Computer repair advice sought...

[ArmchairActivist]

Oh please, tech-savvy DUers... lay upon me some free advice.

So I go to turn on the machine the other day, like normal, and I get...nothing.

Well, not precisely nothing... there's one faint beep, the power supply fan kicks in, and I can hear the HD start to spin up, but that's it. No boot. No POST, nothing on the screen period, not a flicker of anything. Nil. I can't get into setup, I can't boot from a floppy either.

I've never quite had a failure like this before, and so I need some idea as how to proceed. One reference book I have says to reseat and clean all the components, esp. the memory and video card, which seems as good a place to start as any.

What on earth could cause something like this out of the blue? One day it works fine, next day nothing, with no mystery power surges (that I know of, ulp) or anything like that in between.

I await your pearls of wisdom...

-AA

[MadHound]

1. Gratuitous "Get a Mac" post,

And honestly, that might be your best option. I've got a 6100 that is twelve years old, and still works fine.

But hey, I'm just stirring up the shit, so never mind:evilgrin:

[Deja Q]

11. And here's how you buy a Mact:

1. Buy a standard PC clone, even eMachines would do
2. Download and install FreeBSD


Voila! It's just like a Mac w/OSX on it and costs thousands less, woohoo! :woohoo:

[DS1]

19. Gratuitous "Saying a 'Get a Mac' is totally useless and just makes

Mac Users that much more obnoxious" reply.

[BigBrother]

2. You might want to check the video card or moniter

From what it sounds like the computer is starting up but you can't see anything on the screen. Which would lead me to believe that something might be wrong with the moniter or video card.

The first thing I would do is check to make sure that the plug to the moniter is all the way plugged in. Sometimes if my moniter gets moved the it stops working because the plug isn't all the way plugged in. The next thing I would do is check the moniter cable to the computer. Make sure it is plugged in all the way.

That is all I can really say right now without knowing more. Sorry I couldn't help more.

[ArmchairActivist]

3. But even if the monitor or cable was bad...

...wouldn't it still boot up and give me that wonderful little windows XP noise it makes?

The monitor is not getting signal though, that is for certain. Would spontaneous video card failure cause the thing to crap out completely?

[BigBrother]

4. you are right about the little windows noise

I have never heard of a video card failure doing that but it is a computer anything can happen.

But now you mention the noise means that it doesn't complete start up it and probably is something more then the video card. My original thought was that it completed start up you just couldn't see it because of the moniter being out, but now it might be something else.

I have a few thoughts as to where to go next. One thought is that something might be wrong with the power supply fan. I have had computers before that have stopped start up because the fan stops running right. Another thought is that since start up goes to where you can hear the hard drive start to boot up that maybe something might be wrong with the hard drive.

[ArmchairActivist]

6. Power supply is an interseting idea....

...Of course, I desperately want it NOT to be the HD... heh. It seems like that fact that it won't boot to floppy either suggests that it's something in the chain before it even tries to boot... like perhaps the PS.. thanks for the input...

[jayfish]

5. Two Things

1. Pull the power plug from the computer. While the power plug is disconnected, hit the power switch. Plug the power back in and try to boot.

-If that doesn't work-


2. Clear your CMOS. This is done by shorting a jumper on your mother board (find the manual) or by removing your CMOS battery for a brief period of time.

It's not as difficult as it sounds.

Come back with results.

Jay

[ArmchairActivist]

8. All right then..

... I can try both of those things.... I have a jumper around here someplace.... I'll report back.. it may take some time, but thanks for the ideas...

[ArmchairActivist]

9. Ok, both things accomplished...

But to not much effect...

The switch thing did not work at all, I guess it's built to prevent powering up in that fashion. Interestingly, though I can power the system on using the switch, it does not turn the thing off at this point. I have to disconnect the power to shut it down... reset button also does nothing.

CMOS has been cleared (set to defaults, one hopes, heh) but that had no effect.

What's next? :argh:

[jayfish]

13. Well I Don't Think It's A ...

power supply issue. What I would do next is attempt to get the machine to post with nothing connected but the vid card and memory. If the machine posts, connect your hard drive(s) and try again. Work your way through until you find the suspect piece of hardware. Hell you may not even find one. Sounds like a BIOS/ACPI issue which can clear itself out. The reason I had you hit the power while the power was unplugged was to drain the capacitors on the various system components. I have seen this issue several times and it is difficult to nail down. One thing to try is to let the system sit unplugged for 2-24 hours and try to power it up. I think this is salvageable but the problem may make intermittent appearances. You will pull your hair out every time.

