BleepingComputer.com: Computer won't post past manufacturer splash screen

Hi. I'm new to posting on this site but have spent much time viewing the information available and find this site to be a valuable wealth of information. Thanks to all who contribute and I hope to do the same soon. Now for my problem.....

My computer won't boot past the manufacturer splash screen. I have tried everything from replacing the RAM to trying different CPU's. I have unplugged all peripherals, including the hard-drive, and I still can't get it to post past the splash screen. All the fans start up and if I unplug the video card I get the eight-beep code for video card error, so I know the bios is at least trying to post. I tested the PSU and it is putting out proper voltage all around. I am afraid the MOBO might have went bad, but I can't find anything to indicate that is the problem. I have been working on this for weeks and am at my wits end. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

System Info: 1998 model year (I know it's old but I'm fixing it for my wife's grandparents) IBM Athlon 2174, I have tried both a 550mhz and a 900 mhz process, variety of RAM sticks ranging from 256-768 mhz, ASUS S30 motherboard

Do you have any USB or llash drives attached to the system?

If so, detach them or power them off or remove the flash drive/card.

Louis

Thanks for the reply. I have nothing attached to the computer except for the essentials to boot it. They are as follows: MOBO, PSU, RAM, CPU, FAN, monitor.....nothing else is attached, not even the mouse or keyboard. I also remove the battery and left it out overnight to clear the CMOS but that didn't help either.

Just opinion...rather than patch a system made in 1998, I would take a look at some of the cheaper systems available these days.

Just about anything could be going wrong on that system...although I would start with a test of the hard drive.

You won't have much luck finding replacement parts of any sort...12 years is an eternity when it comes technological development in ComputerLand.

Louis

Of course I agree with you on that one. The problem really is that it's not my computer, I'm just trying to fix it for my wife's grandparents. As for it maybe being the hard drive, I don't even have the hard drive attached to the MOBO so that can't be part of the problem. The system should post without a hard drive and give me a "operating system not found" message but it just doesn't go past the manufacturer splash screen. I appreciate your replies and will continue to try and get it working. Of course eventually I will just say the heck with it and go buy them a used computer made sometime in this decade, LOL. Anyway, I enjoy working on computers so it's fun for me to try to get it going. I'm still learning and appreciate any other info you can give that may help.

Finally gave up...the funeral will be on Saturday, LOL.

Chances are you have an electorlytic capacitor that went bad on the motherboard, those do develope leaks after a few years of use, which is normal.

Not really worth the time doing it to such an old board, but if your feeling adventureous, you could recap the motherboard.

Suspect any caps showing signs of bulging or black colored goo on their tops.

Yeah, that was kind of what I thought as well. I've given up on trying to fix the dinosaur and will let my wife's grandparents decide if they want to buy something to replace this one. Thanks for the reply.