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Solved
PC will not start
Posted on 2016-09-21
I recently shut down my PC and then started it up again. It ended up stuck with "9C" or "90" with the edge cut off in the bottom right hand corner - white font on a black screen. It was just stuck at this point and did not progress any further. I eventually held the power button in until it shut down. When I tried to start it again I did not get anything - no signal to the monitor at all. When I press the power button to start up the PC, the fans in the PSU and case start, the light inside the case comes on. I don't hear any beeps. I don't get any signal coming to the screen.
So, what do I do? Can anyone suggest the most likely thing that this is? Are there any other tests or observations that would help you to diagnose the problem?
Thank you
So, what do I do? Can anyone suggest the most likely thing that this is? Are there any other tests or observations that would help you to diagnose the problem?
Thank you
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26 Comments
Active today
Does the computer have a DVD device? Try starting with a bootable CD (Ultimate Boot CD or Knoppix).
If not, see if the manufacturer supplies a bootable diagnostic USB key.
If not, see if the manufacturer supplies a bootable diagnostic USB key.
Active today
The two-digit hexadecimal code (the "POST code") indicates that the system is failing one of the BIOS startup tests.
We'll need to know the manufacturer of the computer or the motherboard to take it much further than that, as there is no common standard for BIOS failure codes and they vary by model, manufacturer and BIOS supplier.
AMI 2.2 BIOS possibilities are "math coprocessor" or "floppy disk" failure, neither of which makes much sense in a modern computer.
In a Phoenix BIOS, the possibilities would be "initialize hard disk controllers" or "setup power management."
We'll need to know the manufacturer of the computer or the motherboard to take it much further than that, as there is no common standard for BIOS failure codes and they vary by model, manufacturer and BIOS supplier.
AMI 2.2 BIOS possibilities are "math coprocessor" or "floppy disk" failure, neither of which makes much sense in a modern computer.
In a Phoenix BIOS, the possibilities would be "initialize hard disk controllers" or "setup power management."
Active 2 days ago
The first thing I'd do would be to pull the HDD, put it in another computer and make a backup of your data.
After that try removing all parts and plugs and reseat them. Hook everything back up and try again.
After that try removing all parts and plugs and reseat them. Hook everything back up and try again.
Active 7 days ago
If you're not getting anything on the screen at all, and no beeps, then I'm afraid it looks like you're probably going to have to open the case up and start troubleshooting from there.
Is the screen connected to an 'added-in' expansion card in your computer, or the on-board one?
As Dr Klahn has stated, it would be ideal to have further information on the system you've got, to aid in the troubleshooting process.
Is the screen connected to an 'added-in' expansion card in your computer, or the on-board one?
As Dr Klahn has stated, it would be ideal to have further information on the system you've got, to aid in the troubleshooting process.
Active 2 days ago
If you have an external hard drive plugged in via USB, disconnect it and try again. Some of those have been known to disrupt the boot order and make the PC sit like that.
You may also want to open up the case and look for bad capacitors. Could be your motherboard has gone out, as all the lights and fans will come on normally but nothing else happens.
You may also want to open up the case and look for bad capacitors. Could be your motherboard has gone out, as all the lights and fans will come on normally but nothing else happens.
ON Asus boards 90 usually means "Boot Device Selection (BDS) phase is started". 9C means "USB Detect". I'd check whether your disks are properly connected to the mainboard, and remove any USB media, like USB sticks or memory cards like SD Cards etc.
Also check whether your mainboard has a BIOS reset button, and use that, or remove the power cord and then remove the CMOS battery and wait for a while for the system to discharge. Also measure the voltage of the CMOS battery, and if it is below 2.8V replace it.
Some boards also have a numeric LED display, so check if yours does and what it displays.
Also check your mainboard's BIOS flash options. Many modern boards have an extra BIOS chip on board from which you can restore the original BIOS should you have bricked the board. Or they allow you to reflash the BIOS using a USB stick and a certain USB port on the board, and then powering it on while pressing a certain button. For this you don't need a display, and as far as I know not even a CPU.
Also check whether your mainboard has a BIOS reset button, and use that, or remove the power cord and then remove the CMOS battery and wait for a while for the system to discharge. Also measure the voltage of the CMOS battery, and if it is below 2.8V replace it.
Some boards also have a numeric LED display, so check if yours does and what it displays.
Also check your mainboard's BIOS flash options. Many modern boards have an extra BIOS chip on board from which you can restore the original BIOS should you have bricked the board. Or they allow you to reflash the BIOS using a USB stick and a certain USB port on the board, and then powering it on while pressing a certain button. For this you don't need a display, and as far as I know not even a CPU.
