why isn't my 486 booting?

[toastmaster]

i'm attempting to repair an old 486 (isn't that kinda redundant?) and i've been having some problems. none of my peripherals were being recognized cause all the cords were falling out of their sockets. i fixed that and now my computer gives me a blank screen when i start up. i can hear the fan spinning and all the peripheral lights light up, but i don't hear a boot up sound.

[Covenant]

Hi.
Are you getting any beeps from the speaker at all.
Your problem could be anything from an incorrectly fitted cable to a faulty memory stick, and if you have any beeps it could provide a clue.

Covenant

[toastmaster]

normally it counts the memory when it starts. i'm getting absolutely no sound at all. it starts, the lights turn on, the fan spins, and the moniter keeps giving me a blank stare.

[catcow]

Try unplugging all of the cables and cards again and putting them back one by one until the fault shows up. You will know where the problem is then.

[toastmaster]

thanks. i'll try that and see if i get any better results.

[bobcat]

Did you replace the battery on the MB?
On a 486 it is most likely a long round battery that is purple and sits near the keyboard connector. Some 486 MB have a pin out that allows you to just attach an external battery to it. If it does not have that ability, you are out of luck.

If you need to find a special battery for the MB you can look here:

http://www.batteriesplus.com/

[toastmaster]

i figured it out. my mobo is fried. it happened when i was plugging everything back in.

[fragnaked]

nevermind....

[This message has been edited by fragnaked (edited 06-14-2000).]

[dstange]

A blank screen usually means a memory issue:

are they in the right slots?
are they the right type?

older cpus like that want non-parity

[Win_98]

You will know it fry if you put that cpu in another MB and it work fine and also the same VGA card memory etc for diagnosting.