Yrag.....IPlural...... Anyone!!! I need computer help
Sunday, February 15, 2004 by BoXXi | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
HI Guys...... here's the story..... I just got my spare computer back from a friends house....I loaned it to him for a while.... It's apparently been working o.k., but when I got it home this is what happened: connected everything up ....no problems.... but when I turn it on, there is a little bit of disk activity, but then nothing....the monitor doesn't even come out of standby and NOTHING appears on the screen. Anybody have any idea why it isn't even attempting to boot? its a PII 233Mhz with 320mb ram matrox video card and a 3.2GB hard drive.
If any one has any ideas I would be grateful......Thank you. 
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BoXXi
Reply #62 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:35 PM
Reply #62 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:35 PM
I just noticed..... the cpu fan is not turning....does that tell you anything John? (no printers or anything hooked up at the moment.)
yrag
Reply #63 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:48 PM
Reply #63 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:48 PM
Is your case fan running? ....and how dirty is that CPU fan?
IPlural
Reply #64 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:51 PM
Reply #64 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:51 PM
one of three things come to mind...
1: bad or shorting CPU fan
2: system short
3: bad or going bad PSU
I would lean towards a short of some sort taking place.
If all was working before it was put into the car, and then not after coming out of the car. The only thing that could have taken place in the car is vibration leading to shifting parts.
If nothing odd took place as far as plugging it in while turned on, power suppy is not switched over to US instead of UK power standard, and there was not any type of flash indicating a power surge or a burnt air (ozone smell) inside the case, then it would have to pretty much be something in transit.
Something you can do is actually pull and smell the cards, cpu and such. If they are cooked you will not be able to mistake it, that is a smell once learned is feared
It is kind of like a "New CRT Monitor" smell, but a bit weaker and musty burnt...
1: bad or shorting CPU fan
2: system short
3: bad or going bad PSU
I would lean towards a short of some sort taking place.
If all was working before it was put into the car, and then not after coming out of the car. The only thing that could have taken place in the car is vibration leading to shifting parts.
If nothing odd took place as far as plugging it in while turned on, power suppy is not switched over to US instead of UK power standard, and there was not any type of flash indicating a power surge or a burnt air (ozone smell) inside the case, then it would have to pretty much be something in transit.
Something you can do is actually pull and smell the cards, cpu and such. If they are cooked you will not be able to mistake it, that is a smell once learned is feared
It is kind of like a "New CRT Monitor" smell, but a bit weaker and musty burnt...
BoXXi
Reply #65 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:56 PM
Reply #65 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:56 PM
No smells, ( I know the smell you mean John) Case fan is running fine. (PSU is quite new in this case, about 6months old) CPU fan IS pretty dirty, I have cleaned it up a bit, gonna try it again.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #66 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:57 PM
Reply #66 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:57 PM
Without the fan running the CPU will overheat in seconds and bring everything to a stop 
yrag
Reply #67 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:58 PM
Reply #67 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:58 PM
Yeah, John...it's a smell you don't forget...
I'm not real concerned about the CPU fan....most 233's came down the pike without them and Intel's only throttle down versus burning up, but if the case fan isn't running, I agreed with you that it's most likely the PSU heading south....
I know this is something simple....just can't put my finger on it......
I'm not real concerned about the CPU fan....most 233's came down the pike without them and Intel's only throttle down versus burning up, but if the case fan isn't running, I agreed with you that it's most likely the PSU heading south....
I know this is something simple....just can't put my finger on it......
IPlural
Reply #68 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:58 PM
Reply #68 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:58 PM
mmm, had you actually seen the system running before you packed it up and put it in your car?
I mean, that day right before taking it home?
I mean, that day right before taking it home?
Sput
Reply #69 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:00 PM
Reply #69 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:00 PM
CPU fan not working means the PSU isn't passing any power out - which on an older model like that probably means the PSU is the problem...as IPlural has already suggested - make sure you disconnect EVERYTHING from the PSU in the case...I've had many times when a blown floppy or HDD, or even a faulty reset switch on the case can stop the PSU from starting up.
With any diagnostics like this, if you've tried the basics (which you have) then go back to basics. Empty the case if needed, connect the PSU to the hard disk and see if it spins up. If it doesn't then the PSU or the HDD are at fault.
There's a small fuse inside most PSU, which can blow easily...it's not a user servicable part and I'd certainly not recomend anyone open up a PSU unless you seriously know what you're doing....but, the fuse is sometimes all it needs replacing. I'll stress again though, if it's the PSU, just get a replacement or borrow one from somewhere to see if there's other faults too.
With any diagnostics like this, if you've tried the basics (which you have) then go back to basics. Empty the case if needed, connect the PSU to the hard disk and see if it spins up. If it doesn't then the PSU or the HDD are at fault.
There's a small fuse inside most PSU, which can blow easily...it's not a user servicable part and I'd certainly not recomend anyone open up a PSU unless you seriously know what you're doing....but, the fuse is sometimes all it needs replacing. I'll stress again though, if it's the PSU, just get a replacement or borrow one from somewhere to see if there's other faults too.
