Computer died...but why?

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Myriad_Rocker

Myriad_Rocker

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I was using the computer on the net...checking email. I left for about 2 mins and came back and the computer was froze. I did a cold reset (turned off the power and then turned it back on) and nothing happened. All the fans came on...but the computer didn't POST (beep at startup). I thought it might be the RAM...tested it...nothing. I stripped it down to bare bones...nothing.

So...my only possible conclusion is it's the motherboard or the processor. Are my assumptions correct?
 
The first place to look is the power supply. They fail and lock everything up. I just replaced the PSU in my recording computer when it was freezing on me. Problem solved. Buy the best quality PSU you can: I had one fail and it took out everything inside the case (hard drives, sound card, motherboard...).
 
lpdeluxe said:
The first place to look is the power supply. They fail and lock everything up. I just replaced the PSU in my recording computer when it was freezing on me. Problem solved. Buy the best quality PSU you can: I had one fail and it took out everything inside the case (hard drives, sound card, motherboard...).
Click to expand...

It's an Antec True Power 550W...that's a pretty good PSU. Besides, everything is getting power. The drive lights come on, the HD's spin, the fans come on...

Makes it unlikely to be the PSU.
 
If it wont POST, and you checked the RAM, then It is most likely a motherboard problem. From what I've read and through my own experience, it's usually PSU, RAM, then Motherboard for these types of problems.
 
Can you get to the bios or is it just a black screen?
 
Like I said, nothing happens except fans come on and stuff. No post...
 
Could be the mainboard or video card. No beep codes?
 
Pull out every card you can and try it...if that works replace one at a time.
 
altitude909 said:
Could be the mainboard or video card. No beep codes?
Click to expand...

i second the video card idea.
i've had that problem before...i freaked out that my computer was dying. come to realize it that my graphics card just went dead. Spent 40 bucks on a new one and I was back in business!

see if you can try another card in the computer
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
I was using the computer on the net...checking email. I left for about 2 mins and came back and the computer was froze. I did a cold reset (turned off the power and then turned it back on) and nothing happened. All the fans came on...but the computer didn't POST (beep at startup). I thought it might be the RAM...tested it...nothing. I stripped it down to bare bones...nothing.

So...my only possible conclusion is it's the motherboard or the processor. Are my assumptions correct?
Click to expand...

It sounds like you need to reset your BIOS. There is a jumper on your MB to do this.

I have had this happen to me, usually as a result of a brownout.

My system would start up, but no post, no beeps, nothing. Resetting the BIOS fixed it.
 
I would look to either the video card or the motherboard. If it was ram, depending on the motherboard and what was wrong with the ram, you might still get a startup screen, but get a notification of no or bad memory.

I would inspect the PCB on both the MB and the videocard and look for any obvious burn marks....

and definitely try to swap the video card with a known good one, if you have one around...
 
fraserhutch said:
It sounds like you need to reset your BIOS. There is a jumper on your MB to do this.

I have had this happen to me, usually as a result of a brownout.

My system would start up, but no post, no beeps, nothing. Resetting the BIOS fixed it.
Click to expand...

Do you mean flash the bios? If so, I can't do that because I can't even get to the BIOS. Nothing happens.

If the video card went out, would it not post? I would think it would at least post.
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
Do you mean flash the bios? If so, I can't do that because I can't even get to the BIOS. Nothing happens.

If the video card went out, would it not post? I would think it would at least post.
Click to expand...


No, you just need to reset the BIOS. There is a jumper on the motherboard to do this, and it involves momentarily moving a jumper over 2 pins. It's quick and painless.

Your bios contains the routines to post. If that gets wierded out, it does not know how to get to the code to run the post. The default BIOS settings will get you there.

Trust me, it's your BIOS. And it's an easy thing to reset.
 
bitsandvolts said:
I would look to either the video card or the motherboard. If it was ram, depending on the motherboard and what was wrong with the ram, you might still get a startup screen, but get a notification of no or bad memory.

I would inspect the PCB on both the MB and the videocard and look for any obvious burn marks....

and definitely try to swap the video card with a known good one, if you have one around...
Click to expand...

If the problem was the video card, you'd at least get POSt starting, and beep codes or a visual confiormation that there was a problem. He doesn't even get to post, so it has to be a bios problem.

No memory or bad memory also result in beep codes. Incidentally, the memory check takes place in the bios post.
 
was it the BIOS? just wondering if you've tried it yet.
 
fraserhutch said:
No, you just need to reset the BIOS. There is a jumper on the motherboard to do this, and it involves momentarily moving a jumper over 2 pins. It's quick and painless.

Your bios contains the routines to post. If that gets wierded out, it does not know how to get to the code to run the post. The default BIOS settings will get you there.

Trust me, it's your BIOS. And it's an easy thing to reset.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're describing clearing the CMOS. There's a jumper for that on the mobo and I've already done that. It didn't work.
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
Sounds like you're describing clearing the CMOS. There's a jumper for that on the mobo and I've already done that. It didn't work.
Click to expand...

Yes, I meant resetting your BIOS via the CMOS, sorry about the confusion. If you tried that and it didn't solve the problem, then you have a problem with your MB.

Nothing else will work until you can get into the POST.

Could be as simple as replacing the battery that backs the cmos all the way up to having to replace the mb.
 
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