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Post by TheUncleanOne on Jun 8, 2006 20:28:46 GMT -5
So, last week Inda's computer lost the use of all it's USB ports (one at a time almost)... We called our friends (who build the computer) and tried re-installing drivers, reverting to a Restore Point, etc... Still no USB.
Yesterday, she takes the PC to their store (it's still under warranty) and they (our friends) decide it's a Window's error, and they'll need to run a repair installation. Since I installed XP from my work's license (legal for employees), I sent them the reg key so they could try the fix.
For whatever reason, they cannot get Windows to run the repair so I grab the same install disk from work, and Inda brings her PC home. We have errands we ran last night, so this evening while Inda's out at a meeting and lil' one is sleeping, I reconnect everything to Inda's PC and press Power..... OK, normal BIOS specs, Windows Screen.... and Freeze...
Fine, no big deal, it is Windows... I press reset. Black screen, HD light flashes, CD drive flashes, HD light flashes, CD drives flashes, etc... no progress on the boot... Power button no good, reset no good, flip the switch on the power supply. OK, power back on, press on... black screen, lights flash, no boot. Power off at supply. Power on, press on, open CD drive, insert Windows CD, close drive, power off, power on, press on, black screen, lights flash, no boot from CD.
Call friends back, they suggest checking cables and cards in case something came lose in transit from shop (it was working fine other than the USB there). Power off, cord unplugged, case open, check the vid card (not loose), check ram (not loose), check IDE cables (not loose), check SATA cable (seems not loose, but was warned that it is tempermental), check power cables (not loose). Close case, cord in, power on, press on... black screen, lights flash, no boot from HD or CD.
PC goes back to shop tomorrow.... Fingers Crossed...
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Post by laurelin on Jun 8, 2006 20:41:37 GMT -5
Okay, I just read this to Kelkhil and he says that it sounds like the motherboard fried (don't ask me). Good luck! Good thing for warranties!
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Post by Black Dragon on Jun 8, 2006 21:03:59 GMT -5
When you try turning it on do you hear any of the POST code beeps? If you do, then that can possibly tell you what is wrong with it. Good luck getting it working again
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Post by TheUncleanOne on Jun 8, 2006 21:38:29 GMT -5
It makes almost no noise... I would at least be re-assured by it beeping or grinding even, but the only sound are the case fans. Is there any chance the vid card happened to die and I'm just not seeing it boot? I could turn num lock on and off, but I don't think cap lock was working....
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Post by Fate on Jun 8, 2006 22:11:20 GMT -5
sounds to me like the ide is messed up. I would first reset my bios to the defaults. Next I would unplug all ide devices and remove all cards but the video. It it works, then start adding stuff till it doesn't. Could be a mad memory mod as well. if you have 2, try using them one at a time. Are the hard drives removable? I had a similar problem with a removable drive. when it was locked in the comp acted all funny. unlocked it and it worked fine. Also it could be a bad power supply. Just giving enough power to run the bios. Also I hear dogs can sometime chew through power cords.....  |
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Post by ronin on Jun 9, 2006 6:54:31 GMT -5
To me it sounds like a fried motherboard.
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Post by Indagatrix on Jun 9, 2006 7:48:37 GMT -5
mmmmm....fried motherboard....does that come with honey-mustard or bbq sauce? /going thru PC withdrawal //typing crazy-shiat at work ///hope PC is fixed by this weekend other wise I'll have to clean house instead  |
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Post by Eldarion on Jun 9, 2006 8:24:40 GMT -5
If you're not hearing any POST beeps (make sure your speakers are not connected, so that the internal speaker is used), it could be a damaged MB, as suggested. If only the video was bad you'd hear a POST beep code indicating as much. Since the fans spin up I don't think it's the power supply. I guess part of the power supply could be bad, but I doubt it. Fate's on the right track: disconnect everything from the power supply except the motherboard and case fans, and remove all cards except the video. See if that gets you as far as the BIOS boot screen. If it doesn't, the motherboard may indeed be bad. |
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Post by TheUncleanOne on Jun 9, 2006 8:30:18 GMT -5
Well, the headset was plugged in so I cannot confirm or deny POST beeps I guess. But I don't think there was much of any sound comming from the computer.
On a bright note (?), the only card in the box is the Vid card as everything else is on the MB.
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Post by Quintare on Jun 9, 2006 8:31:53 GMT -5
It booted to windows loading the first time, then nothign but lights the next time?
With todays production values, even the top name manufacturers have a fail rate on new components that would make GM or Ford close their doors forever. I read not that long ago that Western Digital has a fail rate approaching 1 in 5 new hard drives. Apparently it's cheaper to warranty than to do QC...
At least your fried motherboard is low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
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Post by Eldarion on Jun 9, 2006 8:45:21 GMT -5
Also make sure that the heat sink is firmly attached to the CPU. If it's not being cooled, the CPU will fry itself in no time or else shut down before it can.
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Post by kelkhil on Jun 9, 2006 9:43:35 GMT -5
Do to your first description. The USBs going one at a time and the fact that you are now hearing no noise at boot up. ( it should not matter about what speakers or headsets are plugged in where. The Post beeps are on their own independent system.) It is almost definatly the Mobo. If it was the video card you would still hear Windows loading if there was an issue. If it was the HD it would load into the BIOS. (I would hope). It could be the CPU but I doubt it. It would not shut down the USB ports.
Good luck.
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Post by Indagatrix on Jun 9, 2006 9:46:57 GMT -5
Just dropped my baby (computer not Elora) off at the computer place. /crossing fingers //taunted tech guy with your collective wisdom and so now he's hoping to prove you all wrong.  |
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Post by Fate on Jun 9, 2006 10:38:03 GMT -5
Well no wonder the comp don't work. You can't just go droping them all over the place...
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Post by TheUncleanOne on Jun 9, 2006 12:21:42 GMT -5
So I called our tech friends at lunch and ... (drumroll....) Dead MB. Kudos to those of you who correctly diagnosed this. We get a warrenty replacement and upgrade from an NForce2 to an NForce3 board to boot. Unfortunately the PC is dead till tuesday as we have to wait for shipping... so this weekend you'll see EITHER Inda OR X online, but not both at the same time. I'm guessing I'll be on the late shift as Inda likes to sleep (imagine that ). Horray for warrenties, boo for slow shipping. |
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Post by Fate on Jun 9, 2006 13:12:09 GMT -5
At least you will have a clean house. Don't make him work to hard Inda....
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Post by Indagatrix on Jun 14, 2006 12:32:32 GMT -5
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Post by Aerynrox on Jun 14, 2006 12:54:07 GMT -5
Hope to see you AND X simultaneously soon. ;D
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Post by Ascalon Destroyer on Jun 14, 2006 17:49:22 GMT -5
Well, after thinking about this for a night, and reading the heading again, it could be the case that your computer suffered an extremely unlucky series of events where many, many electrons tunneled and the computer lost track of things. Or you can just go with everybody else's idea that the motherboard died. |
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