Computer died...but why?

[Myriad_Rocker]

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.

Good point about the battery...I'll check that out first.

 

[seryozha]

If the battery is dead, you would get a POST, the BIOS would have to always be reset however.

If you have taken the board out, put it on a non-conductive surface, attached only the psu, cpu, memory,and a video card and it still will not POSt or Beep, then you have either a bad CPU or Motherboard. It is really hard to tell, between those two, all i can say is take the CPU out, and see if you get any beeps telling you that it doesnt have a CPU. This would at least tell you that some part of the motherbaord is working. Leading to the CPU being bad.

 

[bgavin]

It's an Antec True Power 550W...that's a pretty good PSU.

That used to be my thoughts.

I'm in the computer business, and was putting Antec supplies in all my clients machines. Antec PSU have a *far* higher failure rate than the El Cheapo (Twinkle, et al) types.

When the run, they are great. I just lost another True Power 400w in my personal system (this one), and replaced it with another from stock. I've replaced the TP 550W mentioned above, in a client machine. Just died.

I've noticed the Antecs sometimes give advance notice of failure. Pressing the RESET button will crowbar the PSU, and it won't come back until you use the Antec PSU reset tool. This plugs into the system board main multi-plug, and does a reset to the PSU electronics. Nothing else brings them back.

This is a sign of approaching end-of-life. I put up with it for a long time, cuz I'm in the business and I'm lazy. My TP400W finally died outright, so I replaced it.

My dead systems are almost always PSU problems. I currently have a client's laptop that runs great in Real (DOS) mode, but dies when it kicks into Protected (Windows) mode. System board time... the Pentium is kaput.

 

[virginiabch]

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?

Apparently your power supply has at least the 12Vdc working since your fan is on when you turn the computer on. I didn't see where you checked the hard drive. If you have a bootable floppy try booting with it in the floppy drive. This is assuming that the floppy is in the boot sequence of your bios. If it boots to the floppy try another hard drive. If you are using XP or 2000 you may not be able to boot to the replacement drive but there will be a difference in the boot.

What does the screen say on boot up? Does is go through the boot sequence and then freezes or it doesn't boot at all?

If it was RAM you would get a double beep but it doesn't seem that is the problem.

You can rule out the power supply.

Make sure all the boards are seated and none are loose especially the video card.

Have fun....

 

[fraserhutch]

Apparently your power supply has at least the 12Vdc working since your fan is on when you turn the computer on. I didn't see where you checked the hard drive. If you have a bootable floppy try booting with it in the floppy drive. This is assuming that the floppy is in the boot sequence of your bios. If it boots to the floppy try another hard drive. If you are using XP or 2000 you may not be able to boot to the replacement drive but there will be a difference in the boot.

What does the screen say on boot up? Does is go through the boot sequence and then freezes or it doesn't boot at all?

If it was RAM you would get a double beep but it doesn't seem that is the problem.

You can rule out the power supply.

Make sure all the boards are seated and none are loose especially the video card.

Have fun....

The WHOLE point is that you see nothing at boot time because he cannot get into post.

Because he cannot get into post, and hence the bios, he would be unable to access the floppy to boot from. It never gets that far into the boot sequence.

 

[fraserhutch]

If the battery is dead, you would get a POST, the BIOS would have to always be reset however.

One would think so, bot necessarily true. The cmos could get scrambled, as it did in my system. The only way to reset it is by jumping the cmos. You *would* think that it would automatically get reset, but that was not my experience.

If you have taken the board out, put it on a non-conductive surface, attached only the psu, cpu, memory,and a video card and it still will not POSt or Beep, then you have either a bad CPU or Motherboard. It is really hard to tell, between those two, all i can say is take the CPU out, and see if you get any beeps telling you that it doesnt have a CPU. This would at least tell you that some part of the motherbaord is working. Leading to the CPU being bad.

A reasonable course of action.

 

[Myriad_Rocker]

Been sick the last couple of days and haven't really felt like doing much of anything.

I've stripped the computer down to bare bones and tried it. I don't know how much of a difference actually taking the mobo and stuff out of the case and hooking it up bare bones would make any difference. The same stuff would be hooked up to it. On another note, I find it hard to swallow that it's the PSU because the LED's on the actual MOBO light up. One for just when the computer is plugged into the wall and another when the power switch is pushed. Both function as they are supposed to. All fans also function. All drives function. I can hear the HD spinning (the one I have plugged in) and the drive lights for my DVD burner and rom come on.

I can check to see if the video card is seated all the way in...but wouldn't the comp at least post even if it wasn't seated all the way? I'm at work right now and can't check it so all I can do is ask.

 

[altitude909]

but wouldn't the comp at least post even if it wasn't seated all the way?

maybe, maybe not. Even if MB lights are on, the PSU should be checked

 

[fraserhutch]

I can check to see if the video card is seated all the way in...but wouldn't the comp at least post even if it wasn't seated all the way?

Yes, the mb should still psot even if the video card is damaged or partially unseated.
Same with missing or bad memory.
You would at the very least get beep codes.

The only times I have experienced the lack of post has been due to a scrambled/fried cmos.