PC won't post

[shadowtech]

# Overview of the problem

The computer sorta will power on, but no OS or post beeps or video signal.


# Full description of the problem and symptoms
Got a call from parents this morning that they had a computer problem. The computer wouldn't come on. This is a system I built a few years back.
MB is Chaintech VNF4 socket 939
AMD 64 3000+ Athlon 939
geforce 6200 pci
1 GB (512x2) Patriot DDR PC 3200
DVD burner, CD burner, 80 GB HD, 1.44 FDD

Upon arriving the computer was powered on, but the screen was black with the orange light (indicating no signal), so I figured I would just reboot it before by pressing the reset button. The reset button didn't respond. I held down the power off button for a few seconds and the computer turned off. When I pressed the power button again the power came on for a split second and right back off, I repeated this a few times until the power finally stayed on, it's almost as if I had to double click the power button for it to come on and stay on. This didn't fix anything. On power on, I noticed no post beeps at all and after it had been on for a few mins, still no OS loading. I reset the jumpers and tried again to no avail. I removed the the DVD drive, CD Drive, FDD, HDD, and each stick of ram in this order and powered on each time with the "double click method" that I have to use to power it on to see if I could get a post, but nothing.

I figured since the reset button wouldn't work at all and the power button was acting funny that it might be the power supply since I have eliminated everything else other than mobo and processor. I bought a new Antech PSU and tried it. With the new PSU, when I try to power on, it only spins the fans for less than 1/2 second and dies. I can plug the old psu in and get it to power on and stay on, but no post or OS and same no signal orange light on the monitor. Odd that the new PSU won't work at all.




# Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
(tell us if it ever worked right. If it did, tell us any changes that you think could've caused the issue, such as new hardware or software you installed, or a possible virus attack, or anything else you might suspect)

It has always worked flawlessly for years.



# Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
(if it's a repeatable problem, what actions will make it happen? If it's not entirely repeatable, have you noticed any patterns or trends?)



# I already tried these steps:
(list any troubleshooting steps you've already tried, along with any results you got. Be as specific as you can.)
Listed above



# My software:

MS Windows XP sp2, AVG

# Other information that might be relevant
(any other information that might be related to the problem)

I was out of town last week and powered off the computer and unplugged everything in case of a storm. When I got back Sunday afternoon, It all powered on with no problems.
Seems that during the middle of the night it just died. My Father said when he went to wake it up this morning by moving the mouse or pressing buttons on the keyboard nothing happened and now I can't get it to post or anything.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Im going to guess the power supply, if not that then check the board for capacitors that have brown gunk on them (known as leaking capacitors)

 

[shadowtech]

It is not the power supply. A new one did not even work. There is no gunk on the caps. Any more ideas?

 

[Muse]

As you suggest, the motherboard or CPU are suspect. My guess would be the mobo. I had one die in March. Took out two video cards and a PSU before I realized what was happening. Be aware that you may have more than one thing wrong at this point. Good luck.

 

[shadowtech]

Thanks for the replies. Is there anything else you would suggest I try before I go off ordering a new mobo/cpu?
Thanks again

 

[shadowtech]

This sucks Anyone have a deal on a Chaintech VNF4 socket 939 &
AMD 64 3000+ Athlon 939

 

[Rudy Toody]

Originally posted by: RadiclDreamer
Im going to guess the power supply, if not that then check the board for capacitors that have brown gunk on them (known as leaking capacitors)

I second the capacitors as the problem. The capacitors should have an X on top and the tops should be flat. If the tops bulge or have staining then you need to replace the mobo.

Typically, the bad capacitors would be the ones between the cpu and the back of the case.

 

[bruceb]

Before you condemn the MOBO try a new CMOS Battery
And check the Video card (if not on board video)
and the Video Drivers .. It can also be bad Memory

 

[shadowtech]

Thanks again for the suggestions. I have double checked the Caps again today. I am aware and have seen the cap problem before. My brother's mobo died from that.

I have eliminated the chance that it could be the video card by removing it and trying to get the pc to post.

In an odd twist of Fate, my Laptop died last night. I had set it up for my parents to use while diagnosing their PC. I unplugged it and moved it to another area in the house and when I plugged it back in and turned it on, no video... It will boot in to windows and you can hear it but you can't see it. This has to be some of the worst luck ever. Any ideas about the laptop?

Thanks

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: shadowtech
Thanks again for the suggestions. I have double checked the Caps again today. I am aware and have seen the cap problem before. My brother's mobo died from that.

I have eliminated the chance that it could be the video card by removing it and trying to get the pc to post.

In an odd twist of Fate, my Laptop died last night. I had set it up for my parents to use while diagnosing their PC. I unplugged it and moved it to another area in the house and when I plugged it back in and turned it on, no video... It will boot in to windows and you can hear it but you can't see it. This has to be some of the worst luck ever. Any ideas about the laptop?

Thanks

Ugh! I was sure glad my laptop was OK while I went through my problems with a dead mobo in March. I inadvertently knocked it on the floor from table height and it fell on a corner (Lenovo T60), but to my amazement and gratitude, it didn't skip a beat. I plan to treat it far better in the future.

My dead mobo showed no signs whatsoever of any failure. I inspected it top and bottom all over with a magnifying glass and all capacitors look AOK. However only it could have killed two vidcards and a PSU.

But bruceb is right. Check out that stuff before assuming the mobo's bad. Try to be sure! It's issues like these that make me glad I have a second PC working at all times and have backup components I can swap in to troubleshoot. However, I did lose a 2nd video card and a PSU in the troubleshooting process. I mistakenly assumed that the original PSU was at fault. In fact that PSU survived the whole ordeal (Corsair 520HX). There was just no way I could have realized it was the mobo at fault was my conclusion. If I made a mistake in my process of troubleshooting, I am not aware of it. However, all in all it was costly in lost components, money and time. I did have a lifetime warranty on my BFG video card, so I got it replaced for free.

 

[shadowtech]

Shouldn't the system post beep after I take out the video card, I think I forgot to mention that I did that. Anyhow, the reset button not working and the how i have to repeatedly press the power on button makes me think the video card isn't the culprit. I do think I mentioned that I bought a new Antech 430w PSU and it won't work with the computer. It will spin the fans for just a split second. Wonder if the Antech has some built in tech that makes it power off when it detects a faulty CPU or MB?

 

[robisbell]

okay, I think their house wiring needs to be checked if it's killed a PC and laptop.

 

[shadowtech]

The House Wiring is fine. The Laptop Boots fine, you can hear windows, you just can't see anything on the screen anymore...

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: shadowtech
The House Wiring is fine. The Laptop Boots fine, you can hear windows, you just can't see anything on the screen anymore...

I think Robi means to check for clean, steady 110v power.

A nice UPS will go a long way to fix power problems.

It's just another aspect to troubleshooting.

 

[Muse]

Can you plug an external monitor into the laptop to make sure Windows is booting OK?

 

[robisbell]

a UPS may help, but in a case of a person on here in Florida found out, if the wiring is seriously messed up, then a UPS will do no good.
as for the laptop not displaying, if it's a Dell, was it connected to a external monitor?