My BIOS hangs at “Testing Memory”, what could cause this?
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Just last night, when I went to boot my computer, it's started hanging at the BIOS screen.
It beeps once, loads the main page, then hangs at the "Testing Memory" line... it doesn't display the device's and doesn't go anywhere.
I haven't made any hardware changes for months and it hasn't been acting strangly until then. It shut down perfectly normally the time before.
It's a Gigabyte GA-965p-DS3 motherboard.
My initial suspicion is something to do with the CMOS battery. Is my thinking correct?
memory bios freeze
edited Sep 5 '10 at 23:36
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
asked Sep 5 '10 at 22:58
Alastair Pitts
2221314
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Just last night, when I went to boot my computer, it's started hanging at the BIOS screen.
It beeps once, loads the main page, then hangs at the "Testing Memory" line... it doesn't display the device's and doesn't go anywhere.
I haven't made any hardware changes for months and it hasn't been acting strangly until then. It shut down perfectly normally the time before.
It's a Gigabyte GA-965p-DS3 motherboard.
My initial suspicion is something to do with the CMOS battery. Is my thinking correct?
memory bios freeze
edited Sep 5 '10 at 23:36
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
asked Sep 5 '10 at 22:58
Alastair Pitts
2221314
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
Just last night, when I went to boot my computer, it's started hanging at the BIOS screen.
It beeps once, loads the main page, then hangs at the "Testing Memory" line... it doesn't display the device's and doesn't go anywhere.
I haven't made any hardware changes for months and it hasn't been acting strangly until then. It shut down perfectly normally the time before.
It's a Gigabyte GA-965p-DS3 motherboard.
My initial suspicion is something to do with the CMOS battery. Is my thinking correct?
memory bios freeze
edited Sep 5 '10 at 23:36
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
asked Sep 5 '10 at 22:58
Alastair Pitts
2221314
Just last night, when I went to boot my computer, it's started hanging at the BIOS screen.
It beeps once, loads the main page, then hangs at the "Testing Memory" line... it doesn't display the device's and doesn't go anywhere.
I haven't made any hardware changes for months and it hasn't been acting strangly until then. It shut down perfectly normally the time before.
It's a Gigabyte GA-965p-DS3 motherboard.
My initial suspicion is something to do with the CMOS battery. Is my thinking correct?
memory bios freeze
memory bios freeze
edited Sep 5 '10 at 23:36
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
asked Sep 5 '10 at 22:58
Alastair Pitts
2221314
edited Sep 5 '10 at 23:36
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
asked Sep 5 '10 at 22:58
Alastair Pitts
2221314
edited Sep 5 '10 at 23:36
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
edited Sep 5 '10 at 23:36
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
edited Sep 5 '10 at 23:36
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
50k23164244
asked Sep 5 '10 at 22:58
Alastair Pitts
2221314
asked Sep 5 '10 at 22:58
Alastair Pitts
2221314
asked Sep 5 '10 at 22:58
Alastair Pitts
2221314
2221314
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
Likely one of these things is happening:
It's far fetched, but maybe something has modified your memory timings (which are stored in CMOS). Utilize any "Clear CMOS" jumpers on your board (or go into BIOS setup if you still can and revert to defaults) and retry.
Something might be conflicting with BIOS RAM detection. Rather unlikely since you say no hardware changes, but maybe a failing expansion card is causing it. Try removing all expansion cards (including video cards) and retry.
Slight chance that the BIOS is scanning the USB bus, and maybe the BIOS doesn't clear the screen (or tell you what is going on) while it is doing it. Remove any USB devices and retry.
The most likely culprit though, is that you actually have bad RAM. Probably only one of your modules is bad. Switch, reboot, repeat until you find the bad module.
edited Sep 6 '10 at 9:35
Nifle
27.8k2393128
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:48
ultrasawblade
661
I have no idea why, but it was my iPod shuffle. I removed that and it worked perfectly. It's pretty slow getting through the post screen, but seems to be working fine. Thanks for your help.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 22:48
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Your computer won't die when the CMOS battery is empty, it will just forget its settings; We can exclude this.
Can you somehow bypass this by hitting ESCAPE or ENTER to get past the test?
Can you enter the BIOS? If so, try to reset it to the fail-safe configuration.
The alternative is to boot once without the CMOS battery. ;-)
The important things involved sorted by possibility at that moment are:
The Memory
This is being checked, so it might be the main cause.
In case that you have two of them inserted you could try one and then the other.
The CPU
After months with a dusty fan, it could have had his time...
The power supply
Does it give enough power to the computer?
You didn't install a new video card so you might exclude this.
