PC died after 2 months

[Bernardg]

Hello,

I built my second PC and it worked well for 2 months.

Suddenly it died while it was running. The display gave me bunch of numbers -- then it went blank. There is power but nothing runs.The PC does not reboot. Since I am not experienced, I need guidance.

The PC is built as follows:

Chip: AMD Athlon X4 630
Board: ASUS M4A785TD-V evo
Case: Cooler Master Sileo 500
Memory: Crucial 2 * 2 GB
Cooler: Zalman CNPS 7500
Mouse: Logitech SBF-96 P/S2
Keyboard: Logitech Classic 200 USB
Power: ASUS Earthwatts 430

Everything is 2 month old except power that is 18 month old.

I suspect that it is board but is there anything else that I could try or test?

I thought about checking the electric connections to the board. Anything else?

Thanks for your advice.
Bernardg

 

[tweakboy]

After you check all connection your next step is to troubleshoot. Firstly I doubt its the motherboard because ASUS gear doesn't just die. You said last thing you saw numbers on the screen.

I can tell you in this order, its either

1. PSU
2. CPU
3. Video card

You can try your video card on another computer makes sure that works. Soo its down to either being your PSU or your CPU . Im gonna take a guestimate and say its your PSU. Is the green light on ? On your motherboard ? The power switch is in the back on the PSU , make sure you can turn that on and the mobo green light turns on.

When you turn the comp on, what happens ? Can you hear the PSU or put a kleenex behind it and make sure its blowing air out and is working. If the kleenex just sits there when you power up then its your PSU.

Keep me updated my friend. Im here to sort this out for you. gl

 

[StrangerGuy]

Disconnect all your drives from the board, remove the CMOS battery, take out 1 of the RAM and try to boot.

 

[tweakboy]

Good1 strangerguy

 

[Bernardg]

Hello Tweakboy,

We can eliminate the video card because it is integrated into the motherboard.

The motherboard green light is on. The PSU fan is moving.

I still have to check the motherboard connections. I had that problem once on my old PC that was acting up because the power feed was not plugged in completely.

Thanks for your inputs.

 

[Bernardg]

StrangerGuy,

I will try and keep you post.

Thanks
Bernardg

 

[Bernardg]

StrangerGuy,

I have question. How will the PC reboot without access to the drive with Windows XP?
What am I missing?

Bernardg

 

[JackMDS]

A PC does not need the OS inorder to start.

First you have to make sure that it starts, and when you press the Del. it goes into the BIOS.

If it does not Start when every thing but, CPU, Memory, and Video is Off, then.

Take out the PSU and the motherboard (Mobo). Put the Mobo on a table on top of a big antistatic bag.

The Mobo should have on it the CPU, Memory, Video, Kbd (nothing else).

Connect the PSU to the Mobo's main molex and CPU power molex.

Look at Mobo's manual for the two pins that need to be shorted in the main header in order to switch it On.

Short the two pins for a sec. with a screwdriver. If the Mobo does not start and goes into the BIOS it is almost sure the PSU.

If it does start, put it back into the case without adding the components and try again, start adding components until you find the culprit.

.

 

[betasub]

Firstly I doubt its the motherboard because ASUS gear doesn't just die. You said last thing you saw numbers on the screen.

I can tell you in this order, its either

1. PSU
2. CPU
3. Video card

Even Asus motherboards can die sometimes. IME modern CPUs are very sturdy and well-protected (after installation). I'd put motherboard and memory (yes, Crucial) higher up the list than CPU.

BIOS reset and tested "known-good" memory might get a successful boot into BIOS screen.

 

[Bernardg]

tweakboy,StrangeGuy,JackMDS,betasub,

Thank you for all your inputs. I found the problem -- the SATA connection to the hard drive was not solid. I did not push the cable hard enough into the socket. With time, the cable got loose.

While i was disconnecting the drive,I noticed that the SATA cable came off too easily. I plugged it back in and restarted the PC.

I appreciate your great help.
Bernardg

 

[TJCS]

I wanted to help you, but your post made me feel that it was a waste of time.

A dead computer = no post, no power.

Have you seen a dead guy still breathing?

 

[crackshot91]

Glad you got it fixed! I hate it when it's a small thing like that. Though, I suppose it's easier to fix.

 

[RebateMonger]

Thank you for all your inputs. I found the problem -- the SATA connection to the hard drive was not solid. I did not push the cable hard enough into the socket. With time, the cable got loose.

I always wondered how designers could take nearly fifteen years (after IDE was invented) to come up with SATA connectors that come lose WAY too easily, that don't include locking clips by default, and weaken the hard disk controller board so that its connector tab breaks off too easily.