Intel® Desktop Boards - No Boot Wizard
The first step in troubleshooting a no-boot situation is determining whether or not the power comes on.
Do you see lights on the front of the computer chassis? Can you hear fans spinning? If you are not sure, check to see if the power supply fan is creating a breeze. Remove the cover of the chassis; do you see any lights on the desktop board?
Is the AC power source (outlet) a good one?
Why it matters:
If you don't have a live AC power source, the system will not power up.
How to check:
Plug a lamp or a radio into the AC power source you are using to find out if the source is live.
If you don't have a live AC power source, the system will not power up.
How to check:
Plug a lamp or a radio into the AC power source you are using to find out if the source is live.
Does the system freeze on the boot screen?
Why it matters:
Hardware conflicts and incompatibilities can cause the system to freeze at boot.
How to check:
Does the system power up and then freeze before the operating system starts to load? This can occur on any text screen, during or after memory count or while checking for drives.
Hardware conflicts and incompatibilities can cause the system to freeze at boot.
How to check:
Does the system power up and then freeze before the operating system starts to load? This can occur on any text screen, during or after memory count or while checking for drives.
Is the power supply voltage set correctly for your location?
Why it matters:
If the power supply's voltage is set incorrectly, the system can fail to boot up. It may also damage the power supply and possibly other components.
How to check:
Look for a voltage selector on the power supply. To check the voltage standard for your location, refer to Electric Current Abroad.
If the power supply's voltage is set incorrectly, the system can fail to boot up. It may also damage the power supply and possibly other components.
How to check:
Look for a voltage selector on the power supply. To check the voltage standard for your location, refer to Electric Current Abroad.
Use a live outlet. If you are using a power strip, do not assume the socket you are using is good because the other outlets are working and the power strip status light is on. Many power strips can have at least one bad outlet, and working outlets have been known to fail for no particularly good reason.
Set the correct voltage (115V/230V) on the power supply for your location. If you tried to power up with the switch set to 230V in a country using 115V, the system should be OK when you correct the voltage. If you tried to power up with the switch set to 115V in a country using 230V, you may have blown a fuse in the supply or damaged the supply and possibly other components.
Is the front panel power switch properly connected to the desktop board?
Why it matters:
If the power switch cable from the front of the chassis is not properly connected to the desktop board, the system will not boot.
How to check:
Make sure the power switch lead from the chassis front panel is connected to pins 6 & 8 (red) on the onboard 9-pin front panel header. The power switch lead may be marked PW or PW-ON.
If the power switch cable from the front of the chassis is not properly connected to the desktop board, the system will not boot.
How to check:
Make sure the power switch lead from the chassis front panel is connected to pins 6 & 8 (red) on the onboard 9-pin front panel header. The power switch lead may be marked PW or PW-ON.
Has the front panel power switch failed?
Why it matters:
If the power switch lead from the chassis front panel is defective, the system won't power up.
How to check:
Check the switch operation with a Digital Volt Meter or test the switch with a known good desktop board.
If the power switch lead from the chassis front panel is defective, the system won't power up.
How to check:
Check the switch operation with a Digital Volt Meter or test the switch with a known good desktop board.
Intel® Desktop Boards meet the ATX motherboard design guide specification using a 9-pin front chassis header. Special attention is required when attaching the front panel connector from the chassis to the Intel desktop board.
Is the power supply properly connected to the desktop board?
Why it matters:
The power supply will fail to operate if the power to motherboard is not connected.
How to check:
Check that the power connector and any additional motherboard power connections, such as the 12V (2x2) connector, are properly connected and seated.
The power supply will fail to operate if the power to motherboard is not connected.
How to check:
Check that the power connector and any additional motherboard power connections, such as the 12V (2x2) connector, are properly connected and seated.
Replace the power switch. If the power switch and cable assembly are hardwired to the chassis, consult with the chassis manufacturer for assistance.
Properly connect the power supply to the desktop board. Be sure to connect both the 2x12 (or 2x10) and the 2x2 (or 2x4) connectors.
Does the hard drive spin up?
Why it matters:
A hard drive that does not spin up may indicate a power supply failure.
How to check:
As the PC powers up, you should hear the hard drive motor spin the drive. If you cannot tell if drive is spinning up, due to background noise, try feeling for vibrations on the drive cover.
A hard drive that does not spin up may indicate a power supply failure.
How to check:
As the PC powers up, you should hear the hard drive motor spin the drive. If you cannot tell if drive is spinning up, due to background noise, try feeling for vibrations on the drive cover.