Everything in between
Although a lot less likely, check for dust in the fans, leaking condensators, etc.
edited Oct 16 '15 at 23:01
Grammargeek
1034
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:46
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
I've got an 750W power supply. I'm running an nVidia 8800GTS, but this should be easily be handled by that power supply.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 0:26
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
Likely one of these things is happening:
It's far fetched, but maybe something has modified your memory timings (which are stored in CMOS). Utilize any "Clear CMOS" jumpers on your board (or go into BIOS setup if you still can and revert to defaults) and retry.
Something might be conflicting with BIOS RAM detection. Rather unlikely since you say no hardware changes, but maybe a failing expansion card is causing it. Try removing all expansion cards (including video cards) and retry.
Slight chance that the BIOS is scanning the USB bus, and maybe the BIOS doesn't clear the screen (or tell you what is going on) while it is doing it. Remove any USB devices and retry.
The most likely culprit though, is that you actually have bad RAM. Probably only one of your modules is bad. Switch, reboot, repeat until you find the bad module.
edited Sep 6 '10 at 9:35
Nifle
27.8k2393128
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:48
ultrasawblade
661
I have no idea why, but it was my iPod shuffle. I removed that and it worked perfectly. It's pretty slow getting through the post screen, but seems to be working fine. Thanks for your help.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 22:48
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
Likely one of these things is happening:
It's far fetched, but maybe something has modified your memory timings (which are stored in CMOS). Utilize any "Clear CMOS" jumpers on your board (or go into BIOS setup if you still can and revert to defaults) and retry.
Something might be conflicting with BIOS RAM detection. Rather unlikely since you say no hardware changes, but maybe a failing expansion card is causing it. Try removing all expansion cards (including video cards) and retry.
Slight chance that the BIOS is scanning the USB bus, and maybe the BIOS doesn't clear the screen (or tell you what is going on) while it is doing it. Remove any USB devices and retry.
The most likely culprit though, is that you actually have bad RAM. Probably only one of your modules is bad. Switch, reboot, repeat until you find the bad module.
edited Sep 6 '10 at 9:35
Nifle
27.8k2393128
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:48
ultrasawblade
661
I have no idea why, but it was my iPod shuffle. I removed that and it worked perfectly. It's pretty slow getting through the post screen, but seems to be working fine. Thanks for your help.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 22:48
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
Likely one of these things is happening:
It's far fetched, but maybe something has modified your memory timings (which are stored in CMOS). Utilize any "Clear CMOS" jumpers on your board (or go into BIOS setup if you still can and revert to defaults) and retry.
Something might be conflicting with BIOS RAM detection. Rather unlikely since you say no hardware changes, but maybe a failing expansion card is causing it. Try removing all expansion cards (including video cards) and retry.
Slight chance that the BIOS is scanning the USB bus, and maybe the BIOS doesn't clear the screen (or tell you what is going on) while it is doing it. Remove any USB devices and retry.
The most likely culprit though, is that you actually have bad RAM. Probably only one of your modules is bad. Switch, reboot, repeat until you find the bad module.
edited Sep 6 '10 at 9:35
Nifle
27.8k2393128
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:48
ultrasawblade
661
Likely one of these things is happening:
It's far fetched, but maybe something has modified your memory timings (which are stored in CMOS). Utilize any "Clear CMOS" jumpers on your board (or go into BIOS setup if you still can and revert to defaults) and retry.
Something might be conflicting with BIOS RAM detection. Rather unlikely since you say no hardware changes, but maybe a failing expansion card is causing it. Try removing all expansion cards (including video cards) and retry.
Slight chance that the BIOS is scanning the USB bus, and maybe the BIOS doesn't clear the screen (or tell you what is going on) while it is doing it. Remove any USB devices and retry.
The most likely culprit though, is that you actually have bad RAM. Probably only one of your modules is bad. Switch, reboot, repeat until you find the bad module.
edited Sep 6 '10 at 9:35
Nifle
27.8k2393128
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:48
ultrasawblade
661
edited Sep 6 '10 at 9:35
Nifle
27.8k2393128
edited Sep 6 '10 at 9:35
Nifle
27.8k2393128
edited Sep 6 '10 at 9:35
Nifle
27.8k2393128
27.8k2393128
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:48
ultrasawblade
661
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:48
ultrasawblade
661
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:48
ultrasawblade
661
661
I have no idea why, but it was my iPod shuffle. I removed that and it worked perfectly. It's pretty slow getting through the post screen, but seems to be working fine. Thanks for your help.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 22:48
add a comment |
I have no idea why, but it was my iPod shuffle. I removed that and it worked perfectly. It's pretty slow getting through the post screen, but seems to be working fine. Thanks for your help.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 22:48
I have no idea why, but it was my iPod shuffle. I removed that and it worked perfectly. It's pretty slow getting through the post screen, but seems to be working fine. Thanks for your help.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 22:48
I have no idea why, but it was my iPod shuffle. I removed that and it worked perfectly. It's pretty slow getting through the post screen, but seems to be working fine. Thanks for your help.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 22:48
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Your computer won't die when the CMOS battery is empty, it will just forget its settings; We can exclude this.
