Computer not booting

J

john10001

New Member
Just wondered if anyone can help me diagnose a problem.

I have an old-ish computer that is no longer booting up. When I switch it on I don't get the customary beep before it goes through the post screens etc.

The power supply seems to be fine.

The motherboard also seems to be working with the exception of the Northbridge fan which has been intermitten for years but this has never been a problem as it doesn't run hot and has a heat sink anyway besides being in a coolish location.

I have done a cmos reset which hasn't solved the problem.

All hard drives still seem to be functioning as well as CD drives and drive A as far as I can tell. They are all getting power and I haven't noticed any unusual sounds from them. They all seem to be spinning and working fine.

keyboard is wireless usb and that doesn't appear to be a problem either. Monitor works fine but obviously not getting a signal due to computer non-boot or even going to post screens etc after switching on.

Any ideas on what can be the issue?

Fried CPU?

Fried/Shortcircuited Mobo?

Power Supply?

I disconnected all wires and reconnected which hasn't solved the problem.

The only thing I've not done is a reseat of all the cards and DIMMs etc. I may try this next if you think it will help? I think this may be the most time consuming though and I'll be mad if its still not working after.

If you have any other ideas on this I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I'm thinking last resort is going to be a new mobo/cpu probably new system is what its going to come down to.

Thanks for any advice,

John

System Details:

Abit NF7-S
AMD Barton 2500
1GB PC3200 400Mhz (2x 512MB)
ATI Radeon 9600
OS: Win XP Pro SP3 (32-bit)
 
I suspect faulty ram. do you have any spare sticks you can try? it could be a dud ram slot as well.
 
linkin said:
I suspect faulty ram. do you have any spare sticks you can try? it could be a dud ram slot as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'm sure I do have some spare ram somewhere though it may be older stuff and not as much. I'll see what I can find.

If its the ram slots then I'm guessing that's curtains for the whole mobo? Just slots 1 and 2 are used at the moment with PC3200.
 
Where exactly does it fail? Does it even POST, or are you simply stuck at a black screen? If it POST's, but stays black or does an infinite loop of reboots, it could even be a boot problem with the OS.

Faulty RAM would be another thing to check, but I would have to know when it stops working.
 
Infinity_Plus said:
Where exactly does it fail? Does it even POST, or are you simply stuck at a black screen? If it POST's, but stays black or does an infinite loop of reboots, it could even be a boot problem with the OS.

Faulty RAM would be another thing to check, but I would have to know when it stops working.
Click to expand...

I don't get anything coming up on screen it doesn't get to POST screen or memory test. There is no beep after switching on the system. The MOBO does have power though and is lit up, the fans are functioning, hard drives spinning etc just nothing coming to screen. There are no reboots it stays switched on but no signal going to monitor and no POST screen. If I hit the reset button same thing happens. All the drives work, the MOBO seems to work but the OS isn't loading, nothing is loading period no POST screen, no memory tests no BIOS. I've done a reset on the CMOS but de nada.

I think trying a different DIMM is good advice. If its that then it saves me reseating everything connected at least. I think I have a spare 512MB DIMM that I can try so I will give that a go and report back unless there's any other reason it may not be getting the beep and loading up?
 
Try each individual ram stick in each individual DIMM. If your computer still doesn't work, I would think the MOBO is dead. Try taking out the CPU (CAREFULLY!!!). If there are no beeps or anything, I would say the motherboard (mobo) is dead.
 
31!m!n80r said:
Try each individual ram stick in each individual DIMM. If your computer still doesn't work, I would think the MOBO is dead. Try taking out the CPU (CAREFULLY!!!). If there are no beeps or anything, I would say the motherboard (mobo) is dead.
Click to expand...

Quick update... I tried with different memory but in the same first two slots so I will try one DIMM in each of the three slots separately to see if it makes a difference. Different memory in the first two slots didn't work though. On the plus side I did manage to get the old Northbridge fan pulled out and put in the Zalman heatsink which is now sitting there looking pretty. Will be a shame if it is the MOBO that is fried after going to that trouble. I may take it back out if thats the case and put it in any new MOBO for more silent running.

Will retest the memory in all three individual slots now. If that doesn't work I'll do a reseat of everything in there. If that doesn't work as a last resort I'll do a reseat of the cpu. And if that doesn't work I think it will be new system time.

Cheers,
John
 
john10001 said:
Quick update... I tried with different memory but in the same first two slots so I will try one DIMM in each of the three slots separately to see if it makes a difference. Different memory in the first two slots didn't work though. On the plus side I did manage to get the old Northbridge fan pulled out and put in the Zalman heatsink which is now sitting there looking pretty. Will be a shame if it is the MOBO that is fried after going to that trouble. I may take it back out if thats the case and put it in any new MOBO for more silent running.

Will retest the memory in all three individual slots now. If that doesn't work I'll do a reseat of everything in there. If that doesn't work as a last resort I'll do a reseat of the cpu. And if that doesn't work I think it will be new system time.

Cheers,
John
Click to expand...

Tried two different dimms in each of the memory slots and no joy.

I'm now going to try taking out the graphics card just in case its that. I have a really old matrox card I can try in there instead.

I am leaning towards it being a problem with either the MOBO or CPU now though. The MOBO does get power, but something is caput me thinks.

After I try the graphics card I will do a reseat of everything then call it quits.

I have been checking out a few different options for a new system build that offers as much value as possible based around i3, i5 and i7 cores.

Cheers,
John
 
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