IGT g23 boot problem

[kcm1633]

I can't seem to find the answer to my issue in the forum so I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Yesterday, I was creating a clean version of FAM 14 on my g23 using OS AI014B0C. After successfully installing the OS, I tried to install Game King 8.3R.  As the packages were loading the machine seemed to reboot but is now stuck in a loop where it will not read the diagnostic key or eKey and will not even load to display errors on the screen.  The monitors show the RGB codes for a couple of seconds and the lights work.

The lights on the eKey and graphics card flash about once per second as it appears to try and reboot.  There are no error messages and diagnostics will not load.  I have replaced all of the batteries in the brain box (625), reseated the memory (4GB) and even swapped out the hard drive with a new SSD because I could hear the existing hard drive try to spin when the red light on the graphics card and green light on the eKey flashed like it was trying to cycle.

I am stuck and any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

[kcm1633]

I forgot to mention that I was able to swap out the brain box with another 660 containing the AVP 3.0 Ascent OS with FAM 20 and everything seemed to work so I'm thinking it might be something in the 625 brain box.

[sccarlso]

Loading software won't tank a brainbox like that.  That would just be coincidence.

It's just a PC, so you can treat it just like one to diagnose at least a bit further.

When you power on do you hear the "beep" of the brainbox indicating a successful POST (Power on self test)?

If not, the bios on the motherboard is failing one of the many self tests it does when you boot, except if it can't boot, well you can't see exactly what.    The bios does have beep codes though if it's able to.  A memory error/unseated memory would cause several beeps by the motherboard   beep....beep....beep....beep.  Instead of the single beep indicating a good POST.    But no beep at all is a power issue, a failed component on the board, or the bios chip is toast.  Since you put another brainbox in and it's fine.  That rules out power as an issue.

If you have an E4690 video card in the 625, I'd remove it and connect your displays to the on-board video ports.  And also remove the IGT PCI I/O card.

Then put it back in the machine, power it up and listen for the "beep".    The IGT PCI card doesn't need to be present for the brainbox to POST.   It won't get much further, but it will still POST and initialize the video.  If you hear the "beep" of the POST, video will display the bios boot messages and then halt eventually when it doesn't see the IGT PCI I/O card present.  If you do get a beep and the displays light up with bios messages.  Shut it down and put the PCI I/O card back in and reconnect the ribbon cable and then see if it gives the POST beep as well.  If it does, the machine should boot successfully with the ekey and diag key plugged into the secure USB ports.  It always boots via USB if a bootable USB flash drive is present.  Even if no SSD is connected.   

If it gave the beep without the PCI I/O card, but not when you put it back in the brainbox.  The PCI I/O card or the PCI slot is suspect.

If you you still heard no beep at all yet.   I'd check the bios chip in the motherboard to ensure it's not loose or something.   Or if you have a chip puller, remove it and reinsert it perfectly straight and press it in the socket.  If you don't have a chip puller, don't try to pry it out with anything or you'll almost surely break the socket, then the motherboard is trash, you'll never be able to repair that socket so it makes good contact with all the pins on the bios chip.  Without a chip puller, all you can do is ensure the chip is straight and pressed in all the way.  As well as removing the CR2032 battery in the motherboard for about 60 sec, then putting it back in.  If there was anything corrupt in the bios, without that battery connected for 60 sec, it loses it's settings and will reload the default bios settings on the next boot, or boot attempt...

If none of this helps, and with no PCIE video card or PCI I/O card in it.  If it still has never returned that POST beep (or a sequence of beeps), something's way wrong with the motherboard itself.  Remaining components are good though.  Save them for parts, you'll likely need them someday!

[kcm1633]

I appreciate the detailed response.  After stripping everything down and waiting for the bios to reset without the battery, and removing the PCI card (no video card installed) along with trying another 2 GB memory stick instead of the 2 sticks that were in the box, I still get no beep or post so it looks like I either have a bad chip or board.