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Computer Problems: Need help!

Kabob

Kabob

Lifer
This morning, my suitemate turned on his computer only to find that the thing would not boot up. When he hits the power button, the lights come on, the fans start working, but that's it. Monitors don't turn on, CD-Rom drawers won't open, and he cannot turn off his system either. When he holds the power button for 3 seconds, it should turn the system off, but it does not. Here is his system specs (to the best of my knowledge)

-Athlon 64 3000+
-ASRock K8S8X
-1x512MB Kingmax PC3200 Mem
-Sapphire Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB
-CD-RW, DVD Rom pulled from old Gateway system
-HD pulled from old Gateway system
-PSU pulled from old Gateway system (not sure of the wattage...could this be the problem? It's an older system)
-Dual monitors, both Gateway
-3 piece Boston DigitalBA735 speaker system w/powered woofer pulled from old Gateway system
-Centurion2 case

Everything that hasn't been pulled from the old Gateway is less than 2 months old. He just finished this system.

Is this a hardware problem or a software (virus) problem? Any ideas?

Thanks for any help y'all can be!!

-Kabob
 
It worked fine yesterday? I seriously doubt it's a virus. I'd say it was your PSU but knowing that it worked fine before, hrmm..

Where are you and what is your type of shelter? This is a longshot, I know.
 
What type of PSU I have? Well, I'm still using my 2001 Dell Dimension 4100 w/200W PSU. However, I do have a case w/psu sitting in my closer. It's an MGE Soho w/a 400W PSU (yeah, I know it's not a major brand, but I'm not running 5 hard drives and a 6800 Ultra or anything...) Think we should try hooking his stuff up to it?

I'm living in a dormatory in Birmingham, AL.

Keep the ideas rolling!!

-Kabob
 
Originally posted by: kabob983
What type of PSU I have? Well, I'm still using my 2001 Dell Dimension 4100 w/200W PSU. However, I do have a case w/psu sitting in my closer. It's an MGE Soho w/a 400W PSU (yeah, I know it's not a major brand, but I'm not running 5 hard drives and a 6800 Ultra or anything...) Think we should try hooking his stuff up to it?

I'm living in a dormatory in Birmingham, AL.

Keep the ideas rolling!!

-Kabob
Click to expand...

Try hooking up the 400W PSU to your friends computer. I believe that should fix it, but if that doesn't work, tell us if the problems are any different. You don't even have to bother taking out his PSU, just open the case, place the 400W PSU close to the case and plug it in the m/b, hold it there until you see if it works or not. I don't know, that's what I'd do to save some trouble, you can do it however you like it 🙂
 
Also, try using another powercord. I had kind of like this problem happen to me once and it ended up being the power cord malfunctioning and shorting power or something 🙂
 
Yeah, it was working great this morning (about 1...we watched a movie on it) He's at work right now, but when he gets back, first we'll check the power cord, then try my PSU to see if it works.

Out of curiosity, how can you check a PSU's 12v rail? Is it usually listed on the unit itself?

-Kabob
 
Antec TruePower430 would be a good PSU that's easy to find in B&M stores if you need a suggestion.
 
Ok fellas, here's what just happened...

He just turned his computer on again (for some reason) and it booted up as normal. We havn't tried the 400W supply yet, so what's the deal? Something screwy in his case? Something messing with his software? Any ideas?

-Kabob
 
Originally posted by: kabob983
Ok fellas, here's what just happened...

He just turned his computer on again (for some reason) and it booted up as normal. We havn't tried the 400W supply yet, so what's the deal? Something screwy in his case? Something messing with his software? Any ideas?

-Kabob
Click to expand...

if you didn't jiggle/hit/smack/joggle anything ..psu is now main suspect
 
I'd guess something is shorting or grounding his motherboard, I had this same problem w/ a couple systems that had some metal flakes from the brass stand offs and the bottom of the case causing issues I'd take his system apart give it a thourgh cleaning then reassemble it and see if he still has issues. It also might be a failing powersupply as other suggested.
 
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