Computer Will not Boot Unless CMOS Reset

[ABadNameSniper]

Original Title: Computer Will not Boot After RAM and CPU Installed

 

My computer will not power on at all (no lights, beeps, fans etc) if the CPU and RAM were both installed on the motherboard when it turns off.

• EVGA Geforce GTX 1050
• SP 512GB M.2 (Model A80)
• 2x WD Caviar Blue 500 GB Storage Drive
• EVGA 450 BR (450W 80+ Bronze)
• MSI B450M Gaming Plus (I just updated to the latest version, E7B87v1C4, problem still persists)
• AMD Ryzen 5 2600
• 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance RAM

(Only the last four on this list are important, as they are the only components necessary for me to see and duplicate the issue.)

 Additional notes: System can reboot itself, whether I try restarting from Windows, or exiting the BIOS without a boot drive. It's only unable to turn back on if I turn it off normally, without the intention to restart. I first had this problem 3 weeks ago, and I thought my motherboard was the problem (I didn't troubleshoot it as extensively as I have in the past few days) and RMAed it. It seems like it must be either the CPU or RAM, and I don't have other modern systems ready to troubleshoot those components individually.

Thanks so much in advance, and if there's anything else you need to know, I'd be happy to tell what I can. I can try whatever troubleshooting method you have to offer.

 

Edited September 2, 2020 by ABadNameSniper
Reflects the issue more correctly.

[Jenko32]

1 hour ago, ABadNameSniper said:

My computer will not power on at all (no lights, beeps, fans etc) if the CPU and RAM were both installed on the motherboard when it turns off.

• EVGA Geforce GTX 1050
• SP 512GB M.2 (Model A80)
• 2x WD Caviar Blue 500 GB Storage Drive
• EVGA 450 BR (450W 80+ Bronze)
• MSI B450M Gaming Plus (I just updated to the latest version, E7B87v1C4, problem still persists)
• AMD Ryzen 5 2600
• 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance RAM

(Only the last four on this list are important, as they are the only components necessary for me to see and duplicate the issue.)

 Additional notes: System can reboot itself, whether I try restarting from Windows, or exiting the BIOS without a boot drive. It's only unable to turn back on if I turn it off normally, without the intention to restart. I first had this problem 3 weeks ago, and I thought my motherboard was the problem (I didn't troubleshoot it as extensively as I have in the past few days) and RMAed it. It seems like it must be either the CPU or RAM, and I don't have other modern systems ready to troubleshoot those components individually.

Thanks so much in advance, and if there's anything else you need to know, I'd be happy to tell what I can. I can try whatever troubleshooting method you have to offer.

 

Test with only one ram at a time in every slot

Be sure it's not connected like this

 

[Jenko32]

Also, test in a open bench configuration. I never troubleshoot inside a case because I always miss things, don't put anything other than things needed in case something else is broken in some weird way

[ABadNameSniper]

@Jenko32My motherboard has been on a cardboard box for a couple days now, and that's how I've been testing it. I have 2 sticks of RAM, and 2 slots. I've tried every configuration using 1 stick at a time (seated properly) to no avail. Thanks for your help and suggestions thus far.

[Jenko32]

1 hour ago, ABadNameSniper said:

@Jenko32My motherboard has been on a cardboard box for a couple days now, and that's how I've been testing it. I have 2 sticks of RAM, and 2 slots. I've tried every configuration using 1 stick at a time (seated properly) to no avail. Thanks for your help and suggestions thus far.

Since you already have RMA the motherboard and the possibility that CPU break is low, I think you should return the RAM even if they are two different sticks supposedly broken.

 

Check if the jumper is in? I troubleshooted a motherboard for a friend for hours before noticing that the jumper for ClearCMOS was missing. It was just delivered the day before and we thought to RMA it but then I noticed the jumper missing. Wasn't having the same problem. It didn't turn on/turn on sometimes and then shutdown but worth checking

 

Do you know if the serial number of the motherboard you RMA the same you received back?

[ABadNameSniper]

3 hours ago, Jenko32 said:

Since you already have RMA the motherboard and the possibility that CPU break is low, I think you should return the RAM even if they are two different sticks supposedly broken.

 

Check if the jumper is in? I troubleshooted a motherboard for a friend for hours before noticing that the jumper for ClearCMOS was missing. It was just delivered the day before and we thought to RMA it but then I noticed the jumper missing. Wasn't having the same problem. It didn't turn on/turn on sometimes and then shutdown but worth checking

 

Do you know if the serial number of the motherboard you RMA the same you received back?

There's no jumper bridging the ClearCMOS pins. I looked at the manual for the motherboard, and it says that the jumper should be used to reset BIOS. Do I actually need the jumper in it? The first motherboard I was using had the same exact problem until I RMAed it, so I don't think this will be the problem. The motherboard I received back has a different serial number than the one I sent.

