Odd problem, booting, video etc

[FUBAR]

Got a odd situation on a buddys computer, I just want to see what the possibilities are for problems. Started about a week ago, with the symptom of the PC being in sleep, him coming from work and not being able to bring it out with anything less than a reboot via power switch. Since then, other things have been flaking out:

In some games (diablo2), there is odd fuzz around
On a reboot, random characters on the bios screens (post, card identification screen) blink.
Random lockups and instablilty being remedied only by a kick to the power switch.
Not being able to boot completely.
Not being able to start at all for hours at one specific time.

Wy thoughts are that if it was the vid card, the errors would be more general, like odd lines all around other generic pixel misplacement, as compared to whole letters.

I was thinking that maybe something is overheating, or that the motherboard is flaking out. He is wanting to go with a new MB/case (cuz the case is older than sh!t) and just get it done quick. I would at least like to know that this is going to solve the prob. Here's the system specs for reference:

- Celeron 400 - s370
- Gigabyte LX mb (can't remember the model)
- bios updated to run the celeron
- Floppy controler went to hell with the bios update
- Diamond v770 ultra
- other misc: drives/scsi controller, sound card

 

[ibbilbo]

FUBAR,
The first thing I'd try would be to replace the power supply. If his case is old, his PS probably is too. You can pick up a Sparkle 300w for about $40. Even if it's not the PS, it's good to have a spare lying around.
Good luck.

 

[FUBAR]

Well, I talked to him again and he said that when the problems seem to be happening, the case area seems warm, meaning around the case it seems like the case is emminating heat. Thought at that time was that the PS fan, the only case fan in the case, was dying.

Now it's different. The system shows no real life. It has been sitting for hours, and everything spins up, but there is not even the initialization beep, and no warning beeps either. No video either. I don't know if the PS died partly, or if the MB died. We are going to replace the case/PS with an Enlight 7237/250w (all there is in this town on a sunday, not great but not bad) and a Gigabyte GA-6VX7-4X. Hope that works.

Thoughts? Should that cover everything? I just don't want to buy parts for it just to find out that there's some other expensive part that fried.

 

[FUBAR]

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[hifimaster]

It sounds to me like a heat problem.Is your cpu fan working still?Do you have any case fans?Is your PS fan working?Also trying a different Power supply wont hurt.Hope this helps you identify the problem.