Ok, I was in the middle of a game of dungeon siege when the power went out. I restarted the computer and it would show the video card then go to the boot screen. It would list the AMD 1gig processor and then go no further. I can't even access the CMOS or setup via the keyboard.

using a MSI k7n2 series with a 400fbs and a nvida2 gforcepro and 1.2 gig of ram

is my computer pooched?

I have taken out the battery to the CMOS for 2 minutes and restarted it after putting the battery back in. That didn't fix the problem.
The computer does beep once at power up so that is a good sign.

j-train1

Dani AI

Generated

Short summary and focused next steps based on the thread: the hang during early POST can come from PSU/input-power issues, bad caps or chipset/BIO S problems, or a failed peripheral that stops POST before setup is usable. pointed toward PS/2/USB power problems — that is a real failure mode on older boards and should be part of the isolation sequence. Keep work methodical and powered-off when touching components.

Start here (one change at a time):

  1. Verify power: swap in a known-good PSU or measure rails with a multimeter (+3.3V, +5V, +12V and +5VSB on the main connector).
  2. Minimal boot: unplug all drives, remove extra cards, leave only CPU, one stick of RAM (try each stick/slot), and video. Attach the system speaker to hear POST beeps and note any pattern.
  3. Input ports: disconnect front-panel/PS/2/USB headers and boot with just a direct keyboard on the back panel. Faulty front-panel wiring or shorted PS/2 can keep the board from detecting input.
  4. Visual check and reseating: inspect all electrolytic caps around the CPU and chipset for bulging/leakage (common on boards of this era). Reseat the CPU/heatsink and memory; check socket/pin damage.
  5. BIOS options: if nothing posts and BIOS is suspected, reprogramming the BIOS chip with a hardware programmer or swapping the chip (if socketed) is a repair route; otherwise a board replacement is usually faster.

If testing points to bad capacitors or inconsistent PSU voltages, repair or replace the motherboard rather than chasing intermittent faults. Document beep patterns and exactly which minimal configuration produced any change — that makes diagnosing or getting shop help much faster.

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Try another keyboard.Also bootup hitting F8 and then select Last known configuration.

Try another keyboard.Also bootup hitting F8 and then select Last known configuration.

Nope, I tried a HP keyboard and held down f8 while the computer turned on and it will still get to the line of AMD processor and hang.

none of the lights on the keyboard flashed either like it should do when the power comes on.

could it be the serial input port is bad? If so I will try a USB keyboard. ..Nope that didn't work either.

the only thing left i can see is the the BIOS is corrupted or the CPU is pooched, but how does one flash the BIOS when it won't boot the computer?

I just recently had one come into my shop that the PS2's shorted over the +5vsb being high then it shorted the usb's.could try a usb first though take the ps2 and check it on another system make sure it didn't kill it if it did you may need another motherboard.that one will die.

I just recently had one come into my shop that the PS2's shorted over the +5vsb being high then it shorted the usb's.could try a usb first though take the ps2 and check it on another system make sure it didn't kill it if it did you may need another motherboard.that one will die.

i used an apple keyboard, works on PC's this didn't.

I plugged my old keoboard into a second computer and the lights came right on. So , i think that the BIOS or the motherboard,or CPU is pooched.

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