by **Apoptosis** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:26 am

yeah I'm not sure which it would be... in the middle of a game I'd have to guess memory, but it could be the board also. Either way they are under warranty!

Post by **Apoptosis** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:37 am

just got in an e-mail from ABIT-Taiwan

Hi Nathan

With that post code, it may be an incompatible memory stick.

Some motherboards can only accept single sided dimms, whereas other motherboards can accept both single sided and double sided. If the user has just bought new memory, it may be that it is incompatible.

Hope that helps. If not, please follow X's advice and contact customer services.

Cheers for now

Universal ABIT Co. (Ltd)
10F, 323 Yang Guang St, Neihu District
Taipei. ROC

Razorbacx · Post by **Razorbacx** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:16 am

Apoptosis wrote:just got in an e-mail from ABIT-Taiwan

Hi Nathan

With that post code, it may be an incompatible memory stick.

Some motherboards can only accept single sided dimms, whereas other motherboards can accept both single sided and double sided. If the user has just bought new memory, it may be that it is incompatible.

Hope that helps. If not, please follow X's advice and contact customer services.

Cheers for now

Universal ABIT Co. (Ltd)
10F, 323 Yang Guang St, Neihu District
Taipei. ROC

The memory was part of my original build and I used the memory configurator to ensure compatiability prior to buying it. I'm awaiting a response from Corsair, so hopefully I can get some resolution soon.

Thanks again Apop.

Razorbacx