Member Avatar for mi1an

I have a P4 pc based on the Intel D845WN motherboard with an ATI Rage 128 Pro video adapter. The machine had been running perfectly well until today, when it would not even POST. There was no keyboard functionality, I could not boot from a floppy or even access the BIOS. In short, I have been frozen out. The only communication the machine is offering is the following single line of text:

P/N 133-DH-84414 P01233 RAGE128PRO 120/120 BIOS PAL

Has anyone encountered a similar problem and managed to resolve it? Is this line of text referring to a particular fault? There are no beeps emanating from the pc at startup to indicate any generic problem. I have tested the video card in other pcs and it works fine. My single memory module (256mb PC133 SDRAM) is seated correctly and functioning. I even went so far as to remove the CMOS battery and then later flash the BIOS after removing the appropriate jumper, only to be greeted with the same line of text upon restarting the computer. I am thus left with an inaccessible and redundant PC, so any ideas as to possible solutions would be most welcome.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by djrivera1

Dani AI

Generated

A short expert read on the symptom and a focused troubleshooting path that builds on 's suggestion.

A single short line from video ROM appearing and then nothing else most often means the video BIOS ran but the main POST never completed. That narrows suspects to: power delivery or motherboard faults, a hardware device holding POST up, or a CPU/socket/trace problem. Stripping components and isolating power are the most effective next steps.

Suggested, ordered checklist (work carefully and keep ESD and safety in mind):

  1. Recreate a true “minimal boot” outside the case: motherboard, CPU + cooler, one known-good DIMM in the recommended slot, power supply, video (or onboard if available), system speaker and keyboard. Leave all drives, USB devices and nonessential cards disconnected.
  2. Swap the PSU with a known-good unit before deeper surgery. Measure 5V/12V rails only if comfortable and using proper tools; otherwise a swap is safer.
  3. Fit a small POST/debug speaker or an ISA/PCI POST card to capture early failure codes. Watch for LED sequences or hex codes if the board provides them.
  4. Inspect the motherboard closely for physical damage: bulging/leaking electrolytics, scorched traces, bent CPU socket pins or loose socket retention. Power-on short tests on the bench can reveal standoffs/shorting issues.
  5. If minimal-boot plus a replacement PSU and a POST card still give no progress, the fault is very likely on the motherboard (BIOS ROM, southbridge/ICH, VRM or broken traces). At that point replacement or professional board-level repair is usually more time- and cost-effective than further part-swapping.

Cautions: don’t probe live connectors without experience; avoid guessing at component swaps that might damage other parts. The above expands ’s advice by prioritizing PSU substitution, bench isolation and using a POST/debug tool so failures are visible rather than trial-and-error.

Member Avatar for djrivera1

First thing i would do is disconnect the hard drive see is it post any further when a harddrive fail they usally cause the computer to hang when bios try to access it, if it post all the way replace the drive if not disconected both cdrom could also cause the problem, and if still don't solve the problem take out all you cards and leave just the video card in and see if it post also check the voltage on the power supply your 12v and 5v rail with a mutlmeter if the voltage drop to low you have a bad power supply. do this only in this order.

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