1. Replace the chip to solve motherboard issues:

Problem description: A compatible computer’s motherboard integrated a graphics card. One day after turning on the computer, the monitor showed no display, and the speaker inside the case emitted a “beep, beep” sound. Problem analysis and solution: Since the speaker was alarming, it indicated a hardware issue. Open the case, remove the motherboard, and carefully observe the connections related to the components to ensure they are installed correctly, ruling out poor contact possibilities. Upon closer inspection, it was found that there was a chip marked with “BIOS” on the motherboard, and since the graphics card is part of the basic input/output system, this chip was the most suspicious. Replacing it with a normal chip of the same model resolved the issue.

2. Insufficient motherboard battery power causing boot issues:

Problem description: A computer using an ASUS motherboard showed no display after booting up, and from the sounds and indicator lights of the optical drive and hard disk, it was evident that the computer was repeatedly restarting, while the speaker emitted a “beep beep” alarm. Problem analysis and solution: First, using the elimination method, the power cables of the optical drive, hard disk, and other devices were disconnected, and the computer was rebooted, but the speaker still alarmed, indicating that the issue was not with them. Using the substitution method, the processor, memory, and graphics card were tested on another computer, and they worked normally. Thus, the focus was on the motherboard, suspecting a short circuit at the reset button, causing the repeated restarts. Measurement with a multimeter showed no short circuit. Finally, after replacing the motherboard battery, the issue was resolved.

3. Unable to install Win 2000:

Problem description: A computer was unable to install Win 2000, prompting an ACPI issue and requiring a BIOS upgrade. Problem analysis and solution: ACPI refers to advanced power management functions, which must be supported by both the motherboard BIOS and the operating system to function properly. The computer’s prompt indicated that the current BIOS version’s ACPI functionality was inadequate and incompatible with Win 2000. The solution was to upgrade to a newer BIOS version. If the updated BIOS file was temporarily unavailable, setting the “ACPI Function” in the BIOS to “Disable” would suffice.

4. Motherboard issues causing system crashes:

Problem description: A computer using the MSI 850Pro2 motherboard frequently crashed after installing Win 2000. Problem analysis and solution: If an ATA66/ATA100 hard disk was used with a 40-pin or incorrectly connected 80-pin hard disk cable, this issue could occur. Simply upgrading the BIOS to the latest version would resolve the problem.

5. Incompatibility of front USB connections causing mouse issues:

Problem description: The mouse was connected to the front USB port of the case, and after booting, the optical mouse’s bottom sensor light did not illuminate, and the cursor could not be moved after entering the system. Problem analysis and solution: Connecting the mouse to the back USB port of the computer resolved the issue. Front USB ports have become increasingly popular, but compatibility between USB products from different manufacturers may vary, leading to conflicts that affect normal operation.

6. Huatai motherboard not lighting up:

Problem description: A computer equipped with a Huatai motherboard recently experienced the following issue: after turning on the power switch, the power supply fan and processor fan operated normally, but the CDROM and hard disk showed no response. After waiting a few minutes, the computer could power on and function normally. Restarting under power did not present issues, but cold starts resulted in the aforementioned problems. Problem analysis and solution: Based on the symptoms, it was initially suspected that the power supply was faulty, so it was replaced, but the problem persisted. The focus then shifted to the motherboard, as it could function normally after power was applied, indicating that the motherboard chip was not faulty. The attention turned to the power section of the motherboard, as the power supply fan and processor fan operated normally, suggesting proper power supply. After running the computer for a few minutes and cutting off power, the capacitors near the processor were found to be very hot. It was preliminarily determined that the capacitors were problematic, and after replacing them with new ones of the same model, the issue was resolved.

7. Motherboard issues causing no display on boot:

Problem description: A computer experienced no display on boot due to motherboard issues. Problem analysis and solution: There are several possible reasons for no display on boot due to motherboard issues: 1) A problem with the motherboard expansion slot or expansion card, causing no response when peripherals like sound cards are inserted, leading to no display; in this case, the expansion card can be replaced or the motherboard sent for repair; 2) An incorrect processor frequency set in the BIOS can also lead to display issues. The solution is simple: discharge the battery to clear the CMOS settings; 3) Motherboard damage, which may occur due to prolonged use or battery leakage causing corrosion on the circuit board, can be resolved by cleaning the motherboard; 4) BIOS corruption due to viruses. Generally, if the BIOS is corrupted, data on the hard disk may also be affected. Checking the integrity of the hard disk data can help determine if the BIOS is corrupted. If the BIOS is indeed corrupted, it can be addressed by inserting an ISA graphics card to check for a display; if there is still no display, a blind flash can be attempted to refresh the BIOS.

8. Frequent computer crashes:

Problem description: A computer frequently crashes, even during BIOS settings. Problem analysis and solution: If crashes occur while entering BIOS settings, it can be initially determined that there is an issue with the motherboard or processor, usually due to a cache issue with the processor. In this case, the cache can be disabled in the BIOS settings to resolve the issue. If the problem persists, the processor must be replaced; 2) After a crash, touching the components around the processor on the motherboard to check for high temperatures indicates inadequate cooling, and replacing the cooling fan will resolve the crashing issue.

