cruncher down

[VirtualLarry]

One of my C2D crunchers for SeventeenorBust is going to be down until further notice.

I went to check on it the other day, and I moved the mouse, and the screen didn't come on. Hit C+A+D, no display either. Hit the power button to shut down, didn't appear to shut down. So I held down the power button to force power off.

I switched off the PSU on the back, waited, took a deep breath, turned it back on, and turned the PC back on. No display, although the PS/2 keyboard LEDs flashed, I don't know if that means anything good or not.

So it's basically dead right now, until I can do some troubleshooting. This really sucks, because this is my "master" computer, with all of my info for years on it (thankfully, is backed up too). I ordered the mobo from Germany (with the help of another AT'er), and they don't make them any more so that's going to be a PITA to replace. I do have another identical one (I ordered two), but I was hoping to run that machine for ten years or more, with my supply of mobos and HDs.

Edit: Where's a good spot to begin troubleshooting?
Remove everything from the case, hook up to a known-good bench-test powersupply, and check POST? Then if that doesn't work, start swapping parts?

This rig has had flaky boot issues before, too, but I never paid it much mind, as it usually booted after two or three tries. Now it does not.

 

[Insidious]

When it was trying to boot and you had no display.... did it give any beeps? If the motherboard is booting it will give a beep code to indicate some types of failure (memory VGA, etc...) Check the motherboard manual to decipher the code. (A single beep is good. )

If you got none, then I'd say try a known good PSU and hope that's it. Otherwise it is likely a motherboard issue.

Good Luck!

-Sid

 

[petrusbroder]

Here is a link to many different Beep-codes which fit to several BIOS-makers.

I would open the case and look: any capacitators looking bad, any marks of high heat, any smells?

If all looks OK I would try to start the comp and check for life: does the PSU-fan rotate, the CPU-HSF? Any LEDs light up on the front of the comp, on the mobo - many have them ...

Then I would check the PSU by changing it to a known working PSU.

If the PSU seems OK I would strip the computer: take away all internal cards except the graphics card, disconnect the FDD, HDD, DVD/CD-drive, take out all sticks of RAM except one. Disconnect all USB and Firewire-stuff, disconnect the mouse and only leave the keyboard.

Then I would start the comp, listen and look ...

If Ithe comp comes to life, check the BOIC. If all looks OK, shut down the computer, connect the HDD, check if it works, shut it down. Connect the next thing (DC-ROM?) etc one thing at the time until the faulty component has been found. This takes time. I also write down everything I do and the result of the test ... It helps when there are many steps in the troubleshooting ...

My guess:

Graphics card, PSU or motherboard. If no beek-codes at all: the CPU.

 

[Markfw]

I could even be as simple as a bad display card. Do you have an old pci vga card ?

Edit: No beep codes at all, could be bad video card. Does it look like the HD has activity, like its loading windows ?

 

[VirtualLarry]

No, I get no beep. It's definately not loading Windows either, since I have BIOS set to halt and require a password before booting.

I'm hoping that it's as simple as a bum display card, that can be fixed easily. It would be a major bummer if it's the mobo.

 

[Drsignguy]

Gut your Rig down to the bare minimum, ie; 1 stick of ram, 1 Hd etc... Make sure that you remove all USB's that may be pluged in. Power that rig up and if a no go, start with your vid card. If still a no go then try a know good PSU...If nothing then, it is most likely your Mobo. And yes, that would be a bummer. Hope you get your problem solved VL.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, I got it working again. Kind of a roundabout way though. I bought another (compatible) mobo, grabbed a similar CPU out of the parts box (E2200), took the video card and the RAM from the downed box, and the HD, and assembled it. It all works now, although Windows was a bit touchy when I first booted it on the new system, even though I was using the same identical disk controller board (Promise Ultra100 TX2), and the chipsets were compatible (865PE to 865G). For some stupid reason, Windows auto-detected and installed the in-box XP driver for the Promise Ultra series cards, instead of the newer, updated, 48-bit LBA-supporting driver that I had installed. So I was getting a stop 7B error when booting it, even though the first time on the new hardware, it booted up fine. I had to use "Last Known Good Configuration" to get it to boot, and then I had to forcibly update the disk controller driver.

So that leaves the mobo, CPU, or PSU as the defective component. More testing will ensue.