possible processor problem

[silentbobdrummer]

My home computer is having problems booting. It is an emachines. It powers up but the power light won't go on and it won't post or do anything else. The processor fan was not spinning all the time so I replaced that thinking that was the only problem but it still won't start it. Is the processor fried or is it something else?

I believe the processor is an AMD Athlon XP 1800.

[EzyStvy]

What's the history behind the problem?
Did this just start out of the clear blue?

I'd guess that the power supply is near death and needs to be replaced.

[silentbobdrummer]

A week ago, the computer was restarting or shutting down on its own. I was not home to fix it right away. I tried replacing the power supply but still wouldn't start up so then replaced the processor fan, still won't start up.

[glc]

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

[chuck4456]

No word back.

[foghat46]

I just dealt with almost an identical problem, with almost identical symptoms. After eliminating components one-by-one, I finally got down to two-processor or motherboard. I bought a new motherboard, and ching! Booted right up. I suspect that a power supply failure about 3 months before may have contributed to the motherboard's chipset demise. It's been my experience over the years that processors are pretty hardy, unless you abuse them. Jacking up the core voltage excessively in extreme overclocking attempts or power supply spikes are the most common culprits, and I don't think that applies in this case. eMachines are notorious for using ultra-cheap motherboards, like FIC and PCChips, who sells it's boards under a variety of never-heard-of names. If the processor is an Athlon XP, the motherboard will be a Socket A board, and finding a new one will be surprisingly difficult. If the motherboard supported dual-channel memory, finding a replacement will be doubly so. Being an eMachine, I doubt that it did. I ended up buying a factory-remanufactured Abit from a vendor on eBay. It was a crapshoot, but less risky than buying a used board. At least a reman is tested thoroughly before release, and comes with all the original cables, discs, manuals, and accessories. I was lucky, and got a functional board. Abit makes quality boards. Be advised that if you replace the original board with one with a different chipset, you will have numerous driver problems unless you boot the first time in safe mode, remove all the drivers associated with the chipset, and load the new motherboard drivers. Good luck.

[silentbobdrummer]

Sorry for bumping this thread but the question that i have is that if the processor and/or motherboard are fried, will I be able to put the hard drive in a different computer and retrive data saved on it? Chances are a whole new computer will be bought but I was wondering if any of the data on the hard drive can be recovered?

Thanks for alll the help.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by silentbobdrummer Sorry for bumping this thread but the question that i have is that if the processor and/or motherboard are fried, will I be able to put the hard drive in a different computer and retrive data saved on it?

You should be able to as long as the hard drive isn't fried too.

Originally Posted by silentbobdrummer Chances are a whole new computer will be bought but I was wondering if any of the data on the hard drive can be recovered?

Only way to find out is to try putting that hard drive in another computer to see if it works or not.

Cricket

[glc]

Don't try to boot to it - install it as an additional drive.

[jeffr]

If the processor is an Athlon XP, the motherboard will be a Socket A board, and finding a new one will be surprisingly difficult.

Not necessarily true..I had NO trouble finding one.

[silentbobdrummer]

Originally Posted by glc Don't try to boot to it - install it as an additional drive.

so putting it into another computer as a secondary (slave) drive should work to recovery what is needed?

[flanzig1]

Yes. As long as you have a new drive with Windows on it and is set as the c: drive.

[silentbobdrummer]

Cool, thanks for all the help.