hp h-cupertino2-h61-ua tx motherboad shows nothing on the screen

[sIMUNJI]

I have this issue with a new PC. it worked fine for  moths and then i stopped using it for some weeks. When i switched in on, it could not show on the screen. All the funs are moving and evrything looks normal. i tried different Rams, power supplies and add-on video cards but no change. Also there is no any kind of beep even when the system has no RAMs. I inspected the motherboard for physical damage but there is nothing erong.

What could be the problem? Could it be the bios which is messed up? is there a way i can update/recover it on this kind of dead motherboard? can the bios recovery jumpers on the motherboard be used so i can try to update the bios? if it can how?

Thank you and Regards

[mdklassen]

> i tried different RAM, power supplies and add-on video cards

> There is no any kind of beep even when the system has no RAMs.

> I inspected the motherboard for physical damage but there is nothing erong.

> What could be the problem?

Have you tried a different CPU?

Have you tried a different motherboard?

Those are the only two components that you have not swapped.

> Could it be the BIOS which is messed up?

Yes.  The BIOS is a computer program stored on a rewriteable memory-chip.

The processing of "updating the BIOS" rewrites the contents onto that chip.

I suppose that it is possible for that chip to go "bad", in the same way that a stick of RAM can go "bad".

> Is there a way i can update/recover it on this kind of dead motherboard?

A generation ago, that memory-chip was removable, and there was a piece of hardware called a "PROM burner".

[Programmable Read Only Memory] that could be used to rewrite onto the chip.

I doubt that current motherboards use the same "removable" memory-chips.

> Can the BIOS recovery jumpers on the motherboard be used so i can try to update the BIOS?

Those jumpers can be used to reset the BIOS "settings" back to the "default" values.

They cannot be used to change the BIOS software stored on that chip.

Sample of a BIOS "setting" -- whether to first try to boot from CD/DVD or first try to boot from disk-drive.

The BIOS "program" honours this "setting".

[sIMUNJI]

Thank you. How do i boot from the cd? do i burn the bios onto the cd and put it into the dvd drive? how about the boot sequence change or it will automatically load from the CD? any link for the latest version of the said mobo's bios.

Thank you one more time

[sIMUNJI]

I forgot to meantined that i had also tried a different CPU on the none-displaying mobo as well but it didn't work. I delayed replying to this answer because i wanted to re-try the CPU on a different motherboard and i can confirm the CPU worked just fine.

I still feel its the BIOS which is messed up no wonder even when there is no RAM on the motherboard it cant make a beep error. HP definately should have a way to write BIOS code to the chip easily - that will be the last resort before going for a new one.

BLESSED were the days when motherboards BIOS chips could be hot-swapped with identical ones and flash the bios. Now looks most of these new Mobos have embeded chips.

THANK YOU!

[mdklassen]

>  I have this issue with a new PC. it worked fine for moths ...

If you have "moths" infesting your PC, you really have a "bug".    

How "new" is it?  Is it still covered by the original warranty?

> When i switched in on, it could not show on the screen.

> All the funs are moving and evrything looks normal.

> I tried different CPU, RAM, power supplies, and add-on video cards but no change.

> Also there is no any kind of beep even when the system has no RAM.

My conclusion is that the motherboard is "bad", even though you state that you cannot see any physical damage.

The "single-beep" is produced when the POST (Power On Self Test) successfully completes.

If you are not getting that "beep", even when no RAM is connected, then the POST has not started.

> How do I boot from the CD?

Without any way to access BIOS SETUP, you cannot change the "boot-order" to include the CD.  So, you're "stuck".

The CD would have to contain a "bootable" operating system, such as MS DOS, and then you would launch the BIOS-updating program, which would read the new BIOS, as a '.bin' file, from the CD, to update the BIOS software on the motherboard.

> Do i burn the BIOS onto the CD and put it into the DVD drive?

Yes, but the CD will have to contain a "bootable" O.S., in addition to the '.bin' file, and the "BIOS-updater" program.

> how about the boot sequence change or it will automatically load from the CD?

If the disk-drive is disconnected, then the "boot-order" within the current BIOS settings *MAY* include the CD/DVD as a "secondary" device.  So, the BIOS would try each of the "bootable" devices, and *HOPEFULLY* would try to boot from the CD/DVD.

> any link for the latest version of the said mobo's BIOS.

See: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp58001-58500/sp58264.html

TITLE: Cupertino-H61/Cupertino2-H61 Motherboard BIOS Update

VERSION: 7.16 Rev. A
DESCRIPTION:  This package provides an update to the Cupertino-H61/Cupertino2-H61 Motherboard  BIOS for the supported desktop models and supported operating systems.

PURPOSE: Critical
SOFTPAQ NUMBER: SP58264
SOFTPAQ FILE NAME: sp58264.exe
SUPERSEDES: None
CATEGORY: BIOS

I think that you have a MOTHERBOARD problem, not a BIOS problem -- you cannot update the BIOS unless the motherboard allows the "POST" to run. Gone are the days of a removable BIOS memory chip and "PROM-burner" devices.

I think that your only hope is a replacement of the motherboard, either under warranty or by your own purchase via  http://PartSurfer.HP.COM

[sIMUNJI]

Brilliant!

But now because the motherboard does not show on the screen will booting from the CD with Bios on the CD make it do so?

I greatlty appreiate the effort! will try this trick and inform the forum what will happen.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

[mdklassen]

> But now because the motherboard does not show on the screen, will booting from the CD with Bios on the CD make it do so?

If the POST (Power On Self Test) does not run, and does not issue the "single-beep" when the POST is successful, then your system is NOT BOOTABLE (floppy-disk, hard-drive, USB, CD/DVD).  Period.

> I greatly appreciate the effort! 

Welcome to the forum.

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