Does the hard drive spin up after changing power connections?
Why it matters:
A power supply may have individually faulty power connectors.
How to check:
Disconnect all drives, one at a time, and try powering up after each change. Power supplies typically have multiple hard drive power connectors; try each one.
A power supply may have individually faulty power connectors.
How to check:
Disconnect all drives, one at a time, and try powering up after each change. Power supplies typically have multiple hard drive power connectors; try each one.
Is there a defective adapter installed?
Why it matters:
If one adapter is defective, it can prevent the system from booting.
How to check:
To isolate a defective adapter, disconnect all drives; start removing adapters, one at a time, leaving the video for last; unplug the power cord before removing each adapter; try powering up after each adapter is removed.
If one adapter is defective, it can prevent the system from booting.
How to check:
To isolate a defective adapter, disconnect all drives; start removing adapters, one at a time, leaving the video for last; unplug the power cord before removing each adapter; try powering up after each adapter is removed.
Test the hard drive with a different desktop board and power supply. If it also fails there, replace it.
If the system powers up, you have found a faulty drive or a faulty connector from the power supply. If the system will not power up with all drives disconnected, start removing adapters, one at a time, leaving the video for last. Unplug the power cord before removing each adapter, then reconnect to power up. If you find an adapter that prevents the system from powering up, it must be replaced.
If you find an adapter that prevents the system from powering up, it must be replaced. If this is your video adapter and it is a PCI or PCI Express adapter, it could be that the slot is faulty.
Does the desktop board power up outside the chassis?
Why it matters:
If you have eliminated all components as the cause for the system not booting, there may be a desktop board short.
How to check:
Remove the motherboard from the chassis and place it on an anti-static mat or foam pad. Install/connect the minimum required components (processor, memory, power supply, video). Try powering it up.
If you have eliminated all components as the cause for the system not booting, there may be a desktop board short.
How to check:
Remove the motherboard from the chassis and place it on an anti-static mat or foam pad. Install/connect the minimum required components (processor, memory, power supply, video). Try powering it up.
If you have reached this point without getting the system to power up, you probably have a defective power supply or motherboard. Try replacing the power supply first. If the power supply or motherboard is new, they may be incompatible with one another due to poor adherence to ATX standards or support for different generations of the ATX standard.
Look for a short circuit. Normally, a short circuit will result in a burnt smell and a defective motherboard. It can also damage any attached components (memory, processor, add-in cards).
Components in the system may be too new for the BIOS to recognize. Update the system BIOS to the latest available for your desktop board. BIOS updates are available from Download Center.
Serial ATA (SATA) drives may not be configured correctly. If you are using SATA drives and the system is NOT configured for RAID, check the BIOS setup as follows: During boot, enter the BIOS setup by pressing F2. Go to the Advanced > Drive Configuration menu. Set ATA/IDE Mode to Native. Set Configure SATA as IDE. Press F10 to Save and Exit.
Serial ATA (SATA) drives may not be configured correctly. If you are using SATA drives and the system is NOT configured for RAID, check the BIOS setup as follows: During boot, enter the BIOS setup by pressing F2. Go to the Advanced > Drive Configuration menu. Set ATA/IDE Mode to Native. Set Configure SATA as IDE. Press F10 to Save and Exit.
Does the system freeze with minimal configuration?
Why it matters:
If the system freezes with the minimum required components (processor, memory, power, video), you have immediately narrowed down the problem to one of those components.
How to check:
Configure the system with only the minimum required components - desktop board, power supply, memory, processor, processor heatsink, Video adapter (if the board includes built-in video, use it; do not install an add-in video adapter). Boot the system. If you now see an error about No Boot Device, select No above.
If the system freezes with the minimum required components (processor, memory, power, video), you have immediately narrowed down the problem to one of those components.
How to check:
Configure the system with only the minimum required components - desktop board, power supply, memory, processor, processor heatsink, Video adapter (if the board includes built-in video, use it; do not install an add-in video adapter). Boot the system. If you now see an error about No Boot Device, select No above.
If the system boots up with only minimum required components, it's likely there is a device conflict.
What to check:
Add back in other adpaters or devices one at a time, booting up after each one, to help identify if any of them are causing the problem. Make sure all components (processor, memory, add-in cards) are firmly seated. Once the hard drive is installed, boot up to the operating system and check Device Manager for errors.
What to check:
Add back in other adpaters or devices one at a time, booting up after each one, to help identify if any of them are causing the problem. Make sure all components (processor, memory, add-in cards) are firmly seated. Once the hard drive is installed, boot up to the operating system and check Device Manager for errors.
