Computer not booting up...

[Soulo]

I was trying to install a video card on my uncle's PC and that was when I realized it didn't boot up. I don't even get a POST to access the BIOS or anything.

It is an old dell computer so I don't know what it's specs are.

I thought it was the hard drive that is dead because:

1) The hd activity light stayed on, which in the past experience seems to mean that it's not working properly.
2) It doesn't make lots of noises like it usually does when you boot it up.

The dell computer also has a message code and for that code it says "The system board is recieving power, but the BIOS is not executing." Of course the solution is to talk to a technical assistance which is...bleh...

Also, I think the problem might be that I rebooted while I was still in the BIOS. Could this be a problem? How can it be fixed?

I've tried reseting the CMOS, but that was a no go. I just took the battery out and put it back in. It didn't really have a jumper...It only had ONE jumper that was used for the CPU and Resetting the PW.

 

[ccgr]

try unplugging hard drive and floppy cables, sometime sif plugged in wrong can halt a system from posting. Truning off while in the BIOS is not a biggie..only when saving or flashing it.

 

[hjo3]

I doubt it's the hard drive. A system should post even if the HD is dead.

It could possibly be the processor. Or maybe the new video card is trying to draw too much power and the PSU can't keep up.

Depending on how old the PC is, the CMOS battery might have to be out longer than 30 seconds. One of my profs said he had old systems where you could leave the battery out for hours and the CMOS still wouldn't get reset. You'd actually have to leave it out for a whole day.

Anyway.

 

[Soulo]

I don't think its the video card because I didn't even installed it in the computer yet.

I'm going to try unplugging everything and plugging it back in tomorrow. Hopefully that'll do. I'll also check the hd on my computer to see if its working.