 

I'll see if I can return the RAM, but if not I think I will buy some cheap used RAM to see if everything finally boils down to show that the CPU is the problem.

 

Thanks for your help, Jenko32. I'll update this once I get new results, or if anyone has any more suggestions to give.

[Jenko32]

6 minutes ago, ABadNameSniper said:

There's no jumper bridging the ClearCMOS pins. I looked at the manual for the motherboard, and it says that the jumper should be used to reset BIOS. Do I actually need the jumper in it? The first motherboard I was using had the same exact problem until I RMAed it, so I don't think this will be the problem. The motherboard I received back has a different serial number than the one I sent.

 

I'll see if I can return the RAM, but if not I think I will buy some cheap used RAM to see if everything finally boils down to show that the CPU is the problem.

 

Thanks for your help, Jenko32. I'll update this once I get new results, or if anyone has any more suggestions to give.

Just noticed that your motherboard doesn't have 3 pins but instead only 2 so it couldn't have been that

I'm running out of troubleshooting for this case so I think you should RMA maybe everything and hope for the best? (with everything I mean cpu, ram and motherboard)

 

My cousin months ago broke his motherboard by mistake and recently got a new one, installed CPU and RAM but it wouldn't work. I told him to RMA and then the new one still wouldn't work, tested both cpu and ram from another system and it worked. Later found out somehow the CPU broke 

[ABadNameSniper]

Update:

I got a single stick of DDR4 RAM from Amazon, popped it in to see if RAM was the issue. System has the same symptoms.

 

I'll see if I can get my hands on some AM4 CPU to see if it's the issue... which it basically has to be, right? The only way it could be anything else (to my knowledge) is if I got a motherboard that stopped after 7 months, and one that wasn't working 100% correctly out of the box, which seems like low odds.

 

I don't know what I'll do if I try the CPU and that doesn't fix it... so I hope it will. Thanks Jenko32 for your help.

[ABadNameSniper]

New update:

I was tinkering around some more, and I discovered that if the CMOS battery is removed I am able to boot the system up multiple times in a row. Why would this be? Does this show the motherboard has a problem? What should I test from here?

[ABadNameSniper]

Alright. My situation has gone from taking the CPU out, rebooting, turning off PSU, putting CPU back in, turning PSU back on and putting a screwdriver between two poles to something like turning the PSU off and back on, and pressing the power button every time I want to turn my computer on.

 

This is without a CMOS battery. I'm getting another one tomorrow... all logic points that this shouldn't be the issue, but it seems a handful has had similar issues, seen here: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/618460171318429760/?ctp=2

[ABadNameSniper]

I've found that my real issue here is that the system will not boot unless the CMOS is reset. I tried a completely new battery to no avail. I've tried every solution I've found on the internet to no avail. If there is anything else I could possibly try, I'd love to do it before I RMA the motherboard again (not the CPU).

 

Can I/should I replace the BIOS (CMOS?) chip itself?

[Guest]

First, when you send a board for RMA, take a picture of the serial number to see if they returned the same board back. 

 

On the JFP2 there is 4 pins for the diagnostic speaker. Plug it in. It's to the left of front panel power switch and reset buttons.

 

 

[Guest]

Since the multi-language MSI manual does not list beep codes,

I will list them here for you.

 

AMI Bios beep codes.

1 short DRAM refresh failure The programmable interrupt timer or programmable interrupt controller has probably failed
2 short Memory parity error A memory parity error has occurred in the first 64K of RAM. The RAM IC is probably bad
3 short Base 64K memory failure A memory failure has occurred in the first 64K of RAM. The RAM IC is probably bad
4 short System timer failure The system clock/timer IC has failed or there is a memory error in the first bank of memory
5 short Processor error The system CPU has failed
6 short Gate A20 failure The keyboard controller IC has failed, which is not allowing Gate A20 to switch the processor to protected mode. Replace the keyboard controller
7 short Virtual mode processor exception error The CPU has generated an exception error because of a fault in the CPU or motherboard circuitry
8 short Display memory read/write error The system video adapter is missing or defective
9 short ROM checksum error The contents of the system BIOS ROM does not match the expected checksum value. The BIOS ROM is probably defective and should be replaced
10 short CMOS shutdown register read/write error The shutdown for the CMOS has failed
11 short Cache error The L2 cache is faulty
1 long, 2 short Failure in video system An error was encountered in the video BIOS ROM, or a horizontal retrace failure has been encountered
1 long, 3 short Memory test failure A fault has been detected in memory above 64KB
1 long, 8 short Display test failure The video adapter is either missing or defective
2 short POST Failure One of the hardware testa have failed
1 long POST has passed all tests

[ABadNameSniper]

I don't get any beep codes, @ShrimpBrime. The motherboard does not power on at all (unless the CMOS was reset beforehand). I'm going to send another support ticket to MSI and maybe give them a call before I RMA again.