I'm at a loss...can't make this computer power up.

Drenlin

Drenlin

Active Member
I'm working on an old Compaq desktop, and when I press the power button, it attempts to turn on and initializes all the drives and whatnot, but after about a second or two it shuts off and starts over again, and continues the cycle until I power it off by holding the switch.

I've already ruled out all of the drives, the CPU, the PSU, and the RAM and the culprit, but I can't figure out why on earth the mobo would do this. Absolutely nothing has changed since the last time it was booted. The only change in the process us the standard beeping when I insert RAM into the wrong slot. (one slot is dead)

What on earth could be causing this? I've tried multiple CPU's, PSU's, RAM sticks, and hard drives. The motherboard has no blown caps or other damage. I've even tried multiple CMOS batteries....so yes, that has been reset. WTF did I do to it? :confused:
 
i have had the same thing happen to me before. long story short, had the same symptoms...and it was fixed when i took the ram sticks out and blasted the slots with air. apparently something was inside that hindered with ram contact with the slots.

this might not help but just my 2 cents
 
done that too

I was thinking that maybe I've bricked the BIOS somehow, but it still beeps when there's no RAM....
 
agreed. you seemed to have ruled everything else out. i'd say mobo.

it only takes about 30V of static discharge to fry some of the ICs on the board. thats low enough of a voltage you wouldn't even feel the discharge.

have you ever touched a doorknob after walking on carpet? the blue spark you see arcing can be anywhere from 100-300V.

but good luck, i hope we are not right.
 
No carpet in here, and as odd as it sounds I always stick my bare foot/toe underneath one corner of the case while I'm working so I'm always touching it. I think you guys are right though...I just can't figure out what on earth I could have done to kill it. :(

Ah well...I have another identical board that I'm going to attempt to repair. Hopefully I'll be able to. It's only blown caps, but it blew every single cap in the power section, and then some...it's going to take some epic soldering to fix it.
 
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