does a desktop have to have a CD drive to work?

Question

building a new computer gig and trying to save a little by not using a CD/DVD drive.

first time starting it up and it fails the POST (power-on-self-test)

beeps once -then 4 short beeps which means Hardware Component Failure

How can i diagnose that?


won't even flash the Bios on monitor.

i have everything installed except a CD/DVD drive...do i need it?

Answer 1

You can absolutely have a computer without a CD drive... But how do you expect to install an OS on it?? Hopefully it can boot via USB stick or something so you can get the PC up and running.. hard drives don't come with an operating system on them.



But that is irrelevant, because if you cant POST, you can't boot from anything anyway!



Here is what I would do... remove absolutely EVERYTHING from the computer. Remove the hard drive, sound card, extra video card, etc (all you need is power supply, motherboard, processor, RAM, and video) and see if you can boot. Sometimes I remove the motherboard from the case, because I have had a few experiences where the motherboard was shorting against the case and not allowing it to boot.



Work a step at a time, verify each and every component. Make sure that the processor and RAM are fully seated and locked into place. Make sure the powersupply is fully plugged in (these days they have a large connector of 20 or 24 pins and a smaller connector of 4 or 6 pins)



If you still can't boot up, then its time to verify individual pieces... Grab a powersupply that you know is good, a video card that you know is good, etc. Swap every piece if you need to.



Good luck!

Answer 2

No, you don't need a CD/DVD drive to run a PC. (Think netbooks). Being that it's one of the cheapest components in a PC, and critical for lots of program installation, I wouldn't skip it, but that's your choice.



To reach POST, all you need are:

Motherboard

Power supply

CPU

Video of some sort - could be on the motherboard

RAM



Note that hard drive and CD aren't on that list. You won't be able to get much done with the PC without a drive, but at least it should post



Give us some detail about your motherboard and components if you want specific suggestions. If you have multiple memory modules, I'd try installing them one at a time and see if you get a successful POST that way.

Answer 3

Look up your motherboards POST codes, it should tell you what hardware component has failed the power on test. If your motherboard doesn't have them listed, pull everything off the board except for the cpu and one stick of memory and try again and see if it posts. If it still doesn't post. replace the one stick of memory with another stick. (Assuming you had two or more to begin with) If that doesn't work chances are its your motherboard or CPU.

Answer 4

spend the extra $25... save yourself the trouble.