Question about CDRW Drive

[JonDee]

I got a question about the light that stays on, on the CDRW Drive. Why does it stay on. It came on tonight and stayed on and the computer stopped working. All fans would power up, but wouldn't post or even turn the moniter on. It worked fine for the whole day and suddenly it won't. Do you think that it could be a bad CDRW that just stopped working right? All my connections are secure, because I checked them. I will try a new ribbon cable as I have some new ones. Any help would appreciated.

[bailey]

I think that when the light stays on, the drive may be defective.

[JonDee]

Thanks Bailey for your input. I changed the ribbon cable and put in a new CDRW Drive. My light does not come on at all now and the thing will not open up. It didn't open up with the other CDRW either. I've apparently got other problems as well. The computer was working just fine when I went the supper and when I returned from supper it wouldn't do anything as if it couldn't wake up. Could a defective power supply cause these problems? Thanks for any help.

[bailey]

there are several things that could cause that problem.
take the computer down to the bare items and the one drive.
boot the computer and see if the light comes on at all.
if it does not you may have a bad motherboard.

[Cricket]

Post your system specs and let us know if this computer is home built or a name brand PC. List the parts by brand and model if you know them, include the power supply make.

Cricket

[JonDee]

Thanks for asking about the specs Cricket. If you will look at my signature on the first posting, you will see the specs. I built this computer myself and it has been running for several months and was only shut down a couple of times for overnight, while I was upgrading my Grandson's Computer. The power supply is: Enermax Noisetaker Model EG375P-VE. Intel Motherboard D915GAV, Intel P-4, 3.0 GHZ CPU, Geil Platinum DDR PC-4000, 1 Gig., Seagate 80 Gig SATA Hard-drive, Teac DVD+RW Drive, Lite-On CDRW Drive, Sony Floppy Disk Drive, Dell 19in. Color Monitor,Thermaltake CL-PO114 120mm Cooling Fan/Heatsink. I will remove the Motherboard and assemble it out of computer case and see what happens. Getback with you after that. Thanks

[Cricket]

Boot the computer without the opticals connected. If the problem goes away, attach one optical at a time and boot up to find out which one is defective.

Cricket

[JonDee]

Guys. I've just got through starting it up with bare Mininums outside the case and it doesn't change anything. I have ordered a new Power supply, but it'll be a few days before I can test it. I have to wait for it to be delivered. Do you suspect a defective power supply or are you thinking motherboard? I'm using my second computer right now because my main is down for the above mentioned problem(s). Sure wish I had a Newegg place close by. Thanks for the help guys.

[Cricket]

So you hit the power button (or jumped the PWR ON pins) and then no response from the system at all? Any fans spinning?

You have a good power supply...and the thing with the opticals makes me think the motherboard may be the problem.

Try booting the system without the video card and RAM installed and see if you get any BIOS beeps (make sure the case speaker is connected if the motherboard doesn't have a piezo speaker on-board).

Cricket

[JonDee]

I tried what you said Cricket and there was no sound at all, so does that mean that the Motherboard is shot or could it be my Processor? Or could both of them be shot? Any help would be appreciated. Yes my fan was spinning and has everytime the power was turned on. Should I have had the Hard-drive connected or not? This time I didn't have the Hard-drive connected.

[Cricket]

So you're not getting any beeps and no image on the monitor? Sounds like the motherboard went bad.

Can you test your CPU in another computer to see if it's working or not?

Cricket

[JonDee]

Thanks Cricket for responding. I will check out that Processor on my other computer this afternoon, after my Folding@Home WU is complete. Then I will know whether I need to order just a Motherboard or Both. Thanks so much for your help. I will get back with you after I've done these things.

[JonDee]

Cricket, It appears as if my Motherboard is the only thing thats bad. Has anyone ever RMA'd a Motherboard to Intel? How much of a hassle would it be? I've had this Motherboard only 9 or 10 Months and its suppose to have a three year warranty.

[glc]

I've never had an Intel motherboard fail so I don't know how the RMA process works firsthand, but I hear that it's quite painless. Procedures should be in the documentation on your Express Installer CD.