Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Problem: The display shows BIOS boot text, but the system doesn't boot and displays
no error message.
• This may be normal behavior. Restart the system and enter BIOS Setup
(usually by pressing Delete or F1 during startup). Choose the menu op-
tion to use default CMOS settings, save the changes, exit, and restart the
system.
•
If the system doesn't accept keyboard input and you are using a USB key-
board and mouse, temporarily swap in a PS/2 keyboard and mouse. If you
are using a PS/2 keyboard and mouse, make sure you haven't connected
the keyboard to the mouse port and vice versa. Of course, many mother-
boards no longer incorporate “legacy” PS/2 inputs, so skip this step if it
doesn't apply.
•
If the system still fails to boot, run BIOS Setup again and verify all settings,
particularly CPU speed, FSB speed, and memory timings.
•
If the system hangs with a DMI pool error message, restart the system and
run BIOS Setup again. Search the menus for an option to reset the config-
uration data. Enable that option, save the changes, and restart the system.
•
If you are using an Intel motherboard, power down the system and reset
the configuration jumper from the 1-2 (Normal) position to 2-3 (Config-
ure). Restart the system, and BIOS Setup will appear automatically. Choose
the option to use default CMOS settings, save the changes, and power
down the system. Move the configuration jumper back to the 1-2 posi-
tion and restart the system. (Actually, we routinely run the configuration
option—when such an option is offered—and reset BIOS values to the
defaults every time we first use a new motherboard, regardless of make,
model, or chipset. It may not be absolutely required, but we've found that
doing this minimizes problems.)
•
If you are still unable to access BIOS Setup, power down the system, dis-
connect all of the drive data cables, and restart the system. If the system
displays a Hard Drive Failure or No Boot Device error message, the prob-
lem is a defective cable (more likely) or a defective drive. Replace the drive
data cable and try again. If the system does not display such an error mes-
sage, the problem is probably caused by a defective motherboard.
Problem: The monitor displays a Hard Drive Failure or similar error message.
• This is almost always a hardware problem. Verify that the hard drive data
cable is connected properly to the drive and the interface and that the
drive power cable is connected.
• Use a different drive data cable and connect the drive to a different power
cable.
• Connect the drive data cable to a different interface.
•
If none of these steps corrects the problem, the most likely cause is a de-
fective drive.
