****UPDATE****Looks like a dead hard drive, anything that can be done?

[Mears]

Ok, a buddy's computer looks to have a dead hard drive. I turned it on and the power lights went solid, but it didn't post and no beeps. Hard Drive indicator light was solid red and it never started spinning. All the cables were fit in snuggly. Another weird thing though was that the computer's power and reset buttons wouldn't work, which was something I didn't think was any way related to whether your computer got to the posting stage or not. Anyways, the question is, is there any way to retrieve any of the data off it or can I assume that if it doesn't start spinning on startup that it will never get spinning again. I should note that it is an older computer. Don't know the exact cpu since it is a socket 7.

 

[DN]

Power and reset a probably not wired up.. As for the hard drive, you'll want to see if it boots on another system..

 

[Mears]

As far as power and reset not being worked up, I checked all those connections already.

 

[Mears]

^

 

[limsandy]

RMA it !

 

[SonicTron]

Sounds like a dead mobo, chip, ram, power suppply, or maybe the voltage on the power supply accidently got switched to 220v instead of 110v or 115v.

RMA doesn't sound possible if its an old Socket 7 based system

 

[HappyPuppy]

The computer should post even if the harddrive is dead. Does it post?

 

[Mears]

It doesn't post. It definately isn't the RAM unless both sticks are bad. Are you sure a HD isn't necessary for the computer to post? The thing doesn't even spin up, or do they only start working after the system posts?

 

[ojai00]

Take everything out and start with the bare minumum. Try to boot with one RAM stick and then check the other. I think the problem lies in the power supply. I had this problem before where the lights are on, the fans are on, but nothing is happening. Hope this helps.

 

[Woody419]

<< The computer should post even if the harddrive is dead. >>


Not always. I had to remove a dead drive to get a computer started. As a test I put it back in and no post.

 

[Packet]

If an IDE cable is plugged in upside down, the mobo won't post

which could be why it wouldn't post till you removed the hard drive.
The harddrive should spin when powered up though, provides it plugged in of cource

 

[VTrider]

Power supply is probably fried...........

Why are people recommending 'switching' cables and all is this machine was working fine before? I might be wrong, but his post didn't imply to me that the machine was just worked on or just built, in which case this would be a valid option. I just had almost this exact same problem with one of my older BX chipset systems (in a Inwin Q500), computer wouldn't post, reset button wouldn't work and the thing was lit up like a christmas tree. This sounds like a classic case of power supply failing. I also had a computer virus (chernobyl) about 5 years ago that produced a similair situation - nasty thing fried my BIOS.
Reset the CMOS and see what happens, if nothing then hook that baby up to another power supply.

-VTrider

BTW: From my experience, power supplies can corrupt data on HD when they fail among other things like taking other components with it to periphiel heaven, more times that not everything is okay though - good luck!)

 

[Mears]

What exactly happens when a power supply goes bad? I take it there must be different stages with no power being the worst and then intermediate stages since there is still some power going to it.

Lastly, how can the CMOS be reset?

 

[Mears]

^

 

[CraigRT]

Seeing as you are getting no post that means there is something wrong aside from a HD problem.

a problem lies within these few items:

Motherboard
Memory
CPU
Video card

SOMETHING out of those 4, or a combo of more than one (if you are really fubared) is not right...
the HD not spinning might be an indication of a bad PSU, which would also be resulting in not giving it enough power to POST.

Since the HD does not spin, and the computer does not POST.. power supply is the first thing I think of.

 

[Alex]

<< Looks like a dead hard drive, anything that can be done? >>



lol have you tried screaming at it?

(sorry, bored)

 

[Mears]

So a defective hard drive will still spin?

 

[artemedes]

Yep, a defective hard drive can spin and make noises and cause the HD lights to come on.

Also, I have encountered systems that were working fine, but after the Hard drive crashed they would not even post. I unplugged the cables
to the hard drie and the computer posted. Plug the cables back in and no post.

But the fact that it doesn't post may mean that something else is to blame. Until you rule out PS, CPU, Ram -personally never had a stick of ram
go bad myself, the Hard drive might be the least likely culprit.

 

[TechTalkie]

the hdd's led could be glowing brightly 'coz of theses reasons also:
2 masters on one IDE port.....
did u check the jumpers on the hdd?

 

[VTrider]

<< What exactly happens when a power supply goes bad? I take it there must be different stages with no power being the worst and then intermediate stages since there is still some power going to it.

Lastly, how can the CMOS be reset? >>



I've experienced a few power supplies go bad on me throughout the years, and although they all share similair traits when they go bad, no two have been totally the same upon death. Sometimes, and I would guess that most of the time, they just stop working - this is usually preceeded by strange noises, random resets, strange things happening to your overall system. I've had power supplies go bad and keep on sending power to certian components also. It's funny, I've been troubleshooting stuff like this for a long time and when I think I see everything, sometimes it turns out to be something totally different. PS still comes to mind as my first choice though.
As for reseting the CMOS - it's pretty easy. Usually it involves just changing a jumper on your motherboard, turning your system on (which by the way, won't actually turn on while this jumper is moved - it will be reseting the CMOS) for a few seconds then returning the jumper to the normal position. This should be documented in your motherboard manual. Good luck, let us know what the problem finally was - i'm curious.

-VTrider

 

[RayH]

Assuming the problem is with the drive's controller board, you can swap it with one from a working identical drive to pull the data off. I've done this before with IBM drives.

 

[zephyrprime]

A hard drive can fail to spin up if it's spindle motor is really bad. This isn't the most common of hard drive problems. Sounds like the power supply has gone kaput. Try booting with a minimal setup like some previous posters have said. If its only a power supply problem you'll be able to get a replacement pretty cheap.

 

[Mears]

Ok, I'll update you on the situation. Let me list what has been tried so far in order:

1. This computer has two sticks of ram. I tried booting with just one piece in, and also with each piece in different slots.

2. Tried booting up without the hard drive.

3. Unplugged everything except CPU, RAM, and Video Card/Sound Card(embedded) and then tried booting.

4. Hooked up my power supply 300 Watt Antec. Still no go.

Since my power supply doesn't work, I'm pretty much going to rule out his power supply as being the culprit and also the memory. I guess it could be possilbe that either of those items could be messed up as well, but obviously someting else is screwed up.

Someone mentioned that the CMOS could need to be reset. I'd like to try that, but I couldn't find a model number on the motherboard. All I know is that it is a socket 7 Soyo. Anything else it could be? Possibly the processor or maybe the motherboard(but that's not really common is it?)?

 

[Mears]

Ok, I put the hard drive into a different computer and it booted up fine. This leads me to believe that that it has something to do with the CPU or the motherboard. I found an online version of the manual, but I couldn't get it to open on this computer, which has an old version of Acrobat. As soon as I get mine up and running I'll check it out and figure out how to reset the CMOS. In the meantime, does anyone know any way I can check out if the cpu is toast without trying a new one in there?