Computer will not boot, where to start?

[rushhound]

Ok this is my old computer but I still would like to use it to get some old stuff off of it. It is a p3 450 with a bioStar M6TBA MB, a seagate 13 gig HD, a G Force 3 vid card, Plextor CDRW and a Liton DVD. This problem with it not booting started a while back. It would attempt to boot up but nothing would ever show up on the screen. I could shut it off and re-boot it and it would eventually start up. Sometimes it would take 3-4 times but would eventually start up. I built a new rig and have not tried to power the old one for about a week and a half. Now it will not boot to the point of seeing anything on the screen at all. Are there some simple steps I can go through to try and determine what is causing the problem? I am not really sure where to start?
Thanks

 

[Ape]

Start by removing all the components. Try to boot with just the Memory, CPU and Video. If it boots then, try and add one component at a time. like the floppy, then HD, then CD etc. When you add one and it stops there is your problem. If you try the basic boot (mem, CPU, Vid) and it wont boot. Try and replacing them one at a time until you get it to boot. Seems like alot but you will find the bad part this way. Ape Out.

 

[rushhound]

Ape, Thanks for the tips!

Ok I broke it down to memory, video and CPU. I get nothing. Nada no beeps or anything. So would this be a dead MB? I tried several sticks of known good memory in several different slots as well.

 

[bsauerbr]

Try the power supply by itself. The "shut it off and re-boot it and it would eventually start up" scenario sounds like power problems.

Disconnect from mobo and short green wire to any black wire with a paper clip. Nice picture from PSU FAQ here.

EDIT: Fix link

 

[rushhound]

Try the power supply by itself. The "shut it off and re-boot it and it would eventually start up" scenario sounds like power problems.

Tried that and it seems to be fine. The power has been constant when trying to boot up. It just seems to get "stuck". Now that everything is unplugged but the processor, memory and video card it isn't even giving any "beeps"?

 

[Ape]

It could be a bad video card or CPU. Try them befor you buy a new Mobo if you can. Ape Out.

 

[Democritus10]

Take out the memory and the video card and listen for beep codes (make sure your speaker from the case is plugged into the appropriate pins on the mobo, even if you have a speaker built into the mobo). If you don't get any, it's your CPU or motherboard (assuming your power supply is fine). I'll bet it's your motherboard (a history of powering and booting problems usually is a sign of a failing motherboard...bad capacitors or whatever). If you do get a beep code, install your memory (leave the video card out). If you don't get beeps, it's your memory. If the memory is good, you should get something around 7 beeps indicating that your video card is not installed. Or try video in, memory out. If all is good, you should get 3 beeps indicating that the memory is not installed.

 

[rushhound]

Thanks everybody for your input and suggestions. It was just what I needed!
It turns out it was the freakin' Hercules 3D Prophet III video card! Shouldn't those things last longer than 6 months?!?!? :frown:
I purchased the thing new in a sealed retail box but it came from a "fire sale" store. So I have no warranty I am sure.
Oh well at least I had an old video card around and the thing works fine now!

Thanks Again!
Hound