Jay

[ArmchairActivist]

14. intermittent problem = bleah

I didn't read your power switch suggestion properly, but what I did accomplished the same thing anyways.

I will try the component-by-component idea you've suggested, and then I'll leave it unplugged overnight if that turns up nothing. What the hey, I'll get a PS tester too -- could come in handy later.

Thanks for the advice...
-AA

[Angry Girl]

7. Sounds like your power supply is dead

Google buying a new one.... Not expensive or difficult to replace.

[ArmchairActivist]

10. That wouldn't be the end of the world...

... I've replaced a power supply in a different machine -- a moderate pain but by no means a dealbreaker.

Is there some way though, that I can verify that the PS is in fact the problem short of pulling it and installing a new one? I'd really love to avoid it if I could...

[jayfish]

12. I Think PS Testers Are Around $10...

at Circuit City.

[mikeiddy]

15. bad memory?

Bad memory will bring things to a halt early in the boot process. Might try using one stick at a time, if you have more than one.

[ArmchairActivist]

16. sadly, there's only one...

...though this could be an excuse to get more, assuming I can get the thing working again. The thing's already taken apart, all i'd have to do is pop it in.... hmmmmmmm :D

[bhunt70]

17. If you are comfortable, make sure everything is seated...

in it's sockets inside the computer. It's possible the memory, the video card, or an ethernet card became slightly dislodged.

[mikeiddy]

18. Did you spill something in your keyboard.?

I've had that stop a boot as you describe.

[ArmchairActivist]

20. Despair begins to set in...

Well, I've tried pretty much everything on the menu now, and to no avail. The last things left are to pull and reseat the video card (or maybe scrap it, and just try with the onboard connection.) and to swap out the keyboard, though I'm 99.9 percent sure there was no spill.

So what's left? Some sort of spontaneous mobo failure? Random CPU death? As someone said upthread, 'It's a computer, anything is possible,' I guess.

Anyways, I appreciate all the help on this thread (even you, snarky Mac guy :D)so far, and hold out some hope that a miracle cure may yet be suggested...

-AA

[maine_raptor]

21. If your video card

is gone then you would not be getting a signal to the monitor. Try the onboard connection, but also see if you can't find another simular video card and swap that out. If still nothing try a different monitor.

I could be any number of things, but trying to figure out what from way over here is hard to do.

It sounds like you are not ever getting the flash (BIOS) screen.

Can you post the specs of the PC: Manufacturer, model, cpu, etc.?

[ArmchairActivist]

22. Specs, such as they are:

Manufacturer = nearby computer store (out of business now, from what I can determine... lol)

Mobo = MS-6540G (v2.x)Micro ATX mainboard. (MSI is the company, I believe)

Vid card = mx4000-t64/t32 (waste of time card, really... should have got something decent, or nothing at all)

CPU = Some sort of P4 (can't remember now...)

I'm getting nothing on the screen at all, no matter what config. I attempt. The machine doesn't boot, or even really start to.. the little light on the CDR slowly blinks at me, mocking...

Lugged the spare monitor out of the closet, nothing. Tried with no vid card, with a vid card... nothing... sigh...

[maine_raptor]

25. Sorry, but it needs to go into the shop

And I hate to tell you but the MSI MB is not the most reliable. Try to get an ASUS. You might be able to save some money by using the parts off of the old MB if they have not been damaged.

Take it to a Computer Person and see what they say.

[ArmchairActivist]

26. It seems inevitable...

...I just hope it's only the MB, and that the CPU is unharmed.

Time to put this thread to bed. Thanks again for the advice, all.

[Jamastiene]

23. Is it your monitor?

If the computer seems to be doing something but you aren't seeing anything, maybe it's the monitor? Maybe. If not, just reinstall an operating system or go get a zip drive and buy a new hard drive. Install the new drive, install the operating system on the new drive, then use the zip drive to backup all files you can manage to save on the old drive. Maybe that's it. I'd have to fidget with it to see it firsthand and figure it out, but from what you have said, maybe it's the monitor or your drive got zapped.

[sendero]

24. This is a tough one..

... at least *some* motherboards will do a POST even with no RAM present. Take the RAM out and see if you hear some beeps.

You could also take out the video card and try for some POST beeps...

If neither of those do anything, you are probably looking at a new MB.

You could get a used one the same model off of ebay for cheap.