[SomeGuy05]

Just had a complete failure on a second PC, frantic and looking for help.

Basic system info (custom):

ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe MB
P4 2.6Ghz
1.5GB PC-2700 RAM
RADEON 9600XT VGA
Maxtor 120GB HD
Windows XP Home - SP2

Was runnng a frequently used program earlier (game). Monitor turned off to power saving mode and would not return to display. Had to do a hard shutdown.

When I turn PC on, it appears to be powering up as normal, however the monitor remains in power saving mode, and a robotic voice continually repeats the message "SYSTEM FAIL - SEEK INFO" on my speakers (peripheral speakers, not the onboard one). Cannot view anything, enter BIOS, safe mode... nothing but the message repeating.

Nothing has been changed recently on this machine. It was running normally as it always has. I've never once had an issue with this machine until now, and I built it about a year ago.

Please help if you have any info or ideas, I badly need that machine up and running.

Edited by SomeGuy05, 08 August 2005 - 02:05 AM.

[Advertisements]

/bump

Still looking for the root of the problem here.

I've never heard of a PC giving a verbal error message as described above, and net searches have yielded no results.

The RAM checks out ok, and the same thing occurs as described above even with the HD, floppy, and 5.25 drives disconnected. I guess the root is on the board or the chip (or perhaps the VGA?)...

This is a really bizarre problem. I've never heard of anything like this.

[SomeGuy05]

/bump

Still looking for the root of the problem here.

I've never heard of a PC giving a verbal error message as described above, and net searches have yielded no results.

The RAM checks out ok, and the same thing occurs as described above even with the HD, floppy, and 5.25 drives disconnected. I guess the root is on the board or the chip (or perhaps the VGA?)...

This is a really bizarre problem. I've never heard of anything like this.

[peterm]

any beps when you boot

[SomeGuy05]

any beps when you boot

No, nothing. It's not booting up. I think the VGA can be ruled out now, as well as the chip (possibly). I've been tampering with the rig a bit more. This odd robotic-voice error message through the peripheral speakers has to be an ASUS design, although I can find no documentation online or off about their products having a peripheral voice-error, or obviously what they mean. If I power on with the chip removed, I still get the "System Fail - Seek Info" message (at least that's what it sounds like); However, it adds the message "No CPU Installed" to the voice loop along with the message above. I guess I'm going to have to call ASUS when they open the tech support lines for the day and ask them about the voice-errors and what they mean.

I really hope the board hasn't bought the farm, but unfortunately that may be. The entire rig has been 100% rock solid since I built it. The only issue I've had recently is a slightly faulty PSU exhaust fan, but I monitored all hardware temperatures and they were well within safe operating range, and the PSU wattage is more than sufficient for my setup.

If anyone uses ASUS and is familiar with these voice-error messages, I'd like to hear what you know of them.

I'll also post what I find out from ASUS when I call them, in case the information can be usefull to others either currently or in the future. As for now I guess there's nothing else I can do but wait...

[SomeGuy05]

I called ASUS, and they told me the error message meant one of three things:

A) The power supply is bad.
B) The CPU is bad.
C) The BIOS chip is bad, and must be sent to ASUS to be reprogrammed.

I replaced the power supply today. Still having the exact same issues, so A) can be excluded.

So how can I "test" my CPU to see if it's working or not?

[warriorscot]

You would have to swap it out im afraid. It does sound like the board the power supply when it was running iffy might have damaged it. If you take it to a shop they will probably be able to swap out the cpu for you and would cost less tha a "house call"

[matt_fleming]

Sounds like the CPU is bad... how old is the system (from time of purchase)?

-Matt