Can you somehow bypass this by hitting ESCAPE or ENTER to get past the test?
Can you enter the BIOS? If so, try to reset it to the fail-safe configuration.
The alternative is to boot once without the CMOS battery. ;-)
The important things involved sorted by possibility at that moment are:
The Memory
This is being checked, so it might be the main cause.
In case that you have two of them inserted you could try one and then the other.
The CPU
After months with a dusty fan, it could have had his time...
The power supply
Does it give enough power to the computer?
You didn't install a new video card so you might exclude this.
Everything in between
Although a lot less likely, check for dust in the fans, leaking condensators, etc.
edited Oct 16 '15 at 23:01
Grammargeek
1034
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:46
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
I've got an 750W power supply. I'm running an nVidia 8800GTS, but this should be easily be handled by that power supply.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 0:26
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Your computer won't die when the CMOS battery is empty, it will just forget its settings; We can exclude this.
Can you somehow bypass this by hitting ESCAPE or ENTER to get past the test?
Can you enter the BIOS? If so, try to reset it to the fail-safe configuration.
The alternative is to boot once without the CMOS battery. ;-)
The important things involved sorted by possibility at that moment are:
The Memory
This is being checked, so it might be the main cause.
In case that you have two of them inserted you could try one and then the other.
The CPU
After months with a dusty fan, it could have had his time...
The power supply
Does it give enough power to the computer?
You didn't install a new video card so you might exclude this.
Everything in between
Although a lot less likely, check for dust in the fans, leaking condensators, etc.
edited Oct 16 '15 at 23:01
Grammargeek
1034
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:46
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
I've got an 750W power supply. I'm running an nVidia 8800GTS, but this should be easily be handled by that power supply.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 0:26
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Your computer won't die when the CMOS battery is empty, it will just forget its settings; We can exclude this.
Can you somehow bypass this by hitting ESCAPE or ENTER to get past the test?
Can you enter the BIOS? If so, try to reset it to the fail-safe configuration.
The alternative is to boot once without the CMOS battery. ;-)
The important things involved sorted by possibility at that moment are:
The Memory
This is being checked, so it might be the main cause.
In case that you have two of them inserted you could try one and then the other.
The CPU
After months with a dusty fan, it could have had his time...
The power supply
Does it give enough power to the computer?
You didn't install a new video card so you might exclude this.
Everything in between
Although a lot less likely, check for dust in the fans, leaking condensators, etc.
edited Oct 16 '15 at 23:01
Grammargeek
1034
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:46
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
Your computer won't die when the CMOS battery is empty, it will just forget its settings; We can exclude this.
Can you somehow bypass this by hitting ESCAPE or ENTER to get past the test?
Can you enter the BIOS? If so, try to reset it to the fail-safe configuration.
The alternative is to boot once without the CMOS battery. ;-)
The important things involved sorted by possibility at that moment are:
The Memory
This is being checked, so it might be the main cause.
In case that you have two of them inserted you could try one and then the other.
The CPU
After months with a dusty fan, it could have had his time...
The power supply
Does it give enough power to the computer?
You didn't install a new video card so you might exclude this.
Everything in between
Although a lot less likely, check for dust in the fans, leaking condensators, etc.
edited Oct 16 '15 at 23:01
Grammargeek
1034
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:46
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
edited Oct 16 '15 at 23:01
Grammargeek
1034
edited Oct 16 '15 at 23:01
Grammargeek
1034
edited Oct 16 '15 at 23:01
Grammargeek
1034
1034
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:46
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:46
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
answered Sep 5 '10 at 23:46
Tom Wijsman
50k23164244
50k23164244
I've got an 750W power supply. I'm running an nVidia 8800GTS, but this should be easily be handled by that power supply.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 0:26
add a comment |
I've got an 750W power supply. I'm running an nVidia 8800GTS, but this should be easily be handled by that power supply.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 0:26
I've got an 750W power supply. I'm running an nVidia 8800GTS, but this should be easily be handled by that power supply.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 0:26
I've got an 750W power supply. I'm running an nVidia 8800GTS, but this should be easily be handled by that power supply.
– Alastair Pitts
Sep 6 '10 at 0:26
add a comment |
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