My PC is dead??

[Meek_racing]

Hey technical boffins

I was using my computer for 5 minutes the other night and it just cut out on me. Tried several times to switch it on with new cables and power sockets… Came to the conclusion that the power unit had failed.

Ordered a 500w one (slight upgrade on existing one) and installed it today… Nothing happened…

Had a word with my mate and he said to swap RAM sticks or try different ones, could be them causing the problem… nothing working!!!

Anyone got any advice on what I can look for? I can hear the new power unit (slight buzz from the inside) but thewhole PC is dead. No lights, sound, or movement from any components.

 

[biojo]

could be motherboard

 

[Greeny.]

These sorta problems you really need stuff to swap out to test with, could well be a motherboard problem but abit random that it just did it though. Ive had PSU's die in the past after ive moved the PC etc and motherboards die when ive fiddled but not on their own like that.

 

[Meek_racing]

I never touch the PC much, its in a side unit so i only use the on/off switch at the front. It has done something similar in the past, but after a few hours of use, maybe over heating. But never like this, not just die on me after a few minutes use.

Any idea how much PC shops charge to test a PC for faults?

 

[Greeny.]

No idea but something stupid no doubt, best to try and find a mate or someone at work?

 

[Meek_racing]

Full of old men there. Will see what i can salvage from the PC's there. If not, pay a trip to a good PC place over the weekend

Insurance is due next month and i want to buy Turners steering wheel lol!

 

[24Seven]

PC shops will charge stupid money to look at it. Have you tried re seating the heatsink on the processor? try disconnecting everything and powering up to see if you get any beeps from the mobo also.

 

[Meek_racing]

Yep, took off the heatsink and took the processor out/ put it back into place, unplugged all the major wires etc... Still nothing. I'm taking it to a mates place tonight, think he knows alot more about PC's than I do.

Will "borrow" some RAM from work today and see if that works. Appart from that, It's going to be hard to test if the processor is shafted or not?

 

[rctempire]

If the physical motherboard fans do not go on and the pc doesnt beep at all, then the damage to the CPU will be unknown.

Does the LED light on the motherboard? Have you connected all the connectors to the motherboard? IE the large connector and the 4 Pin small connector?

Also - Was the PC on a surge protector when the pc blew?

 

[Richdog]

• If the CPU was dead the motherboard would still power up and you would likely hear beeps.
• If the RAM was dead the motherboard would still power up and you would hear beeps.
• If you have swapped out to a fresh PSU and still no joy then that pretty much rules out the PSU.

I would say your motherboard is dead... especially if you can't see a single active LED, as these would be active were the motherboard in good health with an active PSU connected to it.

 

[David]

• If the CPU was dead the motherboard would still power up and you would likely hear beeps.
• If the RAM was dead the motherboard would still power up and you would hear beeps.
• If you have swapped out to a fresh PSU and still no joy then that pretty much rules out the PSU.

I would say your motherboard is dead... especially if you can't see a single active LED, as these would be active were the motherboard in good health with an active PSU connected to it.

agree with that, it's your mobo.. look around some places will do free diagnostics for you and chrage you to fix it after.

 

[MikeyK18]

motherboard sounds like its dead, 50/50 ur cpu on bein ok 2

btw i onli charge 15 quid 2 check out a pc :rasp: if ppl dnt want it fixed, if they want it fixed i wave the charge

not all pc shops rip ppl off

 

[JoelDee]

Sounds like the mobo to me or the power supply

 

[Meek_racing]

Hey chaps,

Thanks for all your help

I went over to a mates house last night and checked all of the components in his PC. It did turn out to be the motherboard! Processor is ok thank god

I think I will invest in a serge protection. Just ordered a new one so all is good... Except for the - £40ish in beer tokens this weekend

 

[Richdog]

What mobo you getting as replacement?

 

[Meek_racing]

Mobo:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140712

& RAM to cheer me up
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/116755

Tight budget and looking to make a custom later on in the year, have no idea if the prices are ok or not, just did a quick search around this morning and purchased for Saturday delivery.

Mike

 

[Richdog]

Yeah good purchase on both counts... Gigabyte are a favourite mobo brand of mine, and you generally you can't go wrong withy OCZ memory, great warranty and RMA service. Amazing how much DDR2 has come down in price now.

 

[Meek_racing]

In that case i'm super chuffed (except for loss in beer money)

 

[rctempire]

Surge protectors are a essential. Never scrape on a cheap model, buy a good brand which is midrange/expensive and you will never have a problem.

 

[Cookie]

Also, a good PSU will destroy itself in the event of a surge and nothing else.

Had an Antec 480W go pop after a power cut, didn't take anything else with it

 

[Meek_racing]

Little update:

Everything works ok now (mechanical), only problem is that the OS system cannot be found!! I tried the backup CD and it does not recognise it!!! It said that the OS system is not compatible! FFS!! lol

The hard drive is two sata discs as one (on raid I think) I assume that the new mobo isn't configured like the old one which means the OS cannot run as its settings are different to before?? I don't have a new XP disc as there wasn't one with the new system, It just asked me to make a "Backup DVD" when it first booted up.

Well peeed off atm lol. Need to call Microsoft today to see where I stand with getting a new CD. Whats the point in giving you a product key if you don't even have a cd!!!

Mini rant over

 

[Richdog]

You'll likely need to rebuild the RAID array, as far as I know I don't think you can just plug them into a new mobo and then they'll work as before.

When installing a new mobo you should always do a fresh install of Windows anyway due to the possible complications bwteeen different motherboards/chipsets. How come you don't have a Windows CD... did it come with a pre-built system?

 

[Meek_racing]

Yeah it was pre-built. First time you switch it on, it boots up the Windows XP register page, then asks to create a "backup cd". Just borrowed an XP cd off a mate to install, will enter the reg code on my PC and see what happens. If the Ref key doesn't work will call the number and explain. Fingers crossed

Formatting atm... takes sooooo long!

 

[Michael172]

You reset your bios ?

Good old trouble-shooting

 

[Meek_racing]

You reset your bios ?

Good old trouble-shooting

I tried that on the old mobo but it was dead. Resetting the new one wont make and difference.

I've installed my mates version of media centre for now, all loaded up ok but it hasn't got the media player for tv,music,films etc Is this a free download off the microsoft site?

I gave up last night, too much time and anger spent on a metal box lol. I'm going back to connect 4, mouse trap etc for games, and a slate board and chalk for writing reports.