9. Unable to start the computer:

Problem description: A computer is unable to start normally. Problem analysis and solution: There are many reasons for a computer not starting normally. Below are some common issues and solutions: 1) Compatibility issues between the motherboard and processor, or between the motherboard and other cards, can prevent the computer from starting; 2) If any component among the processor, graphics card, or memory has an issue, the computer will not start. The elimination method can be used to test these components; 3) Incorrect BIOS settings or BIOS corruption can also prevent the computer from starting. This is often caused by viruses such as CH, and the motherboard must be sent to the manufacturer for repair; 4) If network cards, modems, or other cards are faulty, inserting them into the motherboard can cause a short circuit, preventing the computer from starting or even damaging internal hardware.

10. Boot system error:

Problem description: A computer completes self-checks upon booting and displays the relevant configuration information, but cannot boot from the hard disk. Problem analysis and solution: Completing self-checks but failing to boot from the hard disk likely indicates a hard disk issue. A floppy disk can be inserted to attempt booting from the A drive, but if the computer indicates that the floppy drive cannot read the disk, restarting the computer and pressing [Del] to enter BIOS reveals that the boot order and hard disk parameters are correct. Upon checking other parameters, it was found that the BIOS was set to use a secondary drive, but only one hard disk was connected. Changing the secondary drive setting to “NONE” and saving resolved the issue.

11. System time running slow:

Problem description: A computer that has been in use for a long time recently exhibited a phenomenon of the system time running slow. After resetting the time, it would slow down again after a few days. Problem analysis and solution: Since the system time is running slow, it is likely that the motherboard battery is dead. After replacing the battery, the issue persisted. Upon closer inspection of the motherboard, signs of damage were found near the battery, which was a component of the timing circuit. The timing circuit relies on the oscillation of a quartz crystal to keep time, so this was likely the issue. The solution was to clean the circuit board near the timing circuit with isopropyl alcohol, but the problem still persisted. After replacing the capacitor and quartz crystal, the issue was resolved.

12. Motherboard serial port damage:

Problem description: A computer installed with Win2000 system discovered that the mechanical mouse connected to COM1 was not functioning after starting. Problem analysis and solution: Initially, it was suspected that the mouse was dirty inside, causing it to malfunction. After cleaning the mouse, it still did not work, but when connected to another computer, it functioned normally. This indicated that the problem was not with the mouse but with the computer’s serial port or operating system settings. Checking the port settings in the operating system’s device manager revealed no errors, indicating that the computer’s serial port was damaged. Connecting the mouse to another port resolved the issue.

13. Motherboard battery dead:

Problem description: If a computer is not used for a period of time, upon rebooting, the screen shows no display and emits a continuous “beep! beep!” sound. Problem analysis and solution: Initially suspecting a memory issue, the memory module was tested in another computer and worked without issues, leading to the suspicion that the problem was with the motherboard. After carefully inspecting the motherboard and finding no issues, it was finally suspected that the CMOS battery was dead. After replacing the battery, the issue was resolved.

14. Motherboard does not recognize memory module:

Problem description: A computer utilizing a modern 256MB memory module did not recognize the memory upon booting. Problem analysis and solution: The substitution method was used for testing, and when other memory modules were inserted into the motherboard, the same issue persisted, leading to the suspicion that the pins in the memory slot on the motherboard were damaged. A multimeter measurement revealed that one pin on the motherboard was disconnected from its corresponding chip, which was soldered back to resolve the issue.

15. Pressing the power button does not turn off:

Problem description: When attempting to shut down by pressing the power button on the host, the computer does not execute a shutdown operation but instead enters sleep mode. Using the operating system to perform a soft shutdown works normally. Problem analysis and solution: For ATX architecture computers, there is a setting in the motherboard BIOS that determines the action of the power button. It can be set to turn off the computer or enter sleep mode. If set to sleep mode, the power button must be held for more than 4 seconds to turn off the computer.

Common Computer Issues and Practical Solutions

1. How to enter the BIOS on a laptop:

Problem description: A second-hand COMPAQ laptop needs to enter the BIOS for some settings, but the shortcut key is unknown. Problem analysis and solution: Most laptops have different methods for entering the BIOS compared to desktop computers, typically using keys such as [F1], [F2], [F10], or [CTRL+ALT+ESC]. Additionally, many laptops can also use dedicated programs to configure the motherboard BIOS.

2. Unable to start after clearing CMOS:

Problem description: After modifying hard disk parameter settings in the BIOS and saving, the computer failed to start during the system self-check, and the speaker emitted alarm sounds. Turning off the computer and shorting the jumper on the motherboard to clear CMOS, then resetting the jumper to default, resulted in the power indicator not lighting up, and the processor fan not spinning, preventing the computer from starting. Problem analysis and solution: It was suspected that after turning off the computer and the socket switch, the computer’s power plug remained in a powered state due to poor socket quality, causing the CMOS clearing to fail. After unplugging the computer power from the socket and plugging it back in, the computer could then be powered on successfully.

3. Long memory detection time on boot:

Problem description: After changing the motherboard, the memory takes a long time to be detected each time the computer is booted. Problem analysis and solution: Memory detection is a necessary process during computer startup. It was suspected that the “Quick Power On Self Test” option in the BIOS was not set to “Enable,” causing the memory to be tested three times. Setting it to “Disable” and saving the changes allows for quicker memory detection during startup.

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