Old computer (1999') won't start

R

remember

New Member
The last time I used this computer was about 1 year ago.
I know very little about computers, but I can say with some certainty that I do not think this is any type of Windows op computer.

Basically, it is a computer just to access data. It has a keyboard but no mouse.

Anyway, the last time I used it, I just pressed the power button and the screen would light up and I would go through the keyboard login/password process, etc.

This time, I press the power button and nothing happens. No noise, no beeps, no fan moves.

I unplugged the power cord and verified with my voltmeter through the female end that 112V is getting through the power cord.

Other than that I have virtually no idea what the problem could be. Just after that I read a little and was told that I should test the (CMOS)? battery (the 3Volt quarter coin sized battery on the motherboard) but I am getting all kinds of fluctuating readings with my voltmeter. Then I read that by removing that battery, I may be erasing all kinds of stored information.

At this point, I don't know what else to do. Can anyone please help me to figure out how to get this computer going again?

I still have the cmos battery in my pocket which I will test better at home with my battery tester, but, if it is just the power supply I would like to be able to re-order one asap. The PSU now is model #LC-250ATX. Other than assuming this power starting problem is due to the PSU or the battery, I have no idea where else to start. Please, I hope someone can help. Thank you.
 
It's likely to turn out to be the original battery that is now simply too weak to see the board switch itself on when pressing the power button. But with any system that old you may simply have seen the last days of use already if the board or supply is now toast. The bios settings can be set to the way they were if all it turns to be is the battery itself there and you see it startup normally again with the new replacement.
 
Uh, well if the computer is toast, I guess that is ok, but I really just need the information on the computer.

I will buy a new one of the batteries and hope that it is just that, but if it is not the battery, what should I do next?

Should I buy the same model PSU and just replace the old one? As far as the motherboard being toast, I don't know how I going to replace that? It doesn't look like the standard motherboard on my fairly modern 3 year old Dell computer, nor do any of the other components slotted into the mobo. But I will buy a new battery tomorrow morning and pray it is just that. I will let you know. Thanks for responding so quickly. Wish me luck.
 
The battery may not be a DL or CR 2032 while that is very much standard for most boards at this time. Make sure to take that along with you or remember the brand and number for matching it up if it's not a 2032.

The model number on that supply shows it as a 250w and probably still one that you have to back to Dell to see replaced since they intentionally saw a different fastener pattern on many of the older systems forcing you to go through them when replacing hardwares like the supply on any of their cases.

Even bew boards can quit suddenly without warning let alone one 3 or more years old from something simple like a bad cap or failed chipset while the later would have more likely displayed problems when last used. But an old board loved batteries it seems since it was assumed that the cpu was toast from overheating to find out the replacement battery was to see the original model on the post screen. Stupid $3 item!
 
Wow. At first, I was ready to ask, what the hell is DL or CR2032?, but it actually says CR2032 on the battery, so thanks again the advice. I doubt the people at radio shack would have informed of that. It is a Maxell battery.

But this computer in question with the power up problem is not a dell. I was just comparing it to my own regular web surfing computer, which is a dell and basically all I was saying was that the mobo and other components slotted into the mobo on the problem computer do not look like the mobo, etc., on my dell, at least not exactly the same sizes.

I dont quite understand what your last statement means, "the replacement battery was to see the original model on the post screen"?, but I'm still praying its just the battery.

After all this, I am not asking myself, why cant the computer just start without the batter? I would think that the battery is just a back up, like to my radio clock.
 
The old systems really going back far enough never saw a battery to maintain the cmos information. In those old systems a capacitor on the board itself held a charge. But once a cap loses a degree of ability to hold a charge you ended up replacing a board! You can see why a battery is far easier to swap out then a cap on the board for the home user!

The problem seen with one older build was when the fan on the cpu cooler simply quit and without a temp monitor besides the bios shutdown inplace to keep an eye on things especially while ocing the cpu temps were found high. After it reashed the max temp having seen that in the hardware monitor the system wouldn't start one after already having replaced the battery on the board.

