Dead

[roy66]

The initial logon problem we had on my grandsons PC was an Administrator password issue on bootup, which would I assume relate to BIOS boot settings.....we eventually came up with the correct password which finished the boot process and from there we started to setup the modem for ISP but cancelled that until parents approval, so we finished up with the desktop screen and went to lunch..came back and it was frozen.
Since then no response to any attempts.
I have connected his Monitor, keyboard and mouse to my PC to test each and all have come up OK.

When I connect power to HIS PC the on/off light and reset light
come on, the lights of the DVD and CDRW blink a few times and keyboard Num lock, Caps lock, Scroll lock all light up briefly.

I have removed and replaced all drive cables and memory in their sockets and even removed the modem...just in case.

Up until the forgotten password issue no problems....once we rememberd the correct password we booted on and off a couple of times..OK...then this mad mystery.
This PC has not been connected to the internet at all with this XP installation which was installed some six months ago.

I am on the verge of removing the H/D and putting it in the freezer for a while if NOTHING ELSE works.

Pressing the reset button only causes the alternate blinking of the the DVD and CDRW nothing else and NOTHING comes up on the monitor......so it seems that it is not entering into any phase of the boot mode.
I have to pull the plug to power off as it won't respond to the button.

Over but not out....YET

[andyms18a]

try removing the bios battery for about half an houre and unplug the computer from the mains the reincert the battery plug the pc in and press and hold the start button for 15 seconds the releace and press agen as normall post back with results

[sdkfz]

I saw this line in you rpost "This PC has not been connected to the internet at all with this XP installation which was installed some six months ago." I must ask, did you activate the install of XP? If you were not connected to the interenet you would have had to call it in. While this would not explain everything it might be a part.

I second the CMOS reset. If someone was playing around with the CMOS to set a password then something else might have been changed and this could result in your PC now thinking it is a fridge.

[roy66]

I will give the battery bit a go I was sorta thinking along this line as well prior to refrigerating the HD.....but remember, we did have this THING up and running after getting our password correct.
However, I am a believer of the KISS principle and will start with the basics......THanks andyms18a and sdkfz
roy66

[roy66]

I WISH, I WISH, I WISH...but sorry, no go....still the same
roy66

[sdkfz]

hmmm, ok ... one thing you have not mentioned swapping is the power supply, assuming that we are not talking about propreitary power supplies where the manufacturer swapped around the wires (dell was one) can we first prove that the power is good?

Then or even right off the bat I'd suggest pulling all out and try the trouble shooting steps found here
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...ouble+shooting

if it does boot, keep it out of the case and start adding stuff and testing each addtion with a reboot. assuming success at fiirst try thern a bad device down the road will be quickly found out when it's additon kills the pc boot

let us know

[roy66]

I am on the verge of removing the H/D and putting it in the freezer for a while if NOTHING ELSE works......perhaps I should have said .......as a move prior to venturing on such a dramtic venture as you have suggested...

THANKS...but noooo thanks just at this stage there still has to be a few more KISS options available me thinks.

Aprreciate the offer/help/assistance/advice but just a wee bit over my head just yet.

roy66

[andyms18a]

ok first its not the harddrive as you dont get a bios post so its a hardware fault so the first thing to do is remove the ram and try a start up you shod get beeps from the case speaker if you dont then its eather the cpu or motherboard or power supply. if you do get beeps then its most likly the ram or motherboard (note this test only works if the case speeker is pluged in)

[roy66]

Checked this HD on my other PC. HD recognised.
Hooked up my other PC HD to this one...nothing.
Have to accept that this HD is OK.
Have removed and replaced RAM as instructed.
With and without RAM one short beep then nought.
Things seem to be going from bad to worse.
Power connect, no lights at all now on PC just keyboard and the fan in the powerbox just gives a sick flip about a quarter kick and throwback.
12v. power to MB and drives OK

Real powerdown now.....but where????

[KHT]

Unless i`m missing something, is this a build? If so, what are the specs? If not, what manufacturer, make\model?

Etc, Etc, Etc.

[eldon]

Check to make sure all wires and cables are connected good and make sure the mobo has a good ground,no loose screws or coonections.

[andyms18a]

you now have 3 posable faults dead cpu is the most likley then dead motherboard and last dead psu the reason i pick cpu over other things is the one short beep then nothing evan with no ram in if the cpu and mother board ok then you shod get 2 or moor beeps. lets hope mike breck or TwoRails
or some of the other teces drop by this post thay may have other idears

[roy66]

Hi all,

1. Can anyone, please, with absolute knowledge, inform me that if I totally disconnect the power supply unit from the case and power it up if it is able to or should power up the fan enclosed in it or does it require feedback from the PC.

