Do I need CPU + RAMs to see the mainboards BIOS messages at boot-up ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Hertz
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M

Michael Hertz

Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?
Click to expand...

as far as I know, you need both.
I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is
defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.
Click to expand...

your motherboard should "beep" when it detects hardware failure. The
number of beeps is an indication of the problem. Refer to your
motherboard manual.

patpro
 
Michael Hertz said:
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component
is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the
BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

How do you expect to "boot" without a CPU, RAM and hard drive?

If you think this is possible, you are in over your head.

I suggest you find someone that has computer knowledge to help you.

Honu
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

Yes, you'll need RAM and CPU to see a BIOS POST screen. If the CPU or RAM
are defective, you should hear appropriate error beeps when you try to
power on (the documentation for your particular motherboard should decode
the beeps to their meanings)
 
Michael said:
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

At least you need a CPU. The CPU is the only component which can do any
work. Also the BIOS itself is a program which needs a CPU to run.

Without RAM the computer will not boot and the BIOS will complain the
missing RAM.

Uwe
 
Michael Hertz said:
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component
is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the
BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

<inhales...> I'll resist the urge to ridicule, but yes, you *need* CPU and
RAM, and a VGA card if you want to see anything.. and a monitor of some
kind.

You are best to explain exactly what happens before we go any further.

Find out and list all of the parts you are using - motherboard brand and
model, video card brand and model, memory brand/ speed rating, power supply,
etc.. You will probably be able to download a user manual for the
motherboard from the manufacturers website.

Explain in detail, what happens when you turn it on, any beeps, fan activity
ect.

Usually in these cases you need some known working RAM, and compatible
motherboard or second CPU to test.
 
you will need the CPU, RAM, and video card to see that, plus a monitor
hooked to video card.

You can swap out the video card if it is just one long and several short
beeps.

Bad ram is usually lots of long beeps.

If it does not beep at all. with power off find the CMOS battery Should be
about the size of a nickel with a surrounding black case, and remove the
battery, may need your fingernails to do it. metal tools are not
recommended for 5-10 minutes (may have to have power cord unplugged from
power supply) and boot it w/o the cmos battery in it and see if the screen
comes up. If it does POST F8 to the bios SETUP and choose RESET TO
DEFAULTS, SAVE AND EXIT. Power everything down and replace the cmos
battery. Power on again. It should boot and Goto bios setup one more time
and set to defaults, save and exit and you should be on your way. You may
have to set the hard drive to auto detect on all channels to be safe.

If pulling the battery does not do anything, chances are the motherboard is
toast.
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?
Click to expand...
Yes. A motherboard without the CPU and RAM is like a car without the
engine.
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

You need a processor to execute *any* bios code, and you need memory to get
beyond the initial bios phase that uses processor cache as "memory"...

/daytripper
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?
Click to expand...
Yes, and a PSU, video card or onboard, and display device.
I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which
component is defect. It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the
BUIOS messages on the screen I can be pretty sure that the mainboard
works.
Click to expand...
Without a cpu you will get nothing. Without ram, you should get ram
failure beep codes assuming you have a speaker hooked up to the MB. A bad
PSU will also give you nothing, as will a bad video card, etc.
 
Michael said:
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?
Click to expand...

The BIOS is just a stored program code. It needs a CPU to run this program.
And to run a program, you need memory. That leads to the result, that both
CPU and RAM is necessary.

greetings
Andreas
 
Yes, both CPU and RAM are absolutely necessary. And a video card, of
course (which can be on-board chipset video on motherboards so
equipped). That's about it. You will not see anything without having
both a working CPU and a minimal amount of working RAM installed.
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

Hi Michael,
CPU and RAM is required to receive a mainboard "post"(bios)
If your running an exposed core processor inspect it with a magnifying
glass(closely) any chips, scratches or corner thats ground off even
slightly can prevent the system post. Good luck!
waki
 
Yes. You need booth. CPU to process and RAM to remember what were processed.
In most BIOS there are beep-signals to tell you what's wrong. We need more
information about your motherboard and rest of your system to be able to
help you.

FairMan
 
Michael Hertz said:
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?
Click to expand...

Yes !


Uli
 
Michael said:
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...


The minimum in components to start the motherboard and get it to POST
are: CPU, RAM and a video card.
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

It will not work without cpu ram & video is video on board?? do you
get any post beeps?
 
Michael Hertz said:
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component
is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the
BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

The minimum hardware you need to boot is the CPU, RAM, and Video Card.
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the
motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component
is defect. It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the
BUIOS messages on the screen I can be pretty sure that the mainboard
works.

Michael
Click to expand...

I think you should post only in alt.comp.hardware or
alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt.

You need the cpu to verify a working motherboard unless you have
electronic tools. With the cpu installed the motherboard led should
light or if you have cpu fan it should start. Without memory installed
the motherboard should beep, ditto without vga card different beeps.

If it's a new board you've probably installed or connected something
incorrectly, if it's an old system more likely psu, vga or memory. In
very, very rare instances transistors on an old board may break or a cpu
fan failed overheating the cpu.
 
Which components do I need at minimum to get the BIOS messages of the motherboard at bootup?

Are CPU and RAMs absolutely necessary ?

I have a computer which does not work. I am not sure about which component is defect.
It could be CPU, RAM module or motherboard.

If I can remove now CPU and RAMS and let the computer boot and I see the BUIOS messages on the screen
I can be pretty sure that the mainboard works.

Michael
Click to expand...

In my experience you need power supply and cpu to get a beep from the
speaker, then ram and video to get messages on the screen. Other
potential signals that are probably useful are the cpu fan and the
keyboard lights, but I don't know off the top of my head what they
require. It would be nice to have an authoritative list.

Daniel Feenberg
feenberg isat nber dotte org
 
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