Author Topic: Computer problem (Read 1638 times)

AdmRose · « **on:** January 13, 2004, 11:33:04 AM »

Well I had to shut down my desktop last night, and when I went to restart it all the lights came on as did the cooling fan, but the computer just wouldn't start up. I tried turning the power off and then back on but only got the same result. Then I tried disconnecting the power and reconnecting and STILL the same result. I tried it all again this morning before I left and I still got the same result. My computer is custom built and has always been a little iffy about turning on, which is why I've always kept it running. I don't know if I should take it to Best Buy and have them look at it for gobs of money, so I thought I'd ask the thinktank here first. Any ideas what the problem might be?

straffo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2004, 11:41:05 AM »

do the CPU fan work ?

AdmRose · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2004, 11:44:14 AM »

Yea the fan works its just the OS won't start up.

zmeg · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2004, 11:46:05 AM »

Try turning off the power switch on the back of the power supply for about 10 seconds to reset overload protection, if this works you probly need a biger power supply.

AdmRose · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2004, 12:04:40 PM »

I tried that and it turns back on, but the OS won't start up and the on light, status light, and CD ROM light up and stay lit. Pushing the buttons on the front has no effect.

zmeg · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2004, 12:13:13 PM »

Do you get anything on the monitor?

AdmRose · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2004, 12:23:06 PM »

Just the monitor self-test to show that its working.

zmeg · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2004, 12:32:29 PM »

If you have an old vidio card try that and see what happens,

AdmRose · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2004, 12:47:49 PM »

Unfortunately I don't have one handy.

zmeg · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2004, 12:51:58 PM »

If your hard drive light is coming on and flashing then your system is probly running just not getting through to monitor, mabey you could take out the vid card and test it on a friends computer.

Eagler · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2004, 01:33:32 PM »

if you need a card to test, let me know - I have an AGP card you can borrow

DAVENRINO · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2004, 01:46:06 PM »

I had this exact problem on my Guam box last week. It was a dead RAM module. Try reseating your RAM and PCI/AGP cards first. Strange, when mine first failed to boot, I had a continuous series of beeps and then no beeps after I reseated the RAM, etc. It finally booted with the good module in Slot 1 and still worked when I added a spare to Slot 2. If you have a spare or two installed, try installing one at a time and even in different slots if your mobo supports this. If ya only have one then try it in another bOx. This is the easiest/cheapest test and will at least narrow down your problem. I have also had mobos with one dead slot.

DJ229 - AIR MAFIA

BB Gun · « **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2004, 02:05:09 PM »

Last time *I* had this problem, the system wasn't detecting ANY drives, and the reason it wasn't detecting them is that the rail putting power to the hard drives had gone tits up and wasn't supplying power fast enough to initialize the drives on boot/reboot.

Replaced the powersupply and everything was hunkydory.

What powersupply do you use, how old is it and what are its numbers?

(amps at 3.3, 5 and 12 volt lines, over all wattage, wattage at each line and combinatoin wattage for 3.3+5 volt lines)

BB

AdmRose · « **Reply #13 on:** January 13, 2004, 09:59:11 PM »

Ummm....I can tell you if you can tell me where the heck to find that info:confused:

BB Gun · « **Reply #14 on:** January 13, 2004, 11:35:01 PM »

There should be a label on the power supply inside your case that has the info.

It should look something like this:

(thanks to Newegg.com for their product info pics)

BB