2. What effect would a flat battery have?

Thanks a million.

roy66

[andyms18a]

1, to test the psu remove it from the case with the psu unpluged from the mains take a bit of insulated wire about 3 inches long expose both ends find the plug that conectes to the mother board it will have one grean wire put one end of your 3 inch wire in the plug conected to the grean wire and the other end in to any black wire plug the psu in to the mains and switch it on at the back if you have a switch if it works it will powerup and the fan will spin
2, if the battery is dead all that will happen when you boot up is it will ask you to run the bios setup program as all the batter dose is keep the bios setings when the computer is switched of

[roy66]

THANKS TO ALL......

Well I do have to praise GOD for all the assistance you folk have given me and I must post this good news.

I just replaced the battery and it is up and running.
Not sure if I've lost any data yet or have to do a repair job or not but at least it will boot.

I thought at least you would be pleased to get this great news.

Might need some ongoing assistance a little later on and will keep you briefed.

roy66

This is where I’m at....

When I shutdown this PC the only way I can get it up again is to remove----wait----replace the battery. This will load XP but not open.
If I go into the BIOS setup and place current date and time and fully default all settings it will
then open XP to reveal all programs and permit usage.
If left on it will automatically go into sleep mode from which it can be woken and used normally.

Everything is functioning normally NOW with the exception of the ridiculous necessity to
remove----wait----replace the battery and enter and change the BIOS setup before it will load and
fully function.

What in the world is happening

roy66
bye the way..what is psu

[andyms18a]

psu = power supply unit
if the mothe board is not holding it setings with the new battery then check the jumpers on the board the one that resets the bios is most likley on wrong have a looke at your mother board manule for the corect jumper setings

[roy66]

TO ALL,

This is what I have been able to establish without a doubt.
The boot procedure is somehow linked to the flat circular 3volt battery.
Today I used the Start/Turn Off function to shut down the computer. It wouldn't power up again.
I removed the flat circular 3volt battery and when I came home some 4 hours later I replaced the battery and attempted to boot...........NOTHING...no power.
I checked the current flow of the power supply to the MOB...OK.
I then checked the voltage of the flat circular 3volt battery and it came in just under 3volt.
I pulled another flat circular 3volt battery from my drawer and checked its voltage...just on 3 volts. I inserted that battery and WHAMO power.
It booted up and took me to Welcome but wouldn't take me beyond that.
I rebooted and got in to the BIOS setup and defaulted everything and the PC and all its programs are now operable.
With regards to the battery
(This is just what happened as I mentioned in a few postings back. But at that time the battery I inserted was new and had a reading of 3.36v.) so that battery in that short time has dropped from 3.36v to 2.99v.and is apparently adversely affecting bootup, hence its replacement with.......the original battery that has just come in again at 3v. after being in the drawer for a day or so.

[TimPoet]

Mayhaps something is draining the batteries?

[roy66]

With a heart and soul as tender as yours and located in Los Vegas you courageuosly took a punt on battery drainage.

Thanks......I wonder if I would have ever thought of that.

Now lets move on......what is the solution??????? get a bigger battery???

roy66

[andyms18a]

roy being sarcastic to a member that is trying to help you is not the best way to get help hear tims post is corect the question is, is the problam the motherboarb or the power supply as both can cause the symptons you are haveing and the only way to find out is to change parts if you have another computer then try the power supply from that if it dont work then its most likley a motherboard fault

[roy66]

andyms18a

Thanks I can accept that, though I was sincere in my remarks re a soft tender heart and soul as I had visited his website and understood my comments to be correct.

The remainder was tongue in cheek as I have noticed a bit of humour bandied about so really didn't expect my comments to be taken too seriously.

Truly sorry for any offense to any.

roy66

[roy66]

andyms18a,

I jumpered the Power which has 19 colored wires where it attaches to the MOB and it powered up OK. Then there are two other wires B/W to the MOB when I attached them to the MOB the power shutsdown.
The 19 wires is P1 and the two is P6 if that means anything.

roy66

[roy66]

My latest discovery.

It will power up without the CMOS battery.
Insert the battery...won't power up.
Remove the battery..power up.
Insert the battery..won't power up and so it goes.

roy66

[TimPoet]

Originally posted by andyms18a roy being sarcastic to a member that is trying to help you is not the best way to get

I didn't sense anything wrong with his post. We must be careful in correcting others, the mods are here for that.
If the battery is draining, I don't know what the cure would be, it just sounded good.
Roy, thanks for the compliment, I am glad you saw my website.