Diagnosis seemed to suggest the cpu spun backwards when the fsb later lowered to 166 from the 200mhz setting suddenly saw a live system again. But the XP3200 2.205ghz cpu was then seen as an XP2500 1.9ghz model? After sitting around having stripped the case out totally when the next board ran too hot it was recently set up again with a brand new battery tossed to now see an XP3200 again. Fresh battery did it again!
 
Well, I took the battery home and tested it with my radio shack battery tester. I aligned the dial on the tester to the only 3V setting, but the needle is showing that the battery is Good.(Not all the way off the chart good, but just about in the middle of good.)

Should I still get a new battery? could it be just the battery or could it be something else?
What should I do now? Should I try to order the same model number power supply unit? I really had my hopes up that it was just the battery.

Please let me know what to do. I really wanted to get this computer running again. Thank you.
 
was it stored somewhere in a garage where temperature fluctuations and high humidity may damage the components?

if you just want the data on the hard drive you can take it out and slave it on your current pc or use an usb external enclosure compatible with ide drives.
 
Now that the cmos has been cleared finding the battery isn't too weak you may notice an improvement. Sometimes when things aren't working correctly simply clearing the cmos or loading the optimized defaults in the bios is all that's needed. Don't forget that has been sitting around for a long period of time sitting idle.

One article recently looked goes into how hard drives themselves can fail from just sitting on a shelf for an extended period of time. The method of lubrication inside the sealed casing starts to separate from the spindle, gears, etc. there causing a drive to fail eventually when used again. Preserving what ever can be saved from the old drive would be a thought while stuff for 9X-ME may not be usuable at this time.
 
remember said:
The last time I used this computer was about 1 year ago.
I know very little about computers, but I can say with some certainty that I do not think this is any type of Windows op computer.

Basically, it is a computer just to access data. It has a keyboard but no mouse.

Anyway, the last time I used it, I just pressed the power button and the screen would light up and I would go through the keyboard login/password process, etc.

This time, I press the power button and nothing happens. No noise, no beeps, no fan moves.

I unplugged the power cord and verified with my voltmeter through the female end that 112V is getting through the power cord.

Other than that I have virtually no idea what the problem could be. Just after that I read a little and was told that I should test the (CMOS)? battery (the 3Volt quarter coin sized battery on the motherboard) but I am getting all kinds of fluctuating readings with my voltmeter. Then I read that by removing that battery, I may be erasing all kinds of stored information.

At this point, I don't know what else to do. Can anyone please help me to figure out how to get this computer going again?

I still have the cmos battery in my pocket which I will test better at home with my battery tester, but, if it is just the power supply I would like to be able to re-order one asap. The PSU now is model #LC-250ATX. Other than assuming this power starting problem is due to the PSU or the battery, I have no idea where else to start. Please, I hope someone can help. Thank you.
Click to expand...


If your not getting anything it sounds alot like the P/S went. Try another P/S or try that one in another computer to rule it out.
 
Supply, board itself(quite often actaully), not wired correctly regarding power button or switch depending on type used, reset, and led or other type to indicate power being on, etc. all have to be looked at. dznutz reflected on how it was stored there as well.

Lately when going through several old cases the boards themselves were found in poor condition while still remaining in the cases themselves but simply nothing worked! Some were off name brands there however.
 
StrangleHold said:
If your not getting anything it sounds alot like the P/S went. Try another P/S or try that one in another computer to rule it out.
Click to expand...

I agree. If you had touched absolutely nothing, it's probably dead. Either from a power surge or like. Or, just died of old age. Older computers will most likely use a AT type PSU. And the only place I know of is... Ebay, and I think there's 2 on Newegg. You'll have to check. Yours might have the switch that uses a 3pin connector, or a switch itself. From the PSU screwed onto the case.
 
The only way to find out exactly what the problem is whether board, supply, or some other thing is to find a repair shop that restores older systems and has the various testers and spare parts lying around. At least the newer boards now see an led if the power is there to start with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top