I have a computer which is partially broken. From what I understand this is the basic issue:
When I put in my CMOS battery, my computer will not boot up at all. The video output to the monitor goes into power saving mode and it beeps horrendously.
When I take out the CMOS battery, my computer will boot up fine though I do need to go into BIOS first and change the time and date settings.
I checked my graphics card and it works fine. I contacted our OIT department, and they were able to tell me that the problem is the CMOS battery/Motherboard and that to fix it, I would need to replace the motherboard.
Does anyone know why this is happening? The computer is custom built.
I attached part of the email OIT sent me.
Picked up the unit.
The unit is not a Dell or any other supported UNLV computer.
I did some testing on it. The video card is fine. The unit will only work if the CMOS battery is removed and if you power cycle the unit.
System board would need replacement.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks!
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Last edited by Deathslayer7 : 05-21-2013 at 01:03 PM.
May be a silly question, but have you tested the battery itself? It would be a shame to replace the whole motherboard for the sake of a coin cell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deathslayer7
The video output to the monitor goes into power saving mode and it beeps horrendously.
If this is a regular pattern of beeps, it could be the motherboard telling you what error it's experiencing. Try looking up the POST codes in your motherboard's manual or on the manufacturer's website.
May be a silly question, but have you tested the battery itself? It would be a shame to replace the whole motherboard for the sake of a coin cell.
If this is a regular pattern of beeps, it could be the motherboard telling you what error it's experiencing. Try looking up the POST codes in your motherboard's manual or on the manufacturer's website.
Definitely. Beep codes are life-savers. If that doesn't immediately solve your issue could you say a little bit more about the computer? New, Used? Personal custom build, store/website bought? Motherboard model?
Its not a regular pattern but just continuous beeping.
I did get an error message saying this but some googling hasnt helped.:
mulit-bit ECC Error
Beyond that, this is a custom built computer built back in 2008. It was used for 2-3 years and then just sat around for 2-3 years before I cleaned stuff out and pulled this sucker out.
RAM - Corsair Dominator 8500C5D
I am a bit unsure whether or not it is dual channel. My total RAM is 8 GB and I see 4 RAM sticks connected, so I am assuming here. (2x2)
Well, have you tried the advice already given of just changing the CMOS battery? Five years sounds about right for it to have gone flat, or maybe even shorted out somehow (hence the beeping when you try to fire it up with the battery in place).
Its not a regular pattern but just continuous beeping.
Well this MSI page (link) lists all the possible beep codes depending on BIOS type.
Multi-bit ECC errors indicate the memory's at fault, but if it works fine with the battery removed, try replacing that first before moving onto troubleshooting the motherboard and/or RAM.
If I remember correctly the battery is only there to keep the bios changes that are made.
However since you removed the battery presumably for more then 5 minutes the settings should have been reseted to factory standard which rules out seriously wrong bios settings.
Have you put in the battery the correct way? + side is up afaik!
If not then the only thing I can think of is that the mainboard is damaged where the battery connects (electrical surge maybe?) which sadly would mean that you have to replace the mainboard .
(or repaired by a professional though that can be quite costly)
The other option would have been to flash the memory but for that you need the battery... which you canīt put in :-////
We're trying to trouble shoot the RAM sticks before moving onto the motherboard.
If it doesn't boot with one of the RAM sticks, then that stick is faulty (that multi-bit ECC error you mentioned earlier).
If none of the sticks work in that module slot, then that slot is faulty.
It's cheaper (and a hell of a lot easier) to replace a RAM stick than it is to replace a motherboard. However even if you get a new motherboard, if a RAM stick is knackered, then you may just get the same fault again.
I gave a list of beep codes earlier - I don't know what BIOS type you have, but the patterns can extend up to 13 short beeps long. Unless it's a critical hardware failure (unlikely) it's going to match a beep code.
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