> From:    Rick Lindstrom <[log in to unmask]>
>
> I've been having an intermittent problem lately that occurs at bootup:
>
> The system hangs while doing the POST; whatever is going on happens before
> the video is initialized as there is no video out. The access lights for
> the CDROM drive and the HD are on steady and stay that way, and there are
> no beeps. I haven't noticed whether the keyboard lights have flashed or
> not. Also, I do not hear the hard drives (of which there are two) spin up.
>
> At this point, the system is totally hung- the reset and power buttons do
> not work (ATX mobo), and I have to cycle the power at the power strip to
> get the machine to respond, after which it generally starts normally and
> runs fine once booted.
>
> What I suspect is that one of the two hard drives has a failing bearing on
> the platter and is not spinning up, but I don't know enough about the POST
> sequence to judge whether spinup should be happening at this particular point.
>
> Anyone have ideas on this?

I think you are on the right track.  I suspect that the power supply is
borderline, the extra load of a "sticky", hard-to-start, drive is
shutting it down (PSG = Power Supply Good is low when this happens).
To try to figure out which drive is sticking, unplug the power connector
from one and listen as the other spins up.  Switch off, reconnect, and
unplug the other.  Try again.  If you get lucky, one might stall and
shut things down - otherwise, you'll have to "play it by ear", or use an
ammeter (analog may show more than digital, as you can see how the needle
"kicks").

Some systems have an option in the BIOS to delay startup of the second hard
drive, which may help.

Boyd Ramsay

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