Begging for HELP. System won't start up anymore!

[cutter]

Here's how the problem started. Recently, my computer would not reboot upon restarting from XP. It would start up but I would get nothing on my monitor (it wasn't a monitor problem because it works when connected to my other PCs and laptops). When I started up the PC from off, it would work fine.
Then the problem gradually got worse as it refused to start up from off at times. Again, the power would go on, fans a'blowin' and hard drive lights on, but no picture and I know windows didn't start up because I had no trademark sound. It would take several tries (sometimes me letting it sit for a while) before it would finally start up again. And it still wouldn't work upon rebooting either.

Then I noticed it was probably a problem with the motherboard because I would get error messages telling me the printer needed to be installed, as if I unplugged it for a while or something. And when the power supply is on but the computer is off, I should see the blinking light from the ethernet cord connected in the back. Now, I don't see that at all.

Something is seriously wrong and I don't know what. The computer never had any problems once it was on, but no I can't seem to get it on at all.

My specs should be in my sig. Please let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions. Otherwise, I'd rather not have to but I likely start building a new PC.

EDIT: Oops, here are my specs:

Asus a7n8x e-deluxe
Athlon 3200+
1 gig RAM
ATI RADEON X1600 PRO

 

[aadamszc]

Well, I have never been that great of a troubleshooter, but it really does seem like a PSU problem. Do you happen to have an extra PSU you could test with that rig?

 

[itotallybelieveyou]

Loose wires.

 

[cutter]

Unfortunately, no. But the power supply turns on when I turn on the unit. There just doesn't seem to be anything working after that. No display on the monitor at all.

 

[cutter]

Loose wires.

I've checked them all. Everything is pretty secure.

 

[cfvh600]

Can you possibly swap the power supply with another unit to make sure it isn't the power supply?

 

[cutter]

I would need to order a new one. I'm kind of lost as to how to pick one out.

 

[rgeist554]

Get something that is about 400-550W for your system in the top 3 tiers from this list: http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiered+PSU+Listings?t=anon (PC Power & Cooling is top notch from experience, Corsair and Seasonic are also great choices) If you get a new PSU and it still acts up, I would start suspecting the motherboard.

 

[cutter]

Thanks rgeist. If so, it looks like I'll start looking to rebuild.

 

[Dax3000]

Well I Wouldn't Start Rebuilding Just Yet, My Computer Did The Same Thing When I Just Build It I Think It Might Just Be The Hard Drive That's Going Bad Try Switching Them And See What Happens

 

[roadrunner197069]

My brother inlaw had the same problem yesterday. What happened to his was it was full of "dirt" he was going to play WoW and he set his pop on top of his computer. The slight jolt from the pop bottle caused some dust to come loose inside, and when it resettled it shorted out his 3v on his PSU.

He brought it over and told me what happened. The first thing I did was test his power supply, and found the dead 3v.

I told him last month that he should clen it but he didnt. Now he needs a new PSU and possibly other parts burned out to. We wont know til he gets a new PSU.

 

[cutter]

Interesting, roadrunner. My case has had some build up of dust and that very well could have been a problem. I try to clean it often but it builds up so fast.

OK, so Ill try replacing the PSU and start from there. Just not sure which ones work with my case/motherboard/etc.

 

[Shadow703793]

try running a diskcheck using DOS(or some thing smiler through UBCD) to see if the HDD has any problem. It is more than likely your PSU, I had the same thing happen to me on an old P4 based PC. (The PSU caused file corruptions because of random restarts, which required me to wipe out my HDD and reinstall)


350th post

 

[skittle]

Ive had this happen before.

Try unplugging everything (video card, ram, cables...etc), reset CMOS and put it back together.

 

[shadowmaster625]

take it apart, clean it, and put it back together. seriously, that's what i had to do today to one of my old athlon systems.

 

[cutter]

Ive had this happen before.

Try unplugging everything (video card, ram, cables...etc), reset CMOS and put it back together.

How do I reset the CMOS? I'm not sure which jumpers will do the trick.

 

[Xanthropos]

This is similar to what i'm experiencing at the moment - but i can get mine working by turning off at the mains, leaving for a minute or two, and then turning the mains back on. don't try and boot yet - leave it for 15 seconds or so and then do so.

[See my thread about it, i'm looking for an answer too]

What brand of PSU do you have?

 

[Xanthropos]

Forgot to ask.
I assume that like me, you don't get the normal 'power on beep' when fans lights etc go on but no life?

 

[skittle]

check your manual, its different for different mobos

 

[cutter]

This is similar to what i'm experiencing at the moment - but i can get mine working by turning off at the mains, leaving for a minute or two, and then turning the mains back on. don't try and boot yet - leave it for 15 seconds or so and then do so.

[See my thread about it, i'm looking for an answer too]

What brand of PSU do you have?

I used to be able to get it to work by turning off the mains and then coming back. No more, however.

Its a Raidmax ATX12v. Old from when i built this rig in '04.

 

[cutter]

Ive had this happen before.

Try unplugging everything (video card, ram, cables...etc), reset CMOS and put it back together.

OK, I just reset the CMOS (took out the battery, moved the jumper over for 10 seconds, moved it back and then put the battery back in). Nothing has changed.

Does the fact that the mobo's onboard LED is on when I have the PSU turned on mean its likely a problem with the PSU and not the motherboard? That would be so much easier for me.

Any other ideas would be great.

 

[roadrunner197069]

Well being you have an ASUS and I only use ASUS and every board from ASUS I've ever used makes a beep to let you no all is well, if you arent getting a beep you power supply is shot and you need to buy one instead of asking over and over again what is wrong.

 

[cutter]

Well being you have an ASUS and I only use ASUS and every board from ASUS I've ever used makes a beep to let you no all is well, if you arent getting a beep you power supply is shot and you need to buy one instead of asking over and over again what is wrong.

Unfortunately I don't remember if there was a beep or not. I'm not getting one now.

But you mentioned your brother-in-law having the same problem. My only concern is that it can't be the PSU because I'm still able to power up but I just get nothing on the screen. Unless the PSU can short out partially and still supply power for the fans, LED light on the mobo, etc.

 

[roadrunner197069]

My bro inlaws lights up, fans spin, no beep, no video. I happened to build his for him it has an ASUS board in it. It used to beep like all my other ASUS builds. Now no beep. I have a PSU tester you simply plug it in and it has lights for each different voltage on the PSU. When you plug the tester in it will beep and all the lights will come on. Well it dont beep and the +3.3v light dont come on. All the other lights do but the PSU wass still shot. The +3.3v is the one i see burnt 99% of the time. It has the most amps on this particular PSU the +3.3v is 30 AMPS.

 

[cutter]

That's encouraging then. I've already ordered a new PSU. Hopefully, that will yield a victory.

If not, its the first new part of a new system.