Computer completely DEAD!

[M1pilot]

Had the same thing happen to me the other day on my standby comp. I replaced the vid card (C/L Banshee)and everythings good now.

-M1pilot

[richamies]

I don't know why but this is sounding like a PSU/Mobo problem. Check the voltage going to the processor too. Have you tried the system with all power sucking devices unplugged(hard drives, cdrom, fdd, etc)?
Also unplug any external devices like printers, scanners, etc etc. just get the bare bones ready like the mobo, mem, cpu and vid card.

[CMonster]

CPU core voltage?

It may need 2.4+ volts core to boot.

[deep_sky]

you mentioned a strange grinding sound from your hard drive? perhaps your drive is not in the best of shape? does it usually make that sound??

[Legoboy]

I have a homebuilt PC that has just died completely. Spec is: Win98, 8.2GB HD, Creative 48x CD-ROM, Mitsumi CD Re-Writer, AMD K6-3/450, 128MB PC100, Gigabyte GA5AX Motherboard, Voodoo3 3000, Soundblaster 128, Internal Modem (33.6 Hardware) and a Belinea 17" Monitor.

The system has suffered random crashes and lockups since I built it and even a fresh install of Win98 didn't solve the problem but now the machine won't boot at all...nothing! The power light comes on, Hard drive makes a strange grinding noise then nothing, no POST or anything. And the monitor won't switch on either, it just clicks about once a second. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Legoboy

[CMonster]

Sounds like it could be a power supply or CPU problem.

BTW, what is the core voltage of your CPU?

You may want to start diagnosing it by removing/ disconnecting all but the CPU, RAM, and video card.

[richamies]

Is the monitor plugged into the back of the PSU, as opposed to a wall socket?
It is worth taking out the processor, memory, sound card and any other cards that you have installed. Replace them one by one and see if that helps.
If that fails, unplug your hard drive, floppy drive and CD-ROM.
Obviously, your machine won't power up with the memory, cpu and graphics card, so make sure they are all in at the same time http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Best of luck to you.

[Legoboy]

Monitor is plugged into a wall socket via a surge protector. The system board is getting power just fine, cpu fan starts up and all indicator lights come on (HD, CD-RW, FDD and CD-ROM). Tried taking out the CPU and it does exactly the same thing. I'm thinking along the lines of blown Motherboard/CPU/memory. And the monitor should come on regardless of the status of the video output, it just displays "No Signal," instead I just get the clicking sound. Power surge perhaps or something along those lines?

Thanks

Legoboy

[This message has been edited by Legoboy (edited 01-09-2000).]

[Axel]

A bad hard drive, however, should just result in a "non-system disk error", not a total crash.

My top list of suspects are -
1) - bad motherboard - you can have it checked at most PC shops
2) - bad CPU - possibly totally fried - that can be checked as well
3) - toasted BIOS chip - might be identified in a general mobo check.
4) - toasted RAM or RAM sockets on the mobo, - but doesn't explain the no post error

Have you noticed any electrical storms or other power surge events that might have fried your equipment? - If you can tie it to lightning, your home-owner's policy or renter's insurance might buy you a new mobo/PC

[Andy_L]

in order to POST, the computer uses the first few memory addresses to load and execute the bios programs from rom. so the computer may not post if the memory is bad (of course, if the computer can't load and execute post, the fans, lights, etc won't work either) I agree with motherboard, video or cpu being faulty.

[Legoboy]

I've pretty much given up on getting this machine working again " as is." I've ordered a new CPU (AMD K6-3/450), new mobo (Microstar 5169) and a new memory module. I'll basically put a new mobo in the case then add the old cpu and memory and see what happens. If it doesn't post then I'll add first a new mem module folowed by the new CPU. I'm hoping the video and sound system is ok (or else this will get very expensive!) and that it's just the mobo and/or CPU blown.

I'll keep you updated and thanks for all your suggestions thus far.

Legoboy

[Axel]

For those that have the funds, that's probably the best course of action, with one little modification - don't put the old CPU chip in the new board - if it was heat damage, you could end up damaging the socket on the new mobo or break a pin in it - THAT's bad news - best to just go with the new chip and move on with life.

[Legoboy]

OK, thanks for that, I'll just bin the old CPU and buy a better surge protector!

I should receive everything tomorrow and I'll post after getting it set-up to let everyone know how I got on and what the problem probably was (or wasn't).

Axel, forgot to mention this, although there were no electrical storms or other such events, the monitor does also seem to be blown. The indicator light doesn't even come on, the monitor just clicks. Is this indicative of a dead monitor? It's a Belinea 17" 10 30 20.

Cheers

Legoboy

[This message has been edited by Legoboy (edited 01-10-2000).]

[richamies]

I'll take the faulty bits off your hands for FREE!

Good deal? Hmmmmmmm

[Legoboy]

Erm...oooops!

OK, got the new components but I decided to have one more fidlle with the "dead" machine before I ripped it apart. Turns out the ZIF socket grid was slightly misaligned and the CPU was never installed properly in the first place, it was just sat in the slot and the lever lowered. You can guess what happened...it worked it's way free of the slot (or more accurately, the socket pins)! So after giving it a good push, resulting in a satisfying "click," the machine booted as if nothing was wrong! Monitor was damaged by the power button being turned on and off quickly! Fortunately Belinea have a swap out policy and they replaced it for a new one within a day of calling them...PHEW!

So thanks for all your help everyone!

Legoboy (feeling rather silly ;-)

[ram]

HeHE how much ya want for the new parts ya got.I had a good one happen to me also.Power supply went out on my Amptron 9600 system.So i went out and got a new MB and Case,new memmory,and didnt even mess with the old one except putting the drives and cards in the new one,can only handle so many headaches at once ya know http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Legoboy]

LOL! It happens to the best of us! But I must say I have been extremely impressed by the response from all of you that tried to help me... BIG THANKS to:
CMonster
Richamies
M1Pilot
deep_sky
Axel
Andy_L

Cheers!

Legoboy

Edit- Sorry Ram, gonna hang on to the new parts ;-) Just in case... ~LB~



[This message has been edited by Legoboy (edited 01-13-2000).]