PC won't get passed mobo splash screen

[HAVOC]

So my mother called me today with a problem with the PC I built them 2 years ago.

It's a Intel E6600
Asus P5B Deluxe
2 GIG Gskill DDR2

What they tell me is that this morning when they turned it on, the only thing that happens is the ASUS motherboard splash screen stays there and never loads anything else. Keyboard and mouse do not work.

Any Ideas where I should start with Tech support over the phone?

 

[Hefemeister]

First thing have them reset cmos.

How computer savvy are they?

From here I would reseat ram, video card.

Recheck power connections.

Run memtest.

 

[HAVOC]

Ok. Thank for the reply.

THE CMOS, I saved for next.

THe first thing I had them do was unplugging both USB mouse and keyboard. (Didn't fix it)
Then I had them Remove memory stick by stick. (Didn't work)
Now I'm having them clear the CMOS.
I'll post back the results.

anything else?

 

[Hefemeister]

disconnect everything but cpu ram and vid card.

do they have a motherboard speaker?

Have them try to boot without ram to see if they get a no ram beep.
If this has not already been tried.

After that you swap out psu if possible.
try different memory.

After that you are looking at dead cpu or motherboard. Most likely board.

 

[Nick]

I had this on my P5Q, I unplugged everything minus keyboard, mouse and screen. And then it got past the splash screen leaving all the internal components as they were, Hope that helps.

 

[HAVOC]

First thing have them reset cmos.

Good news. My father removed the CMOS battery and left it out for 10 minutes. Put it back in waited 10 minutes and the PC booted up as normal.

I'm not sure what the deal was.. But that worked. Thanks.