Help! Can't get it to boot...

[bjc112]

Hey all, my unlce was having some probs with his computer and brought it to me... first of all the aren't the best on the computer so god knows how bad things get wacked..

He said he was on, it said illegal operation and said to restart...well he did, when it restarted nothing came on... just blocks bouncing on the screen..( for video signal )?

So he brings it here.. i hook it up to my stuff... turn it on, NOTHING... nothing at all ... no beeps no nothing..

i don't even know where to start... could it be video? or do u think its motherboard?!

The specs are
PIII 550
128 ram (1 stick )
8 meg Vid
Win 98

TIA

Bryan

 

[sohcrates]

do they fans spin up? do the lights at least come on? do the hard drives spin up?

if so, then power is probably allright

i would start by unplugging the computer and taking the mobo battery out for 20-30 minutes which will reset the CMOS and might help (assuming you have power)

 

[bjc112]

hmm... the fans spin, but nothing else.... his motherboard has been fried before, i dont know who these people ar building his computer...

 

[WarCon]

Could be ram just went bad.

Pull all the cards out (even the video card) and drives, power up. If it beeped then one of your cards just took a dive, replacing one at a time will let you know which one.

If it still didn't beep, pull the ram. If it beeps then its probably your RAM is bad.

If still no beep, its your power supply, motherboard or CPU. Only way to check these is swapping with known good ones.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

<< Could be ram just went bad.

Pull all the cards out (even the video card) and drives, power up. If it beeped then one of your cards just took a dive, replacing one at a time will let you know which one.

If it still didn't beep, pull the ram. If it beeps then its probably your RAM is bad.

If still no beep, its your power supply, motherboard or CPU. Only way to check these is swapping with known good ones. >>

what he said and what sohcrates said

 

[bjc112]

ok thanks guys, and one more question... when it boots i cant shut it down either.... pushing reset... or HOLDing the power button for a couple sec...

thanks guys and ill let u know

 

[sohcrates]

<< ok thanks guys, and one more question... when it boots i cant shut it down either.... pushing reset... or HOLDing the power button for a couple sec...

thanks guys and ill let u know >>



sometimes you need to hold the button for like 5 sec. or more...but if it really won't turn off that way, i'd start by checking all the power / LED connections on the mobo

also, make sure the reset button isn't stuck (i.e. computer is eternally resetting)...i've seen something like that once

 

[bjc112]

k guys, removed all the cards...notta... ram... nothing..

My guess it mobo for sure... and i can't swap them...

its seems odd though... it was working, gave Illegal Operation... and when they reboot... nothing...

Lemme know guys, i'll have to give him a call and see....

 

[bjc112]

bump

 

[bjc112]

up!!