EPOX 8RDA startup problem

pilotfrog7 · Apr-30-2005

The computer uses an Anthalon 2100, 512 MB generic PC 2700, A-Open CD R/W, Sony DVD, MSI getforce4 64mb video card, IBM 60GB 120GXP hard drive, & Win 98se. I never really tried to overclock it. It has 2 case fans, 350 w ps with 2 fans, and a big Thermotake vortex cooler. It always ran cool for the few hours it did run.
I purchased this computer as a burned-in barebone from Access-Micro which is no longer in business. I installed Win 98se but could not get the onboard sound to work. Retailer gave me number to contact Epox support and they said it was a Win 98 issue and I had to use Win 2000 or XP. I suspected something wrong with the onboard sound but got involved with other project so put in on back burner. Otherwise the machine ran ok. This was quite a while back. I recently purchased Win XP pro OEM and decided to install. The computer had been setting back in its box for close to a year. As I recall Win 98se is still on the HD as the OS.
Upon power up I did not get a display for POST. The monitor has power but does not have a display. Got a series of beeps then a claxon wail like a French police car. BIOS seems to be searching for a bootable device as it accesses the HD, CD ROM, then the DVD and then stops except for the wailing sound. The computer is indeed in distress. I checked the diagonstic LED and initially on power up it shows FFh(mainboard, Bios, or unplugged card)then it steadily displays C1h(memory problem). I checked the video card and memory sticks(2 generic 256K pc2700)but they appear well seated and making good contact in their respective slots.
Could it be the CMOS battery that is dead? I would have to remove it to check it with A VM. Appears to have a little clip that needs to be pressed in to release it?? Regardless it seems that BIOS should start up on the defaults even with a dead battery. The bios has never been flashed with a new uplated version. The computer was working when it was last put up. Could it be the BIOS using the wrong timing or multiplier for memory. I need a display which I do not have to check Bios settings. I really suspect the bios chip itself. Nothing back from Epox yet.
Any solutions or sugestions would be welcome.

Daniel · Apr-30-2005

Have you cheked on the manufacturer website of your mobo about the beeps? Usually they have a list of beeps for example:

3 long beeps and 1 short beeps = bad **** etc...

Then you can compare yours with the list. Well I don;t know if the CMOS battery can stop a PC from POSTing. Have to check this out, should know this. Well, if that is the case you can always buy a new battery it's cheap. Well, I mostly think it's a memory issue or maybe a VGA card issue.

Do you know someone who has the same type of RAM as yours? If so try to test them on your mobo and check if it will boot. Testing a VGA card is not that difficult, because a friend should have a CGA card and you can always test that with no difficulties.

Hope this will help you, post again for any questions or changes

And if you get the problem solved, please let us know what was the problem.

Regards

pilotfrog7 · Apr-30-2005

Thanks,
The mb has led that display hex trouble codes. The claxon wail is the cpu overheat warning so I have been told in another forum. The cpu fan is running and the warning starts about 10 seconds after power up on a cold cpu so I don't think it has time to overheat.....again I am thinking the BIOS is messed up. But could be memory or video as this is what the codes say. Anyone know if bad CMOS battery could cause this? Maybe it caused the cmos values to chage as it got weak. Guess I should change battery, clear CMOS, and check cpu/heatsink contact and replace thermal grease. I don't have a computer that uses the same memory. Perhaps I can take one stick out and substitute each as it has auto detect. Aslo no spare video card to try unless I take the one out of this machine(a 6 year old P2 400) and I think it runs in pci rather than agp slot.

Daniel · Apr-30-2005

An old CMOS battery can cause several CMOS errors. I am searching for some information on how a bad CMOS battery can effect a PC. Also, by removing the battery and replacing it again, you are reseting CMOS settings, thus you will reset CMOS settings when you buy a new one. And yes, it seems it can be a bad battery which is causing allt his trouble. To be honest never seen this before. But (crossing his fingers) hoipefully it will better be a dead CMOS battery :P

Now.. apart from buying another battery, should not effect your budget :P ...anyways try to remove all the cards installed.

pilotfrog7 · May-02-2005

The siren sound was CPU OVERHEAT! That was the problem.
I used Artic Silver 3 thermal compound over a year ago and the stuff dried out. I now remember reading an article-said it needed to be replaced every 6 mo or so. I cleaned the hs and cpu and reapplied some AS 3. Is Artic Silver 5 the fix or is there something better?
I put the machine back together and she booted right up. The CMOS health screen showed the CPU at a cool 38 deg C.

Daniel · May-02-2005

It's nice to hear you figured out what was the problem