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Need help with no-boot computer

E

Emultra

Golden Member
Well, I was playing Warcraft II (actually) on my 1600+, MSI 266 and GF2Pro and suddenly, I got the blue screen of death. This had happened many times before, and when I checked it, my CPU was running at about 68C (which is too much). I took out literally chunks of dust from the CPU fan, so it cooled down about 14 degrees. Even though I couldn't get any more dust of from it, the temperature started rising gradually again in a couple of weeks, and then this thing happened.

The computer won't respond to any number of frantic hits to the power button. No BIOS or anything. Now I need to know - since I'm probably going to buy some makeshift stuff - if the motherboard will actually stard without a CPU at all, if it's not broken? This is assuming the CPU is burnt up.

I'd really need to upgrade the whole rig for an overhaul, since I got all my stuff in 2001 and have made no chances since that. However, funds are low so I'm leaning towards getting the computer back as it was, maybe with a little more RAM and newer GFX. 1400Mhz (AthlonXP 1600+) is all the mobo can take so if the mobo is still intact, that's what I'm getting again, hopefully cheaper this time.

That way, I can get a completely up-to-date system next year or so, rather than buying a new mobo, a 9800xt, new RAM and so on only to be set back and still not be able to do very much more than I already can. What do you think about that?
 
Thanks for replies.

Reset CMOS? How do I do that without being able to access the BIOS?

And Dennis, you mean because it's better to mod a cheaper one? I haven't been able to be very up to date with the hardware market recently. 🙂
 
Most mobos have the cmos jumper on the board, except for some gigabyte models. Just move it over one position for a few seconds, and return to original position with the power supply unplugged, or remove the mobo battery.
 
Okay, where are the jumper and battery?

Also, is there any foolproof way of determining for sure whether the CPU and/or mobo are destroyed, without removing the CPU or trying other hardware?
 
The jumper should be labelled with "CMOS" or something written on the silkscreen of the board. If not you can always look it up in your motherboard manual. The battery is the round flat silver object usually placed parallel to the board, take that out and your bios will be cleared.

 
Is there anything I need to think about when doing this, other than the obvious static discharge and general care?
 
I generally like to think about girls and cars when I am troubleshooting a computer but I hear the zone varies for everyone. I am pretty sure that the guy was saying that it is silly to get an XT since you can mod a cheaper one pretty reliably.
 
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