Hardware Problem ?

[thingy]

XP Home + SP1

MotherBoard - Asus A7M266 - AMD 1.3Gz - 512 RAM

Every few days I get either a BSOD with different details each time - or - sometimes it just cuts-out to a Black Screen

When this happens it just won't Boot at all - the PSU Fan comes on but the Screen just stays Black

I keep trying to Boot every few hours and then suddenly - usually after a couple of days - it will Boot into Windows and behave quite normally - until the next time

I'm sure it's nothing to do with the OS because when it's working everything works fine

I have made sure it's all clean inside and that all the Cards etc are seated properly

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[thunderhorse]

I don't know how old your system is but here's a start. Open the case and check to see if all the electrical or power connectors are seated, even if you have to pull them loose and reinstall them. And that's everything, motherboard, HD, CD, DVD, floppy, etc., etc. Then if it happens again open the case and see if any of the fans on the CPU, video, and extra case fans are running. If they aren't, then see if you can borrow a PSU. It could be anything but I have an idea it's the PSU. Hope this helps. Please keep us informed of your progress.

"EDIT" While you are checking the power plugs you might pull the Video, modem or any other expansion card and reseat them also. The connectors on them could be durty or corroded. Just an after thought.

 

[thingy]

thunderhorse

Thanks for the prompt reply

I'll try all your suggestions

If it is the PSU - would all the Fans stop running or just one or two

Thanks

 

[thunderhorse]

PSU are funny little critters. I've seen them when they would put out just enough power to run the PSU fan and the on light. When they had a high squeel that you almost could not hear, and opened the PSU, put my finger on a capasitor and the noise quit. Turned out to be a badly soldered joint on the PCB. Corrrosion can be another problem. You can have just enough to stop a video card from sending a signal and shazam blue or black screen of death. Checking all the connections eliminate one possible problem. Work on the kiss method. Brake the problem down into the simplest form. Loss of power or signal. Work from there.


Good luck. And again keep us informed on your progress.