Active today
here is how i handle these problems :
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Motherboards/A_1945.html
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Motherboards/A_1945.html
OK, I have been through our Amazon orders and copied all the descriptions of the components making up the system. I dare say this includes unnecessary information:
NZXT Source 530 Full Tower
Corsair CP-9020097-UK VS550 ATX/EPS Vs Series 80 Plus Power Supply Unit
AMD FX 8350 Black Edition "Vishera" CPU (8 Core, AM3+, Clock 4.0 GHz, Turbo 4.2 GHz, 8 MB L3 Cache, 125 W)
ARCTIC Freezer 13 - 200 Watt Multicompatible Low Noise CPU Cooler for AMD and Intel Sockets with pre-applied MX-4 High Performance Thermal Compound
MSI 970 Gaming AMD AM3 GBE LAN ATX Motherboard
2 of Ballistix Tactical 8GB Single DDR3 2133 MT/s (PC3-17000)UDIMM 240-Pin Memory - BLT8G3D21BCT1
(positioned in DIMM 1 and 3)
EVGA 4GB GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Nvidia Maxwell Gaming Graphics Card
Crucial MX300 750 GB SATA 2.5-Inch Internal Solid State Drive - CT750MX300SSD1
NZXT Source 530 Full Tower
Corsair CP-9020097-UK VS550 ATX/EPS Vs Series 80 Plus Power Supply Unit
AMD FX 8350 Black Edition "Vishera" CPU (8 Core, AM3+, Clock 4.0 GHz, Turbo 4.2 GHz, 8 MB L3 Cache, 125 W)
ARCTIC Freezer 13 - 200 Watt Multicompatible Low Noise CPU Cooler for AMD and Intel Sockets with pre-applied MX-4 High Performance Thermal Compound
MSI 970 Gaming AMD AM3 GBE LAN ATX Motherboard
2 of Ballistix Tactical 8GB Single DDR3 2133 MT/s (PC3-17000)UDIMM 240-Pin Memory - BLT8G3D21BCT1
(positioned in DIMM 1 and 3)
EVGA 4GB GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+ Nvidia Maxwell Gaming Graphics Card
Crucial MX300 750 GB SATA 2.5-Inch Internal Solid State Drive - CT750MX300SSD1
Active today
If it will not start at all without the hard drive and no accessory media, then the motherboard, power supply or possibly corrupt BIOS is at fault.
You need to replace these parts or get it serviced. Is it economically worth saving?
You need to replace these parts or get it serviced. Is it economically worth saving?
I have tested (alone) both sticks of RAM from the broken PC in another Dell PC. Both work. I have tried RAM from the Dell PC in the broken PC - it does not turn on.
Nothing wrong with my RAM then.
Nothing wrong with my RAM then.
Oh, I see. I think we need to know which component is at fault. Then I will just replace that one component.
I have now tested the graphics card in my Dell PC. It worked fine. I put the Dell graphics card in the broken PC and it did not help.
Active today
If noting works (no activity) it will be hard to determine between motherboard and power supply.
Can you check the power supply outputs with a voltmeter?
Can you check the power supply outputs with a voltmeter?
Active 7 days ago
As you are doing nowthenee, it's just a process of elimination, but from what you have described, I'd suspect either the PSU or the motherboard, however I'd trying resetting the BIOS first.
Have you reset the BIOS like I suggested? Power off, then short the jumper pins that are close to the CMOS battery. Also measure the battery's voltage and replace it if it is too low.
There is also a slow mode booting switch on the board. If clearing the BIOS doesn't help try flipping that switch and see what happens.
There is also a slow mode booting switch on the board. If clearing the BIOS doesn't help try flipping that switch and see what happens.
Yes rindi. While I had the graphics cards out, I took the opportunity to short out the CMOS battery. (The GTX960 was in the way). It was labelled JBAT1. That did the trick. Thank you for that suggestion. So, can you explain to me why the CMOS ever needs resetting? What would cause the CMOS to change?
Active today
did you ever look at the article i posted?
it guides you throught the troubleshooting in a short time, to determine what is the cause
it guides you throught the troubleshooting in a short time, to determine what is the cause
You may have been overclocking the system. Sometimes there can be components that can't cope with the speed. If they are running at their limits it is possible that in the beginning everything was OK, but after time those limits are reduced due to "wear" and then things stop working. Resetting the CMOS should change those settings to something like failsafe defaults, and that way it is more likely the system will work properly.
Active today
and all components on a pc can be updated - or go wrong
it's not the first time a bios needs a reset - or an update
look on the manufactureers site of the mobo if there are recent updates
it's not the first time a bios needs a reset - or an update
look on the manufactureers site of the mobo if there are recent updates
I wouldn't risk a BIOS upgrade on that board at the moment, if the flashing goes wrong, your board is bricked. I don't think I saw anything in it's manual mentioning it has a backup ROM from which you could recover from a bad flash. Rather let it run as it is for some time to check it's stability, and then if it runs stable for a couple of days you can try upgrading the BIOS.
Active today
I wouldn't risk a BIOS upgrade on that board at the moment <-- Especially for your own hardware build. I find Lenovo BIOS upgrades to be very safe but that is not this situation.
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