computer is dead! HELP(please) to determine the cause!! UPDATE

[rojkai]

first, thanks for taking the time to read this thread. i really appreciate it. now, on to the problem.

a friend's computer won't turn on. it dies after 3-4 seconds of pressing the power button everytime. everything just dies. i first thought it was the psu, so i tested it using my psu on his computer. same thing happens: everything just dies after 3-4 seconds. then i tested his psu on my computer, for good measure, and it works fine. so now, i have no clue as to what can be the cause. within the 3-4 seconds that the computer is operational, you can hear all the fans and drives starting up. so what can cause the computer to die like this? specs are the following:
abit kd7
amd athlon xp 2100 retail
western digital 120 gig (not SE)
512 kingston RAM (256x2)
ati 9500 pro

i believe those are the major specs. please ask if more information about the computer is needed. the computer is not brand new, but it is only about 3 months old. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Motero]

Motherboard.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Did this just start happening since its 3 months old? My first guess is that maybe there is an overheating problem and so the mobo shuts everything off before it overheats and burns the cpu.

 

[EeyoreX]

You say you checked the PSU on your computer, are the specs comparable?
Also, I would check the HSF to make sure it is installed correctly (making good contact etc) and with a thin layer of Arctic Silver III. Since I agree this could be a heat issue, especially if you are sure its not a PSU issue.

\Dan

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Heatsink problem is the first thing that came to my mind.

Make sure that the HSF is securely attached and making good contact. Other than that, you may have a dead motherboard on your hands. That rig deserves an nForce2 anyhow.

- M4H

 

[Mist]

What about a problem with the power on switch?

Is it perhaps not staying on and breaking contact somewhere?

Since generally, if you hold the power on switch in for around 5 seconds, this will switch a PC off.

Maybe yours is working in reverse and if you hold the power switch in for around 5 seconds, this will start the machine.


Michael.

 

[LouPoir]

Oh oh - sounds like a motherboard problem

 

[Viper96720]

He could remove the power switch plug from the mb and just short the contact to get it started. See if that's the problem. What motherboard? Does it have thermal protection or some won't start if a fan isn't plugged in the cpu fan header.

 

[Mist]

The reason I suggested the power on switch is because PC hardware is generally pretty reliable from my experience, so I'm coming from the angle of checking the simplest things first and to me, his PC comes on, but doesn't stay on and that's a power problem.

So, since it comes on, then we can rule out a blown fuse from his wall socket power plug.

I'm interested to see how he gets on with this.

Michael.

 

[Montano]

MoBo or CPU would be the first place to look.

 

[Markfw]

Make sure the CPU fan cord is in the cpu header, otherwise this is exactly what it will do.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: Montano
MoBo or CPU would be the first place to look.

 

[rojkai]

thanks everybody for replying.
i rechecked the installation of the hsf, the application of artic silver 3 and they all seem to be fine. and the power switch, since someone mentioned this, works fine and is connected correctly to the motherboard. after popping off the hsf on the cpu, there doesnt seem to be any physical evidence that would point to an overheated cpu but im assuming that a fried cpu would not necessary have any difference in physical appearance ? a few more questions i would like to ask.

1)my own setup is epox 8kha+ with an amd athlon xp 1600, so is it possible to pop in my processor into his motherboard and test the motherboard ? how about vice versa ? would this be advisable ?
2)if the cpu is at fault, can he rma the cpu through amd since it is still under the 3yr warranty and there were no modifications and/or overclocking done to the cpu?
3)how about the motherboard ? can he rma the motherboard if that is at fault ? this is already the second abit kd7 motherboard he had to use. the first one was faulty within 14 days of purchase and that one was sent to newegg for this one.

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: rojkai
thanks everybody for replying.
i rechecked the installation of the hsf, the application of artic silver 3 and they all seem to be fine. and the power switch, since someone mentioned this, works fine and is connected correctly to the motherboard. after popping off the hsf on the cpu, there doesnt seem to be any physical evidence that would point to an overheated cpu but im assuming that a fried cpu would not necessary have any difference in physical appearance ? a few more questions i would like to ask.

1)my own setup is epox 8kha+ with an amd athlon xp 1600, so is it possible to pop in my processor into his motherboard and test the motherboard ? how about vice versa ? would this be advisable ?
2)if the cpu is at fault, can he rma the cpu through amd since it is still under the 3yr warranty and there were no modifications and/or overclocking done to the cpu?
3)how about the motherboard ? can he rma the motherboard if that is at fault ? this is already the second abit kd7 motherboard he had to use. the first one was faulty within 14 days of purchase and that one was sent to newegg for this one.

1. yup
2. yup, as long he didn't altered the cpu in anyway.
3. with newegg.com, yup, I would go with an Epox or Asus. Just a newbie's two cents.

 

[Viper96720]

Did anything get changed recently? The power switch was suggested because all it does it short the contact while it's pressed only. If it stays shorted the computer will turn off. Can you put your cpu the mb to get into the bios. See if the cpu shutdown temperature is enabled.

 

[rojkai]

so i finally got the time to test my cpu in his motherboard and the results proved the same. everything still shuts off like described before. so now, can i safely conclude that this is a bad motherboard ?

 

[Viper96720]

Could be bad since it was working for 3 months then failed.