Computer people

[LaFlavor]

So, some part of my computer seems to have crapped out on me. Basically the stupid thing won't post. The fans and LEDs turn on. The HD sounds like it's at least starting to spin up, but the monitors remain completely blank the whole time, and none of the lights on the keyboard or mouse light up.

I've tried resetting the CMOS, and removing the battery from the motherboard for a few minutes. I've also tried removing different components like the RAM, and I've tried unplugging all of the components and plugging them back in, but I still get nothing. The only things I haven't removed are the video card (since I don't have an onboard card to plug the monitors into) and the HD, since it would still at least post if the HD had died.

I'm guessing that it's either the motherboard or the power supply. I'm leaning towards the motherboard being the culprit since this same thing happened to me a little over a month ago, and resetting the CMOS worked.

Few questions:

1. Anybody have any other ideas about what it could be? It can't be the video card, because I don't want to pony up the money to get a new one.

2. Anybody know a good place to check the compatibility of the other components with a new motherboard? I could just get the same chipset, but it appears that there are newer ones that are less expensive...go figure.

3. Anybody know of any places that can test power supplies? Stupid Best Buy broke their tester because they're stupid.

 

[rotor_powerd]

Don't rule out the HDD. I've had bad HDD's cause a computer to not even turn on. Unlplug the machine from the wall. Unplug the CDROM, HDD, floppy, and take out all the memory. Take out the CMOS battery, and hold the power button in, or repeatedly press it for a minute or two. Pop the CMOS battery back in, and try to start it with no memory. If it doesn't beep, then the board is bad. If it does, then turn it off and pop 1 stick in and try it again. If it continues to work with all the memory in, then plug in your HDD and try it.

 

[LaFlavor]

Don't rule out the HDD. I've had bad HDD's cause a computer to not even turn on. Unlplug the machine from the wall. Unplug the CDROM, HDD, floppy, and take out all the memory. Take out the CMOS battery, and hold the power button in, or repeatedly press it for a minute or two. Pop the CMOS battery back in, and try to start it with no memory. If it doesn't beep, then the board is bad. If it does, then turn it off and pop 1 stick in and try it again. If it continues to work with all the memory in, then plug in your HDD and try it.

I'll give that a shot. God, I hope it's not the HDD.

 

[divernb]

I'll give that a shot. God, I hope it's not the HDD.

You didn't back up your data, did you?

 

[RDJ]

Don't rule out the HDD. I've had bad HDD's cause a computer to not even turn on.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I want to hear this story in it's entirety. I have been in this business for 30 years heavily into hardware and I have never seen a hard drive cause a computer to "not even turn on".

most of the rest of your advice is pretty much worthless since there is not enough information to even begin to make a diagnosis without being there.


Op: It could be your hard drive but that would normally still allow your machine to post. It is not likely your power supply since you have lights and fans.

Before your problem was your computer doing a long post? i.e. all the self diagnostics showing up on the screen? or did you have it set up to do a quick post?

Are you getting any beep codes during the post process?

do you have another monitor or can you borrow one from a friend to test to be sure it is not your video card?

 

[astrodudepsu]

I wouldn't rule out the PSU. Just because the initial hardwire boots occur doesn't mean that the PSU isn't crapping out when trying to draw even more juice.

I do think it's the MoBo though, based on the limited data.

 

[LaFlavor]

You didn't back up your data, did you?

Of course not. It's all porn I found on the web anyway.

Op: It could be your hard drive but that would normally still allow your machine to post. It is not likely your power supply since you have lights and fans.

Before your problem was your computer doing a long post? i.e. all the self diagnostics showing up on the screen? or did you have it set up to do a quick post?

Are you getting any beep codes during the post process?

do you have another monitor or can you borrow one from a friend to test to be sure it is not your video card?

Pretty sure it was the long post. I never paid real close attention, but I know there were diagnostic messages before.

I'm not getting any beeps or anything now.

