Computer not POSTing (Have no idea what is wrong)

YourAverageDoge

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Jan 31, 2015
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Before I begin, I would like to admit that I am relatively inexperienced working inside computers and I apologize for my lack of terminology and computers in general. I hope you can still understand my issue and potentially help me out with my issue. About 2 months ago, I shocked my computer on boot (ESD?). Knowing something was wrong since it did not boot (or even POST), I tried to reset the CMOS and my problem was fixed. Or so I thought.



The first few days after the CMOS reset, my PC worked fine no problems, but then one day it wouldn't boot again. I had not performed any work inside of my computer after the CMOS reset. I restarted my computer and it booted fine. The next 2 weeks the problem persisted, each day having to reboot it more and more for it two work until finally about 3 days ago, it wouldn't boot. Before I go any further, my computer is a Dell Inspirion 660s, specs posted at end of thread. Yes it is prebuilt and yes it is a super slim computer, so the PSU is shaped really weird (more on this later)



I opened up my computer to see what was wrong and after reading through some forums on this website, I came to the conclusion that my RAM was causing the issue. I drove up to the store and bought some RAM, drove home, opened up my computer and tried the RAM out and I discovered that wasn't the problem and now I have 8 GBs of new RAM that has no use. The only thing left to blame was my power supply since I had done nothing to it and the problem was getting worse and worse over time. My question to you is am I correct to blame my PSU or is there something else that is wrong. My plan is to buy a new case, PSU, maybe a motherboard and move all the parts that still work into the new case.




Specs:
Motherboard: DIB75R/PInevalley Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core i3-3240
RAM: (old RAM)SKhynix 1x4 GB DDR3 (new RAM, I only installed 1 stick)PNY XR8 2x4 GB DDR3 Kit
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200 RPM


Thank you for reading this thread and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask as I can provide much more details or clarify some of the things I mentioned. Writing every single detail would bore you to death and make this thread longer than it already is which is why there aren't as many details. Once again, I hope you can help me out and thank you for taking your precious time to read my thread and potentially solve my issue. Thanks and have a great day!
 
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YourAverageDoge

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Jan 31, 2015
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It has 2x 4GB sticks, but i only tried to use one because I thought my CPU could only use 4GB instead of 8. I only bought 2x 4GB because it was at a good deal and I planned to upgrade soon anyways.
 

Neur0nauT

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It's not unknown for commercially pre-built systems like this to have "known" flaws. If you haven't already searched online forums for owners of the same system, you should check the forums firstly. There may be an apparent bug or similar issue that owners of this model have become aware of, and resolved with a certain driver, or mobo update etc. Aside from this.. it is just about narrowing it down to a hardware fault (if you have already replicated the issue with an OS [eg. Windows] reinstallation, or Factory Restore process? then it eludes to a hardware fault)

8GB of RAM is far from useless if you've managed to boot the system with it...you can therefore rule the OS (primary) hard drive and RAM.

That narrows it to Motherboard or Power Supply. In my experience...Dell PSUs don't last forever like others. Especially weird Small Form Factor designs that tend to overheat after the "dust-bunnies" take hold. You can probably pick up a used replacement on the famous auction site that won't be named.

You mentioned an ESD. Can you elaborate on that? Are you referring to a power surge? There is a possibility that you've simply fried a component, and now its faulting. RAM is a common cause, but not always. The motherboard simply might be damaged after a static short.

 

YourAverageDoge

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Jan 31, 2015
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If shocking your computer with your hand counts as an ESD, then that is what I was referring to. The shock was pretty significant because it didn't allow my system to POST or boot at all for that matter until I reset the CMOS. Before I shocked it, it worked perfectly, no problems. Also, what do you recommend I do, change the motherboard or the PSU first? I can get around to both of them, but not at the same time. I just need my system to boot into Windows and I can be happy for now. Could it really be the motherboard because it looked fine to me and worked besides that thing where it didn't POST sometimes. It only stopped working when one day, I turned it on and off about 10 times and it never POSTED. After reading through some forums of users who have a very similar issue, the Dell experts said that it is either the motherboard or the power supply, but that it is "highly unlikely" that they both fail at the same time.

Thanks for replying and I hope you have a good day!
 

Neur0nauT

Admirable


If you are sure that you may have sparked an ESD and felt it happen...then that's not an impossibility...You are still going have to do the process of elimination between the PSU, then the motherboard. i.e. Install a different PSU first...then, If the issue persists....then ultimately you have a motherboard problem. Which would involve contacting the manufacturer. If it is out of warranty.. There are a lot of factors to take out a motherboard, an unless you are good at soldering on a nano-scale..then It is time to buy a new motherboard.
 

YourAverageDoge

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Jan 31, 2015
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The motherboard still beeps when I take out the RAM telling me that it doesn't detect the RAM. Could this mean the motherboard is still alive or does it not matter? Thanks again for helping me out!
 

Neur0nauT

Admirable


It is a good sign that your motherboard is at least reporting these factors, although it will not point out an ongoing fault that may be the reason behind the increasing crashes.

I suggest you go to this website and download Memtest86. Install it onto a bootable USB stick - The instructions for this are on that website also.

This will allow you to boot with the USB stick and run tests on your RAM modules for errors. Check it out and see what it reports back.

 
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