**Computer Refuses to turn on! Help!!**

[placebo139]

Here's what my problem is...

I am running a 700 athlon slot a on an Abit mobo. I bought the thing about a year and a half ago (i forget how long ago) and recently, it began to act strange. There were times when the computer would turn on, and then suddenly stop booting right before it gets to windows. Eventually, this problem became worse, and now it won't even start!!

Here's what I've tried...

- Three different video cards, 2 AGP and 1 PCI, none of which made a difference.
- Three sticks of 128 PC133 RAM, none of which made a difference.
- Another slot a 700 AMD chip (that was known to work), without making a difference.
- I tried everything in the same combination on another motherboard (Epox, I believe) that was known to work, but it made no difference.
- I tried two separate 300 watt PSUs, and I double-checked every connection
- Motherboards are jumper-free, and I have a good working fan.

Please help me... I don't want to spend any money at all buying a new system or mobo/CPU combo. I know I'm doing something wrong... but I just wish I knew what it was. Anyone with any suggestions? Help would be greatfully appreciated!!

 

[fr]

Sounds like you swapped every essential part. How the hell is it possible it still won't boot?

 

[minendo]

I know this sounds odd, but try a different power button. My girlfriends computer stopped working one day and it turns out that somehow the power button went bad. I am still trying to figure that out, but it did go bad. I am totally lost as to how that happened.

 

[ttn1]

Have you tried defragmenting the drive? How about a reinstall? This could just be an OS failure.

As for the previous post. Power buttons are just mechanical devices. The switches will go bad after a while. I've had a few go bad.

 

[placebo139]

Well, I know it's not an OS failure, because the computer doesn't even reach the startup screen. I know for sure it's some sort of mechanical failure. And what I'm guessing is that it's a failure of both the mobo and cpu... But I don't know how to diagnose it.

I tried different power buttons before (I have an extra ATX case) but that didn't help.

So anyone else with any other suggestions? I'd hate to have to buy another mobo/cpu.

 

[kyutip]

You have the exact problem that I had awhile ago.
Do you use Abit KA7 by any chance?

Does this sound like your problem?
1. When you power on your comp, nothing happen, monitor does not appear to receive signal
2. reset button does not work
3. second time powering on seem to boot into windows (not always)
4. can't last more than 10 min on windows on any program. even you don't run anything the comp would freeze
5. repeat problem one

yep, this drove me nuts for a long time. I change the HD, video card, ram. nothing works.
then I decide to dismantle the whole thing and when I take a close look at the mobo, some of the transistor have rust and seem to leak some rusty substance (more apparent at transistor near the cpu slot).
I called Abit tech support and ask for warranty (I bought this mobo about 1.5 yr ago) and to my surprise they say it is still under warranty.
So I RMA the mobo back to Abit, couple weeks later new mobo show up (still KA7, dunno if refurb, no refurb sticker though, looks new).
Put that in and all the old parts together and BAM !

Working computer.

So hope this helps. Good Luck !

 

[prim]

Same as my problem / couple of thread before
Abit Ka7... Changed the motherboard with Abit 2 times! changed the power supply to 350 /amd recomended/ checked all the parts .. to night i am reinstaling windows /clean install / ... and if this dont work I dont know

 

[placebo139]

kyutip!! I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM!!

I'm using a KA7, and the transistors are LEAKING too!!

How did you RMA the board? Where can I call Abit up? I bought the board about a year and a half ago too!

 

[prim]

I've been trying to start my computer for the last 20 min

anyway here is the contact info for abit:

http://www.abit.com.tw/abitweb/webjsp/english/Contacts.html

dont even try to call their tech support .. they want answer they will tell you to call RMA department ...

and they dont have 1 800 number... good I am in bay area,,,