I have two monitors plugged into it most of the time, so I'm pretty sure it's not a monitor issue. Also, none of the lights on the USB devices (mouse, keyboard, etc) come on.

 

[rotor_powerd]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: I want to hear this story in it's entirety. I have been in this business for 30 years heavily into hardware and I have never seen a hard drive cause a computer to "not even turn on".

most of the rest of your advice is pretty much worthless since there is not enough information to even begin to make a diagnosis without being there.

Calm down there Rambo, just giving him some things to try to see what happens, and go from there. Clearing out all the juice from the board brings back 50% of dead machines I come across.

HDD story - had a desktop that died, and would not turn on. Eliminated everything through my above method, and got to the HDD. Machine did not turn on. Unplugged the HDD, boots up perfect, plug it back in - nothing. Did this several times, same result. Replaced the HDD and everything worked. You tell me how the HDD wasn't the cause and I'll mail you a cookie.

 

[astrodudepsu]

So, some part of my computer seems to have crapped out on me. Basically the stupid thing won't post. The fans and LEDs turn on. The HD sounds like it's at least starting to spin up, but the monitors remain completely blank the whole time, and none of the lights on the keyboard or mouse light up.

I've tried resetting the CMOS, and removing the battery from the motherboard for a few minutes. I've also tried removing different components like the RAM, and I've tried unplugging all of the components and plugging them back in, but I still get nothing. The only things I haven't removed are the video card (since I don't have an onboard card to plug the monitors into) and the HD, since it would still at least post if the HD had died.

I'm guessing that it's either the motherboard or the power supply. I'm leaning towards the motherboard being the culprit since this same thing happened to me a little over a month ago, and resetting the CMOS worked.

Few questions:

1. Anybody have any other ideas about what it could be? It can't be the video card, because I don't want to pony up the money to get a new one.

2. Anybody know a good place to check the compatibility of the other components with a new motherboard? I could just get the same chipset, but it appears that there are newer ones that are less expensive...go figure.

3. Anybody know of any places that can test power supplies? Stupid Best Buy broke their tester because they're stupid.

do you know the specs of your mobo and psu? as in brand names, chipsets, etc? this would help.

 

[RDJ]

Calm down there Rambo, just giving him some things to try to see what happens, and go from there. Clearing out all the juice from the board brings back 50% of dead machines I come across.

HDD story - had a desktop that died, and would not turn on. Eliminated everything through my above method, and got to the HDD. Machine did not turn on. Unplugged the HDD, boots up perfect, plug it back in - nothing. Did this several times, same result. Replaced the HDD and everything worked. You tell me how the HDD wasn't the cause and I'll mail you a cookie.

Your trouble shooting skills are those of a best buy or other computer wanna be store. Rather than take things logically, asking for more information and do things on a step by step basis you just throw everything at it and hope something sticks.

as far as your HDD story it is entirely possible that in all the jostling you most likely did you could have very well cleaned up a minor problem and just think it was the HDD and thus replaced it unnecessarily. Without being there I would not for a second believe this story. As I said 30 years doing hardware there is not much I haven't seen but I have never seen this. Your story is suspect or maybe it was just a freak incident. either way in the case at hand just willy nilly pulling stuff is not the way to go.

 

[LaFlavor]

do you know the specs of your mobo and psu? as in brand names, chipsets, etc? this would help.

Let's see, off the top of my head:

Mobo: Gigabyte, P35 Chipset (GA-P35C-DS3R 775 R)
PS: I believe a CoolerMaster 600W (RP-600-PCAR 600W RT)

Ok, I lied, I have all the stuff listed in an old e-mail.

EVGA Geforce 8800GTS video card
Intel Q6600 processor
Western digital 500G HDD

 

[RDJ]

Of course not. It's all porn I found on the web anyway.

:lol: :lol: I had almost 60gb of porn lost when I had two hard drives out of an array fail at the same time. I was pissed but got over it.

