Computer powers on, but won't boot.

[Encephelon]

# Overview of the problem
Computer gets power and motherboard LED lights turn on, but no hardware turns on. The fans just continue to blow at full steam.


# Full description of the problem and symptoms
OK so I bought a new PSU (details below) and hooked it up into my PC. Worked like a champ except there was a wierd ticking noise every ~5 seconds as long as the computer was on, and it wasn't there before the PSU change. The other day I went in and moved some wires out of the way of my fans just in case that was the problem and while I was at it, I took out one of my additional fans to reduce the noise (I had 2 fans plus my PSU's installed. Unbeknownst to me, my PSU fan was not functional so only one fan was good to go). Powered the PC back on, it ran for a few seconds and then shut down after beeping angrily at me. Turned it back on, went to black screen and showed a "Thermal error: CPU overheated" type of message. A second or two later, it beeped and shut down again.

I figured I needed the fan back in so I hooked it back up and powered on. It worked and no more ticking. Huzzah. But when I booted up World of Warcraft, the same beep/shutdown sequence occurred. At this point I figured my PSU fan was clearly not working because I could still hear my big fan going, so I looked at the documentation and saw that there was a 3-pin FM connector that should detect and set the fan's RPM setting. So I plugged the FM connector in and flipped the switch, but this time the current problem occurred. PC got power, but just sat there whirring instead of booting. No post, no hardware detection or communication, just LED lights turning on and fans a-blowin. That's where I stand.

Sorry for the exhaustive story, but I didn't want to leave out a detail. This whole biznass is wiggin me out.



# Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
It worked fine before I started dicking around with my fans.



# Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
Yeah, it definitely keeps happening.



# I already tried these steps:
I went back in and ensured that all cords were connected firmly and correctly. I unplugged the FM connector just in case it was somehow screwing everything up. I turned the PC on and let it whir for a good half-hour before I decided that it wasn't going to make a miracle for me.



# My software:
Not sure it matters, but I run Windows XP Home with SP3 and Norton 2004.




# My hardware
Gateway 500GR

* Motherboard brand & model = Don't know, actually. I'll try and find documentation for you.
* CPU model = Intel® Pentium® 4 - 3.0 GHz - not overclocked
* Video card brand & model = Radeon x1950 Pro
* RAM modules brand & model = Don't know this one either. Let me know if you need this information and I'll dig it up for you.
* Power supply brand & model = ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT





Thanks for taking the time to read. I figure I fried my processor when it overheated, and if that does happen to be the case, I'm due for a mobo upgrade anyway. But any help or advice is much appreciated, even just for future reference so I don't blow up my next computer. =)

 

[mpilchfamily]

First of all replace the PSU again. The Enermax Liberty models are not very good PSUs. There is a possibilty that the PSU has bamaged the motherboard.

You mentioned the PC beeped. Was it a series of short and long beeps, just a a few short beeps or just a few long beeps? If you can tell use how many beeps there wehre and if they where all the same length or not that will help. If there is a probelm and the motherboard has a speaker that will produce a beep code insidacting what if any problem there is.

Now if you had unplugged the CPU cooler then you most definetly overheated teh CPU. The P4s run hot to start with so it wouldn't take long to over heat and kill the chip.

 

[Encephelon]

Besides the fan not working, what's poor quality about my PSU model?

I honestly can't remember what beeps it made, but in any case, it's not making them anymore. I know the CPU overheated, I'm just not sure what the problem could be now. You think I killed the chip then?

 

[MadAmos]

I have used several of the Enermax Liberty's with zero problems, the system in my sig has been on 2+ years and is only shut down for maintenance a couple times a year. The fan in the Enermax I have is very quite and is connected to a mobo fan header, how are your fans configured in the Bios? There may be a setting in the Bios to control fan speeds. Probably also worth checking the CPU heat sink, if it has been a while I would remove it clean the heat sink and the CPU and reinstall securely using a small quantity of a good quality heat sink compound.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Like i said of the CPU overheated there is a good cahnce you fried it.

 

[Encephelon]

Good to know. I'll invest in a new mobo/cpu and then check out my bios settings. My PSU got nothing but good reviews, so I'll probably stick with it if the fan isn't a problem. Here's hoping.


Thanks again, guys. =)

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
First of all replace the PSU again. The Enermax Liberty models are not very good PSUs.

Agreed. The 500 watt Liberties were especially bad. I know, I've got one, and it wouldn't even power an X1900XT, which performed flawlessly, once I put a good PSU in that system. I was once Enermax's biggest supporter, and only used their PSU's, but now, they don't make any good PSU's, except for the two Galaxy models.

There is a possibilty that the PSU has bamaged the motherboard.

Agreed. Enermax Liberties have killed more motherboards than ESD could ever hope to kill.

 

[corkyg]

Do you have an external HDD connected?