PC has trouble booting???

[Howie]

I have a Pentium II computer that is about 4 years old (ASUS P2L97 motherboard, 233 MHz.) that has problems starting. What I mean is that there will be nothing to the monitor, until I hit the reset button on the system unit multiple time - then the light on the monitor turns from yellow to green and the computer starts to boot.. I originally thought it could be a monitor problem, so I switched monitors. No Dice, same problem. It even appears to be getting worse (takes more and more times hitting the reset button).

1) Could it be a video card problem? I tried another video card - no change in the problem.

2) a motherboard problem?

3) CPU? (I borrowed another CPU and it wouldn't start either)

3) I over-clocked the CPU a bit (from 233 MHz to 291 MHz) about a year ago - could this be a link to the problem? I haven't had a problem until now.

4) any other ideas what is wrong?

Using advice of others from this newsgroup, I removed the CPU, all cards, RAM chips and power connection and cleaned the dust out of them. I also removed the motherboard and cleaned it as well. I re-seated any wire connection I could find. I am running out of ideas!

Does anyone know any good diagnostic software that I could use to check out the motherboard or other hardware?

Cory
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canadahttp:// Regina Amtrak Communications Fastball Club http://

[strangerstill]

Have you considered that it could be the PSU that is at fault?

[Pulsar]

It could also be faulty memory. If your memory is not working properly it could be the cause of no video. If you have more than one stick of memory try pulling all out except one stick(2 if it is EDO memory). Try one stick at a time and see if one of them gives you any problems.

[lost]

Does it beep? if not it maybe that the video card needs reseating or one of the other cards is bad or the bios battery is going bad. I have seen all these cause this problem, most of the time it has been the network card causing the problem (even a new card has done this to me).

[newbie~wan]

Since you've tried so many different things, I would take the entire PC appart and add parts one at time until the problem occurs.

Presto: there's the part that is at fault. If the barebones mobo/cpu/memory combo cant get the pc to boot, you'll have to try a different one of each. Is there any beeping? Does the PC even post?

Everyone:
Check my recommendations here and correct if wrong. I think a mobo/cpu/mem is all thats required to boot a pc right?

[Tomteriffic]

The two things I'd vote most likely, cinsidering the age of the machine: 1) The CMOS battery. I've ad all sort of wierdnesses occur when a battery is giving out.

2) the capacitors on the motherboard. Heat can dry out the electrolytics on the motherobard and cause the exact sorta problems you are experiencing. If you've got good electronics chops, they can be replaced, but paying to have it done is probably not worth the expense.