About To Cry...Computer Doesn't Boot

[aznfellow]

i built my pc less then 6 months ago and has been working fine. all of a sudden, today when i press the power switch nothing comes up on the monitor. all fans work, cd is running, no beeps. just turns on and the fans at the same speed (usually it goes down or from high sound to low) and nothing on monitor. what should i do?

[ryan126]

Double-check that video card is still in place as it should be, and that it is not just your monitor causing you trouble. Good luck.

[blue60007]

Can you list your system specs by brand and model, especially the power supply?

[aznfellow]

it was working fine 6 month. i went on vacation about 3 weeks and all of a sudden blank. i built it but point is it was working fine. what could possibly be wrong?

PSU: 450watt Antec
Processor: 3.6ghz Intel
HD: 250gb wd
Ram: Corssair x512mb with Led

[LeftyAce]

DO you have another monitor lying around you could try? If not, can you test this monitor with another computer that works?

ALso, since this is a video issue, can you tell us what your video card is?

If you have speakers connected, do you hear the windows startup sound even though the monitor is blank? Are there any other beeps?

[Mr.Ferrari]

Might be the motherboard. I had one die like that. Ram could be a likely cause as well.

[aznfellow]

Originally Posted by n3wo DO you have another monitor lying around you could try? If not, can you test this monitor with another computer that works? ALso, since this is a video issue, can you tell us what your video card is? If you have speakers connected, do you hear the windows startup sound even though the monitor is blank? Are there any other beeps?

i tried the monitor with another pc works great. i have a ati 850xt pe pci express. no i do not hear anything as it doesn't boot up at all. and no beeps

[Kareeser]

Doublecheck all connections (power, fan headers, etc), and try again.

If it doesn't work, conduct an out-of-case build. You have nothing to lose, and it'll help us ascertain what the problem is.

[aznfellow]

anybody have any idea on what the problem can be? i mean everything turns on, etc but nothing shows up.

[minsonngo]

Double check and make sure everything is installed and jumpered correctly.

Try reseating the memory and video card. Also clear the CMOS/BIOS using the jumper on the motherboard.

If the above does not work. Swap out the following one at a time going down the list until you find the problem.

1.) PSU - Make sure it is connected properly to the motherboard and everything else. If it isn't working, swap it out with a working one, you may have a dead PSU. What brand is the PSU by the way?

2.) Motherboard - Make sure there is nothing grounding the MOBO like screws or whatever. You may have a bad motherboard, need to swap it out to confirm.

3.) Processor - Make sure the heatsink/fan is secure on top of the processor. If so and it is still not working, try replacing it to see if this is the cause of your problem.

[Mr.Ferrari]

We can rule out shorting something. Because if it has been working all this time and you havent messed with it.

Are there any beeps coming out?
Can you test the ram somewhere else?
Psu as well?

Symtoms like this usually happen with bad ram or motherboard.
I know I had a motherboard die yesterday with same conditions.

Turned out I killed the northbridge.

[legend_018]

Are you sure this isn't the monitor or video card. I know you said you tried the monitor on another system. Do you have another video card to try or does it have onboard video to rule out the video card? Is the operating system acting funky? Can you put the xp cd or the operating system cd in and see if it at least boots up to it and sees the screens that way?

Also: I think you said no beeps when it came up right? Did you usually hear beeps? Can you get into the Bios?

[legend_018]

I'm not sure if this will help but have a gander at this:

http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

[Cricket]

Did you do the out-of-case-troubleshooter that Kareeser provided a link to yet?

Did you leave the computer plugged into the wall outlet during your vacation? Did you try unplugging it for awhile and then plugging it back in? Sometimes this helps to "reset" the power supply.

Do you have a spare compatible power supply you can swap in to test with?

Cricket

[aznfellow]

Originally Posted by minsonngo Double check and make sure everything is installed and jumpered correctly. Try reseating the memory and video card. Also clear the CMOS/BIOS using the jumper on the motherboard. If the above does not work. Swap out the following one at a time going down the list until you find the problem. 1.) PSU - Make sure it is connected properly to the motherboard and everything else. If it isn't working, swap it out with a working one, you may have a dead PSU. What brand is the PSU by the way? 2.) Motherboard - Make sure there is nothing grounding the MOBO like screws or whatever. You may have a bad motherboard, need to swap it out to confirm. 3.) Processor - Make sure the heatsink/fan is secure on top of the processor. If so and it is still not working, try replacing it to see if this is the cause of your problem.

how do i reset the memory and video card and is resetting the cmos/bios the little 2 pin thing that i put on the reset side?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by aznfellow how do i reset the memory and video card

Unplug the computer from the wall outlet and then pull out the memory sticks and video card and then reinstall them making sure they're fully inserted into their respective slots.

Originally Posted by aznfellow and is resetting the cmos/bios the little 2 pin thing that i put on the reset side?

You set the jumper shunt to the CLEAR position with the computer unplugged from the wall outlet. Leave the shunt in the CLEAR position for a few minutes and then move it back to the NORMAL position. Or you can remove the motherboard battery (with the computer unplugged from the wall outlet) for a few minutes.

Did you try the out-of-case-troubleshooter yet?

Cricket

[aznfellow]

is it possible for the motherboard battery to be dead? if the mobo battery is dead, would the mobo light be on? my mobo light is on and everything is working so its not dead right? for some reason i can't get the battery out. how do you guys do it? it seems like its pretty deep in.

[flanzig1]

If the Cmos battery was dead, it just defaults the BIOS settings. Some battery holders havea hook spring clip that holds the battery. May need a small screwdriver to pop out the battery while holding back the clip. As for the mobo light, that is powered by a standby voltage from the PSU not the battery.
If you left the computer plugged in during vacation, it could of taken a lighting strike or some other electrical event.

[aznfellow]

when i reset the cmos. do i turn the actual psu switch off as well then remove the plug from the psu and reset? or just plug the cord from the psu and reset?

[minsonngo]

Shut down the PC and unplug the power cord from the power supply. Open the case and then you look for a jumper near the battery or CMOS chip that will have 3 pins and be marked with CLEAR and NORMAL (this varies depending on your motherboard, check the manual to be sure), set the jumper to CLEAR setting for 5 minutes and then place it back on the NORMAL setting, close up the case, plug the power cord back in and fire up the computer.

You can also do the above but instead of changing the jumper around on the pins, just remove the motherboard battery for 5 minutes.

[minsonngo]

Sorry, double post by accident.