BoXXi
Reply #70 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:05 PM
Reply #70 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:05 PM
I don't think the PSU is the problem....as I said, it's quite new, and everything seems to fire up. The CD drive works, the hard drive fires up but stops after very little disk activity, which leads me to believe it MIGHT be the CPU that is fried. I'm not that knowlegable though, I could be miles out!!
yrag
Reply #71 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:06 PM
Reply #71 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:06 PM
Hey John.....what about the power switch connecter at the bottom of the board?
Thought you may have shot the thing Bryan.....check the connecters at the bottom of the board...
[Message Edited]
Thought you may have shot the thing Bryan.....check the connecters at the bottom of the board...
[Message Edited]
IPlural
Reply #74 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:20 PM
Reply #74 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:20 PM
connectors can do it, reversed floppy cable will do it every time...
mmm...
Gary's got a point there on the switch/sound/led pin block...
if pulling the cards and cables, leaving the switch block all connected (led's and turbo, on/off) and you still get nothing, then pull all of those also, but keep the power and sound hooked up...
make sure they are on the correct pins also, for what ever reason when they silk screen the layout on those they make it so you need a electromicron telescope to read them... one pin off in either difection of reversed can put your system in fubar mode
[Message Edited]
mmm...
Gary's got a point there on the switch/sound/led pin block...
if pulling the cards and cables, leaving the switch block all connected (led's and turbo, on/off) and you still get nothing, then pull all of those also, but keep the power and sound hooked up...
make sure they are on the correct pins also, for what ever reason when they silk screen the layout on those they make it so you need a electromicron telescope to read them... one pin off in either difection of reversed can put your system in fubar mode
[Message Edited]
BoXXi
Reply #75 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:25 PM
Reply #75 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:25 PM
But surely, If no one has been inside the case, they cant be reversed or in the wrong place, as they would still be in the same place as when it left me in working condition. I have checked everything is seated properly, so I guess it must be a major component like the cpu or the board.
Sput
Reply #76 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:26 PM
Reply #76 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:26 PM
Ahhh...didn't spot that the CD etc was getting power...my oversight.
However, as long as the HDD is getting power, then it should spin up if it's not connected to anything else by the ribbon cable. If it's going dead after a moment, then that doesn't sound good for the drive....By "stops after a little activity" though, do you mean that the light goes out? If so, then that's normal until it gets instructions from the MB as long as it keeps spinning...
Silly question, but do you have a multimeter to hand? It's still possible the PSU is the problem if only the 5V lines are working....the HDD and CD usually only tap the 5V supply where as the MB needs the 12V working too...
However, as long as the HDD is getting power, then it should spin up if it's not connected to anything else by the ribbon cable. If it's going dead after a moment, then that doesn't sound good for the drive....By "stops after a little activity" though, do you mean that the light goes out? If so, then that's normal until it gets instructions from the MB as long as it keeps spinning...
Silly question, but do you have a multimeter to hand? It's still possible the PSU is the problem if only the 5V lines are working....the HDD and CD usually only tap the 5V supply where as the MB needs the 12V working too...
Jafo
Reply #77 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:26 PM
Reply #77 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:26 PM
Assuming no-one openned the case and 'fiddled' then the most likely issue is the CPU fan 'stalled' being dirty and the CPU is now toast. It DOES happen.
If the CPU fan can be kick-started to run....[flick it with your finger while powered up] then that'll be the culprit....and it's new CPU time...
'IF' some 'friend' has 'fiddled' without your knowledge then ask him/her what 'happened' and why.
So many ways to revert electronics and placky bits to junk-status it ain't funny...
Sput
Reply #78 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:29 PM
Reply #78 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:29 PM
BoXXi - at this point, you ought to have almost nothing left connected, let alone seated correctly...a MB, Processor and RAM connected to the PSU would be the starting point from now...and you might even want to take out the RAM and Processor...not kidding, as a lot of MB's and BIOS will give you a nice series of beeps even without a CPU or RAM...
yrag
Reply #79 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:32 PM
Reply #79 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:32 PM
Yeah...this no beep thing is really annoying me...even if the CPU was dead, dying or indifferent, it would still beep. As a matter of fact, you could take everything out and it would still beep. This is a memory check John (your memory)...didn't these boards have removable Bios chips set in a socket?
Jafo
Reply #80 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:38 PM
Reply #80 Monday, February 16, 2004 8:38 PM
yrag....I've had zero post codes from a board which had a dud CPU....pickled by fan.
Perhaps without the CPU some boards 'may' emit a post signal....but not always.
Also....silly Q, but modern boards have a piezo post...older ones will be dead silent if the PC speaker is not connected....and since they are one of the crappiest components....usually some dopey home-solder job....another thing to check...
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Reply #61 Monday, February 16, 2004 7:28 PM