PC won't boot.

[Robc1880]

I have already tried troubleshooting my aunts system and can't seem to figure out what the problem is. I have replaced the PSU and it still didn't help. This is my aunts computer and was wondering if someone here might be able to help me figure the problem out. She said that she was checking her e-mail one day and then turned her computer off. The next day she started the computer back up and then the case lights and everything else started flickering and then turned off.

I tried replacing the PSU from a cheifmax 450W to the thermaltake 420W purepower. This didn't make a difference. I disconnected the video card, dvd drive, floppy drive, and hard drive power. Still didn't fix the problem. I thought maybe it was the cpu fan shorting out so I tried changing that out, but of course it didn't work either. Does anyone have an idea as to what may be causing this? I'm beginning to think it's a bad motherboard or maybe a CPU. Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can give me.

her system:
Generic case with TT 420W purepower
Abit NF7-S v2.0
Athlon XP 2600 barton with thermalright slk900a
2 x 256mb Corsair 3200c2pt
NEC 1300a dvd burner
mitsumi floppy drive
WD 80GB Caviar hard drive.

Remember, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

 

[pat]

system need at least a video card to start. put the video card in with one stick of ram, nothing else and try again. You may have to try the other RAM if it dont start. If it post, then add one thing at a time until you find the bad component. Testing with the board out of the case may help too, as checking contact between CPU and heat sink.

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[Robc1880]

should I also disconnect the IDE cables?

Remember, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

 

[pat]

yes. keep only cpu/ram video card and psu plugged and try to get it to post.

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[Scout]

Did you clear the BIOS with the Jumper? If not, try that. If it still won't start, pull one stick of memory and see it it starts.

Scout
700 Mflops in SETI!

 

[schuy1]

I had a similar problem on a clients computer, and it turned out to be a bad stick of ram, thats what i would check first. Hope it helps!

 

[Robc1880]

thanks for all the input everyone, I will try that and then I will get back to you and let you know how it went. Thanks again.

Xaser 3 case with 420W TT PSU
AXP2500 w\SLK900a + TT a1214 fan(11*200 at 1.85v)
9800 Pro
NF7-S v2.0
PDP DDR400 1GB(2-3-2-5)2.6v
Lite-On SOHW-832S
WD 80GB 8mb buffer caviar edition.

 

[Robc1880]

Had to bring up this post again guys. I'm stumped. I tried everything u guys said, clearing CMOS, 1 stick of ram in all 3 slots, even tried swapping video card. I still can't get the comp to post. I noticed that the video doesn't go active when I turn the computer on so the monitor stays in idle mode even after trying my 9800 pro in that system. I even tried some memory from my system and still didn't help. I am thinking now that the mobo might be bad. What do you guys think? I appreciate any help you guys can give me, this computer is really frustrating me right now. I've run out of ideas to try on it. Thanks in advance!

Xaser 3 case with 420W TT PSU
AXP2500 (11*200 at 1.85v)
9800 Pro 128MB (stock speeds)
NF7-S v2.0
PDP DDR400 1GB(2-3-2-5)2.6v
Lite-On SOHW-832S
WD 80GB 8mb buffer caviar edition.

 

[zargian]

I have a similar problem. I took my comp into a repair store and they said it was the mobo. Strange that is just didn't start one day!

So I am going to replace the mobo and see if that works. Here is a question: the old board is an Intel Desktop Board D815EEA and looks EXACTLY like a Dell Dimension 4100 System Board 97UJY that I found on overstock.com (http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=1040661). It supports the same CPU's and seems to have the same specs.

So... is it the same board or has DELL thrown in some kind of propietary bs that will mess me up when I try to swap just the board (I don't want to mess with reloading windows, etc!)

peas

 

[Robc1880]

best thing for you to try and do is go to the Dell website and look up the specs on that system. It should list on there somewhere what motherboard they're using.

Xaser 3 case with 420W TT PSU
AXP2500 (11*200 at 1.85v)
9800 Pro 128MB (stock speeds)
NF7-S v2.0
PDP DDR400 1GB(2-3-2-5)2.6v
Lite-On SOHW-832S
WD 80GB 8mb buffer caviar edition.

 

[Coyote]

Had to bring up this post again guys. I'm stumped. I tried everything u guys said, clearing CMOS, 1 stick of ram in all 3 slots, even tried swapping video card. I still can't get the comp to post. I noticed that the video doesn't go active when I turn the computer on so the monitor stays in idle mode even after trying my 9800 pro in that system. I even tried some memory from my system and still didn't help. I am thinking now that the mobo might be bad. What do you guys think? I appreciate any help you guys can give me, this computer is really frustrating me right now. I've run out of ideas to try on it. Thanks in advance!

Is the red mobo LED lit when the PC is off?

Might try to get the mobo to respond with proper beep codes. Leave the gfx card out, or the ram etc.

IF the red LED is not lit (must have it plugged in and PSU's rocker switch to "on" postion) or it doesn't give the proper beep codes (need case speaker hooked up) then I'd say the mobo died.

Beep codes for the NF7-S <A HREF="http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41852" target="_new">http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41852</A>

Mobile XP 2600+ (11X215)
Abit NF7-S v 2.0
Maxtor 60GB ATA 133 7200RPM
512MB Corsair Twinx 3200LL
BBA 9800 Pro
Enermax Noisetaker 420 watts
Win2K sp4

 

[Robc1880]

yes the light stays on when the pc is off. It seems like after 20-30 seconds after i turn it on the PC starts to do the power flickering. It starts slow and then the flickering gets faster until it eventually turns off.

Xaser 3 case with 420W TT PSU
AXP2500 (11*200 at 1.85v)
9800 Pro 128MB (stock speeds)
NF7-S v2.0
PDP DDR400 1GB(2-3-2-5)2.6v
Lite-On SOHW-832S
WD 80GB 8mb buffer caviar edition.

 

[endyen]

Check the power coming into the computer. Use a voltmeter or multimeter. I had a power bar that turned into a voltage divider, only gave 80 volts to the system.
Did you try with all unnecessary parts removed? That includes floppy drives, and modems. Did you check for coffee stains?, or loose pieces of metal?

 

[Flinx]

Bad capacitors or burnt torroid?
seem here for some pictures:
<A HREF="http://www.motherboardrepair.com/index.php?sec=images" target="_new">http://www.motherboardrepair.com/index.php?sec=images</A>

The loving are the daring!

 

[Robc1880]

I checked the power and everything looks normal. I dont see any burnt torrids or capacitors. I'll probably try a few other things before I try to send it back to Abit. Thanks for the help guys

Xaser 3 case with 420W TT PSU
AXP2500 (11*200 at 1.85v)
9800 Pro 128MB (stock speeds)
NF7-S v2.0
PDP DDR400 1GB(2-3-2-5)2.6v
Lite-On SOHW-832S
WD 80GB 8mb buffer caviar edition.