Does the system freeze after checking the memory modules?
Why it matters:
System lock ups can be caused by incompatible memory modules or incorrect module configurations.
How to check:
Try swapping the memory modules around (reordering the banks if you have more than one bank of RAM installed or moving single module to a neighboring slot. If you have some suitable known good memory modules from another system, try it. If the memory modules installed do not meet the desktop board specifications, don't use it. Be sure the memory modules are correctly and in the proper quantities.
System lock ups can be caused by incompatible memory modules or incorrect module configurations.
How to check:
Try swapping the memory modules around (reordering the banks if you have more than one bank of RAM installed or moving single module to a neighboring slot. If you have some suitable known good memory modules from another system, try it. If the memory modules installed do not meet the desktop board specifications, don't use it. Be sure the memory modules are correctly and in the proper quantities.
Refer to Tested Memory for lists of supported memory for your Intel® Desktop Board.
Replace the memory modules. Refer to Tested Memory for lists of supported memory for your Intel® Desktop Board.
Are all the BIOS settings set to default values?
Why it matters:
Changing BIOS settings can cause the system to no longer boot or behave erratically (random reboots).
Changing BIOS settings can cause the system to no longer boot or behave erratically (random reboots).
Restore BIOS settings to factory defaults. To reset the desktop board to default values: During boot, enter the BIOS setup by pressing F2. Press F9 to set defaults. Press F10 to Save and Exit. If the system locks or won't boot after making BIOS changes, perform a BIOS recovery.
Does the processor's heatsink fan work?
Why it matters:
If the processor heatsink fan is not working, the processor can quickly overheat and cause the system to lock up.
How to check:
Make sure that the fan is working properly (spinning). Make sure the bottom of the heatsink is in full contact with the top of the processor package.
If the processor heatsink fan is not working, the processor can quickly overheat and cause the system to lock up.
How to check:
Make sure that the fan is working properly (spinning). Make sure the bottom of the heatsink is in full contact with the top of the processor package.
Refer to the Integration Video for proper processor and heatsink installation. Make sure the fan on the heatsink spins up the second that power comes on. If it doesn't, replace it with a new heatsink. The only problem with replacing an active heat sink is it may be too late for the processor. Some CPUs can become damaged within seconds without proper cooling.
Does the desktop board boot up when not installed in a chassis?
Why it matters:
Running the desktop board outside of a chassis can help to eliminate any grounding and shorting issues or mechanical stresses.
How to check:
Remove the motherboard from the chassis and place it on an anti-static mat or foam pad. Install/connect the minimum required components (processor, memory, power supply, video). Try powering it up.
Running the desktop board outside of a chassis can help to eliminate any grounding and shorting issues or mechanical stresses.
How to check:
Remove the motherboard from the chassis and place it on an anti-static mat or foam pad. Install/connect the minimum required components (processor, memory, power supply, video). Try powering it up.
Make sure some standoffs aren't higher than others, putting stress on the board. There could be a short circuit caused by a misplaced standoff, a loose screw or metal chips. Try another chassis and power supply.
Does the desktop board boot when a different processor is installed?
Why it matters:
If the system boots when a different processor is installed, it indicates that the first processor may be defective or may be incompatible with the desktop board.
How to check:
Swap in a known good processor. Refer to Supported Processors for lists of supported memory for your Intel® Desktop Board.
If the system boots when a different processor is installed, it indicates that the first processor may be defective or may be incompatible with the desktop board.
How to check:
Swap in a known good processor. Refer to Supported Processors for lists of supported memory for your Intel® Desktop Board.
Replace the processor. Refer to Supported Processors for lists of supported memory for your Intel® Desktop Board. Refer to the documentation that came with your processor for proper installation instructions.
It is likely the desktop board is defective. Contact Intel Customer Support for further assistance. If your desktop board qualifies for warranty support directly from Intel, have the following information available to give to the support agent when you call. The Altered Assembly (AA) number and Serial Number of the desktop board. Complete description of the symptoms or problem. Troubleshooting steps you have already performed. Intel may require additional steps before processing a warranty request. Be prepared to provide proof-of-purchase as Intel may request this before processing a warranty request.
Information on how to contact Intel is available at Contact Support. Additional warranty information for Intel® Desktop Boards is available at Warranty Information.
Information on how to contact Intel is available at Contact Support. Additional warranty information for Intel® Desktop Boards is available at Warranty Information.
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