Cant boot onto anything, brand new motherboard.

[dukethedj]

I just got back from vacation andwent to turn on my pc which worked before on my Gigabyte GA78LMTS2 and now cant boot into Windows, instalation media, anything. it just hangs on the BIOS load screen. I am using AHCI for my sata. Any help?

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Hi there. Any beep or beeps for BIOS post?

 

[dukethedj]

I did post, being able to go into the BIOS.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Could be a hardware problem or corrupt boot sector. Did you try to reseat items on the motherboard? You would know to take all precautions, but just to be sure.

You could try a hard reset CMOS or boot from Win install DVD and do a system repair.

 

[dukethedj]

I cant boot into the installation media AT ALL I will reseat everything, and reset.the CMOS. I will check back when Im done

 

[dukethedj]

Did not help.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Did not help.

Sorry for the delay. Got lost in upgrading my Lumia.

Bummer! I had a similar problem with this older Acer this past winter, but BIOS did not post. I unhooked HD and all peripherals > Everything. While I was at it I changed the Cmos battery. Then proceeded to hook everything back up one at a time starting with HD and rebooted after each. When all was done, all was well. Really never did find out what it was.

I don't know what else to tell you. What could possibly go wrong sitting off other than a drained Cmos battery?

 

[altae]

It sounds like a defective mainboard to me. But changing the bios battery is indeed something you could try. You could also try to remove all but one ram element from the ram banks. Try to boot with every ram element you've got (insert only one at a time) to check if there is a defective ram element. Disconnecting all drives would also be something you could try. If all those steps do not help I would definitely say you've got a defective mainboard.

 

[dukethedj]

No problem
I will try the battery. Would any watch battery work?

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I would match the voltage.

 

[dukethedj]

ok.

 

[dukethedj]

nothing worked.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Well, we know it's not BIOS if it's posting. All the Cmos battery does is hold the changed settings of BIOS. I suspected that wasn't it. The next would be the HD(s).

You're not dual booting with OS X, correct?

Is there another machine you could slave the Windows drive in to test?

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

You see a POST so this fix won't apply -- but I have seen cases where if the tiny micro switch that is the POWER ON LED is not connected then the whole kybosh won't power up at all -- such a tiny thing !!!!!!.

What I'd do though if you get any POST - is remove EVERYTHING including the memory modules except the monitor. Start by putting in ONE memory module and see if you get at least NO OPSYS found. (Operating system missing or similar). If that works add your keyboard and have another boot. Keep going and do the HDDs LAST. You should eventually get one bootable device to work.
Put in the rest of the memory modules after you've got to the stage where the BIOS can boot. !! a 4GB or even a 2GB module is enough to test the functionality of the peripherals (HDD's / Optical media (DVD's) etc.

Ensure you have the LAN disconnected too while you do the tests -- a bad LAN card can also cause havoc at boot time.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[dukethedj]

Well, we know it's not BIOS if it's posting. All the Cmos battery does is hold the changed settings of BIOS. I suspected that wasn't it. The next would be the HD(s).

You're not dual booting with OS X, correct?

Is there another machine you could slave the Windows drive in to test?

Not anymore. I was actualy thinking about that. I will try my system on another motherboard.

 

[dukethedj]

I just tried hippsie's suggestion and the drive was not detected.

When I remove everything, do I keep my graphics card in or use onboard?

 

[dukethedj]

Hi there

You see a POST so this fix won't apply -- but I have seen cases where if the tiny micro switch that is the POWER ON LED is not connected then the whole kybosh won't power up at all -- such a tiny thing !!!!!!.

What I'd do though if you get any POST - is remove EVERYTHING including the memory modules except the monitor. Start by putting in ONE memory module and see if you get at least NO OPSYS found. (Operating system missing or similar). If that works add your keyboard and have another boot. Keep going and do the HDDs LAST. You should eventually get one bootable device to work.
Put in the rest of the memory modules after you've got to the stage where the BIOS can boot. !! a 4GB or even a 2GB module is enough to test the functionality of the peripherals (HDD's / Optical media (DVD's) etc.

Ensure you have the LAN disconnected too while you do the tests -- a bad LAN card can also cause havoc at boot time.

Cheers
jimbo

I never did get OPSYS.
All it did was get past the BIOS splash screen and then go blank and have one flashing line, like in DOS.

 

[dukethedj]

now I get OPSYS with the drives out.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Use the onboard graphics.

Concerning HD on other MB > No automatic attempt (Plug n Play) to install a driver? Did you try both drives?

Did you have a Boot Manager ? If so, which one?

Puzzling thing of it all was that it just sat while on vacation. Just to be sure > It was powered off or asleep?

 

[HippsieGypsie]

now I get OPSYS with the drives out.

Both drives? Not possible.