Help needed

[crabbyman]

I have a problem with my current setup. Recently my computer has been acting up and it recently has went kapoot. It has been acting funny for a few weeks and I thought it was just overheating. It would randomly freeze up and had to be restarted. The heat alarm beep would go off and then I would shut it off for fear of burning something up. The last time I had it working it froze itself up. So I dissected it and tried reseating everything and made sure all my fans were running properly. My next guess was the CPU. So I bought a new CPU and replaced the old one. It still does not work. I don't even get the initial POST test now. Usually when you turn it on it shows all the devices and the CPU number, etc. Thats not happening now. It didn't happen before the CPU change either. I went to my friend and he stated he had the same problems as I did. He said it was a problem with Windows and some of the updates. Its funny because he ran the same processor and Windows system as I did. He said he had to reformat his drive and start from scratch. He lost 4 years of college work and it looks like I might do the same if I have to go the same path he did.


Any one have any suggestions on what it could possibly be to act up all the suddenly? I would tell you when my last Windows update was but I can't get on it to do so. If more info is needed, please email me or ask. I have many important documents and work on the hard drive and reformating is really something I would not want to do.



MSI MS-6373 nforce 1 K7N420 pro mobo
AMD XP 1800+ & now 2000+ CPU
WD 80gb 8mb HDD
Antec case w/ True Power 330w PSU
Artec DVD & CD drives
PNY Gforce Ti4200 GPU

 

[sharq]

If the computer is not posting, then the problem is not Windows. The problem could be with the motherboard, ram, video card, and/or power supply. I wouldn't run and reformat if you're going to lose lots of valuable data, you can use a friends comp to back the data up onto cd's.
First thing I would do is remove all sound/lan/other pci devices, leave only the video card, ram, cpu plugged into the board. Also, remove your hard drives, and optical/zip/floppy drives. See if the lights come on and the fans start spinning when you power it up, if they are you can rule out the PS for now. If it is not posting with the absolute minimal components, then you know it is one of those causing a problem.
When you power it up does it give you any beeps? Or does it just sit there quitely without doing anything (if its not doing anything at all, not even beeping, I would say it's the motherboard)?
The kind of beep it is giving (if any) might be able to help point at the problem.

 

[Sonic587]

No beeps or POST sounds makes me think it's a motherboard problem. I'd try and see if your friend will let you test out his mobo in your comp. Or maybe pick up a cheap shuttle AN35N-ultra. I do not trust MSI.

 

[crabbyman]

Actually..I forgot to mention that. Before the new CPU it didnt beep..now its giving me one long beeeepp......beeeep... *Looking up now* I know the PSU works...everything turns on. Before the new CPU the video card did work. It was bought OEM so I dont have the manual for it either.

 

[sharq]

How many sticks of RAM? If you have more than one plug in one at a time see what if that helps. If not, see if you can borrow one.
I'm not sure what the long beep means, but my guess would be it's pointing toward the Ram or the videocard.

 

[crabbyman]

OK...my beeping was the RAM...which I must have not securely put back in all the way when i was cleaning connections and reseating parts. I still don't get a boot up. I hear the HDD crunching at the beginning. I was debating resetting the CMOS so I can use the on board video to see if the video card is the problem. That won't hurt my HDD, correct?

 

[crabbyman]

Anyone else?

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: crabbyman
OK...my beeping was the RAM...which I must have not securely put back in all the way when i was cleaning connections and reseating parts. I still don't get a boot up. I hear the HDD crunching at the beginning. I was debating resetting the CMOS so I can use the on board video to see if the video card is the problem. That won't hurt my HDD, correct?

no it wont hurt the hard drive... give it a try if you wish to test the videocard.

 

[crabbyman]

Reseating the CMOS battery did not help anything. It still will not post...any other ideas anybody? I appreciate all the help so far to date.

 

[crabbyman]

On a related note...is it possible to migrate the data from the hard drive if i get a external exclosure for it and connect it to another, most likely a laptop? ...or would that not be possible?

 

[crabbyman]

*bump*