Pretty sure it was the long post. I never paid real close attention, but I know there were diagnostic messages before.

if there were diagnostic messages it was likely the long post so that is one down.

I'm not getting any beeps or anything now.

I have two monitors plugged into it most of the time, so I'm pretty sure it's not a monitor issue. Also, none of the lights on the USB devices (mouse, keyboard, etc) come on.

it COULD be your video card rather than your monitors but I would double check the monitors anyway just to eliminate them.

Have you made any changes to the computer before this problem occured?

I am betting your MB is fried. good excuse for upgrading. make sure you take the specs of your RAM, video card specs (i.e. PCI, PCI express, etc) so you get one that will support them unless you decide to upgrade them all.

 

[astrodudepsu]

Let's see, off the top of my head:

Mobo: Gigabyte, P35 Chipset (GA-P35C-DS3R 775 R)
PS: I believe a CoolerMaster 600W (RP-600-PCAR 600W RT)

Ok, I lied, I have all the stuff listed in an old e-mail.

EVGA Geforce 8800GTS video card
Intel Q6600 processor
Western digital 500G HDD

well if you do need a new MoBo a nice p45 would fit it well. i assume your ram will run at the standard 1.8v, you seem to have picked quality components.

 

[rotor_powerd]

Your trouble shooting skills are those of a best buy or other computer wanna be store. Rather than take things logically, asking for more information and do things on a step by step basis you just throw everything at it and hope something sticks.

as far as your HDD story it is entirely possible that in all the jostling you most likely did you could have very well cleaned up a minor problem and just think it was the HDD and thus replaced it unnecessarily. Without being there I would not for a second believe this story. As I said 30 years doing hardware there is not much I haven't seen but I have never seen this. Your story is suspect or maybe it was just a freak incident. either way in the case at hand just willy nilly pulling stuff is not the way to go.

No need to continue this here, especially since we won't produce anything constructive with your obvious holier-than-thou attitude (LOOK AT ME EVERYONE, I HAVE 30 (read:THRITY!!) YEARS EXPERIENCE!!). I've seen what I've seen, and troubleshooting from the bottom up is the best way to eliminate whatever is causing his problem, especially when helping him over the internet to save time.:rockon::rockon:

 

[LaFlavor]

Have you made any changes to the computer before this problem occured?

Haven't made any changes in a long, long time.

I am betting your MB is fried. good excuse for upgrading. make sure you take the specs of your RAM, video card specs (i.e. PCI, PCI express, etc) so you get one that will support them unless you decide to upgrade them all.

Getting a whole new rig is always fun, but I've spent enough on the car lately that it's something I should probably try to avoid. Besides, porn shows up just as well on the old stuff.

well if you do need a new MoBo a nice p45 would fit it well. i assume your ram will run at the standard 1.8v, you seem to have picked quality components.

Well, they lasted about a year and a half. P45 is what I'm thinking.

 

[piss&vinegar]

Hey LaFlavor, if the drive is bad, which should not cause you not to get your computer up and running, just slave it out to the new drive and hopefully you "good" data is still intact. If so, would you be willing to share some it? J/K!

 

[RDJ]

No need to continue this here, especially since we won't produce anything constructive with your obvious holier-than-thou attitude (LOOK AT ME EVERYONE, I HAVE 30 (read:THRITY!!) YEARS EXPERIENCE!!). I've seen what I've seen, and troubleshooting from the bottom up is the best way to eliminate whatever is causing his problem, especially when helping him over the internet to save time.:rockon::rockon:

giving you my experience is far from having a "holier than thou" attitude. It gives those reading (and comprehending I might add) some context for my comments. and you are right we are unlikely to do get anything constructive from further discussion. My attitude is far from the reason however. if you would like to continue this in smackdown feel free.

 

[focussvtracer]

un plug everything just leave your ram cpu in and see if it post you dont need a hdd to post

its a mobo problem maybe cpu fan not seated properly

 

[wurd2]

I wager it is the power supply.

.