PCI Express Test Failure, booting problems

kthelwell

New Member
Hi, any advice would be much appreciated.

I have a HP S3140 Pavilion Slimline desktop running Vista Home Premium.

I've been running the PC since new with an adaptor for the monitor cable where this inputs to the PC. The technical side of it is beyond my knowledge but I was advised when I bought the PC that I had to use with adaptor with the secondhand monitor I have.

Last year however the PC ceased to output to the monitor and by trial and error I realised that it would now only work without the adaptor.

More recently I began to experience booting problems -the PC sounds as if it is whirring into action as usual but then gets 'stuck' and there is no output whatsoever by way of error messages or anything else. The problem has been intermittent -sometimes it will boot normally other times not at all. I have run just about every HP diagnostic I could find and also the 'start up repair' (latter didn't appear to recognize a problem). The only test which failed was the PCI express status test (code MB152-15W.

Then lo and behold there was no output to my monitor a few nights ago so I used the adaptor I had dispensed with using last year and all was fine again; my suspicious mind lead me to run the PCI test again which now passed.....

Then tonight, again no output to the monitor -removed aforesaid adaptor again and all was well, ran the PCI test again and it failed. 2 Vista updates were automatically installed when I shut down last night but the content of them does not appear as if it would have any relevance to my problems.

If anyone could enlighten me what is happening here and whether the PCI failure is in any way linked to the booting problem that would be fantastic.
 

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Thanks for replying.

When the monitor problem first appeared I tried another monitor and that wouldn't work either.

I have run all the diagnostic tests HP offers, inc memory, but only the PCI test failed. Very strange, unless it was linked to an update in any way, that for a few days last week the PCI test actually passed (i.e. at the point I had to return to using the adaptor for the monitor).

I have seen a few other posts mentioning problems with the PCI test error for HP Pavilions but not sure how or if this is linked to my booting problem too.
 

My Computer

are you using an intergrated gpu or a discrete one?

if your pcie x16 is failing then a discrete gpu wouldnt work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Hp pavillion a6110n
    CPU
    amd athlon 64 x2 live! 4400+
    Memory
    4 gigs 3.3 useable
    Graphics Card(s)
    Finally! SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 12
    Monitor(s) Displays
    generic pnp monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    7.2k rpm
    1 linux ubuntu partition
    1 vista partition
    1recovery partition
    1 windows 7 partition
    1linux swap partition
    PSU
    500W, antc earthwatts EA500
    Case
    normal black case
    Cooling
    fans
    Keyboard
    saitek cyborg gaming keyboard
    Mouse
    logitech mouse (small to fit hand perfectly)
    Internet Speed
    dsl
    Other Info
    2.3 ghz amd
The HP tests are similar to what I use at work and that means that they're a good start - but they don't yield (IMO) a definitive diagnosis.

In short, it's likely that the PCI test error means that there's a problem with your motherboard - but the only sure way to tell is to get another motherboard. With the cost of the motherboard and the installation, it'll be cheaper to purchase a new system.

DO NOT buy a new computer or a motherboard based solely on this advice!!!
You could also try another video card - to see if that's an issue. Disabling the onboard video and using a ½ height video card may be a solution (if you purchase a video card, be sure to purchase it from a place that you can return it to for a full refund).

Good luck!
 

My Computer

id recommend using the integrated for now, if he needs to back up files just in case he loses.

but are you running on an intergrated or a discrete?
if you are running a discrete and your hp thing reports a pciex16 failure and you can see anything on the screen, it is likely that your pcie is failing

if you are running with an intergrated card, and your pciex16 is failing, you should see no problems whatsoever with your graphics (as most intergrated if not all dont run on pciex16)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Hp pavillion a6110n
    CPU
    amd athlon 64 x2 live! 4400+
    Memory
    4 gigs 3.3 useable
    Graphics Card(s)
    Finally! SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 12
    Monitor(s) Displays
    generic pnp monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    7.2k rpm
    1 linux ubuntu partition
    1 vista partition
    1recovery partition
    1 windows 7 partition
    1linux swap partition
    PSU
    500W, antc earthwatts EA500
    Case
    normal black case
    Cooling
    fans
    Keyboard
    saitek cyborg gaming keyboard
    Mouse
    logitech mouse (small to fit hand perfectly)
    Internet Speed
    dsl
    Other Info
    2.3 ghz amd
Hi,

Excuse my lack of knowledge in this area but so far as I'm aware it is integrated -'DAC type' is 'integrated RAMDAC' -hoping means more to you than me!

If this is the problem is it consistent not only with the monitor issue but also the lack of reliability booting? Can go for days apparently booting normally but then some days I've tried 10 times or so and had to give up for the day i.e. gets 'stuck'.

Many thanks
 

My Computer

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