Computer Help!!

[Sunnydee06]

I bought a used computer, as is (I know....). I opened it up and cleaned t out because it was beyond dusty. The fan on the processor wasn't working, so, I bought a new one and processor, figuring maybe thats Why it wasnt booting up. However, I'm still not getting anything. As soon as I plug the power cord into he power supply, it tuns on w/out hitting the power button and it wont shut off, unless I unplug it. But in the mean time, it wont power up the monitor (on-board video), but I'm getting power to the cd. I even tried a separate video card and I know the harddrive is good because I tried it in a different computer. Any ideas?

[FIREPHD/PA]

I bought a used computer, as is (I know....). I opened it up and cleaned t out because it was beyond dusty. The fan on the processor wasn't working, so, I bought a new one and processor, figuring maybe thats Why it wasnt booting up. However, I'm still not getting anything. As soon as I plug the power cord into he power supply, it tuns on w/out hitting the power button and it wont shut off, unless I unplug it. But in the mean time, it wont power up the monitor (on-board video), but I'm getting power to the cd. I even tried a separate video card and I know the harddrive is good because I tried it in a different computer. Any ideas?

Sounds like you may need to reseat all of the components on your mother board. Processor, memory(do one at a time), video, etc. Also, see if you can find a book for the mother board. Is the pc a common manufacturer?Or is it homegrown? If you give me some info about it, I may be able to work out some troubleshooting steps for ya!
Whats the processor?What's the size/speed or your memory?What kind of video, I know its onboard. If you can't find a book for the MB I may be able to dig one up. More often than not, someone probably shnged some jumper settings on the motherboard. They were probably running a seperate video card, since on-board video sucks, and uses part of your total available memory. Hit me back, and hopefully I can help you out.

[Esoterik]

One of the first things that you mentioned was that you had to clean a substantial amount of dust out of the unit. In addition, after having done so, you had to replace the CPU fan, as it was not functioning. From what you describe, it would be easy to assume that this particular unit likely suffered from overheating at some point. It the previous owner powered this unit up in the condition that you describe, it could conceivable have taken only minutes if not seconds to totally fry the CPU and or blow various capacitors on the MOBO. :mad:

Before you invest much more time trying to find documentation for the MOBO as suggested by FIREPH/PA, (a direction that I would concur with if appropriate), check the MOBO for blown or erupted CAPS. Capacitors are the components mounted to the MOBO that look rather like small barrels or batteries. The tops of healthy Capacitors will be flat to concave. If they are bulging upward, then they are blown. Some CAPS which are blown will also at times be erupted, having small cracks or splits from which will be oozing matter that looks somewhat like caked on dust. If you see anything of this nature on the MOBO, it is gone. :mad:

Next, you would want to do a component reseating (as was also suggested by FIREPH/PA). Remove all expansion cards (if any) from the MOBO's expansion slots. If they are not necessary, such as (Modems, NICs, Sound Cards), just leave them off until you have determined if the MOBO, RAM and CPU are any good. :o

Reseat the RAM. When you do this, take particular care thoroughly cleaning any dust and debris from the RAM sockets. If there is more then one RAM Module, one or both of them could be bad, but standard procedure would be to try them singly, then test the MOBO with known good RAM modules.

As part of the component reseating process, you will also need to reseat the CPU. It is not clear from your post, if you did that while changing the CPU Fan. In order to reseat the CPU you will be removing from it any heat sink. You therefore will need to be prepared to remount the heat sink with thermal paste. A small tube of thermal paste is going to set you back some 4 to 9 dollars. Clean all existing thermal paste from the heat sink and the top of the CPU. Inspect the top of the CPU for evidence of overheating damage. The tops of all CPUs appear different. In short, if there is anything on the top of the CPU that looks as if it should be silver or brushed steel in color, and it has turned bluish, the CPU is likely fried. :mad: Of course, in order to test the CPU you would need either another known good MOBO with the same CPU Socket, or a known good CPU to place on the MOBO in question. (DO NOT POWER UP A CPU WITHOUT A HEATSINK OR THERMAL PASTE MOUNTING THEM TOGETHER)

Other questions I would ask you are as follows:
You mentioned that you get power to the CD. Do you get power to the HDD? Do you hear it spin up?
Do you hear any audible beep codes? If you do, what are they? (Any audible beep codes will be the BIOs attempt to alert you to specific problems.) :(

In addition, you stated that the unit attempts to power up as soon as you plug it in. This anomaly could be due to a bad power supply. Yes, I know, you are thinking that you are getting power because the unit apparently tries to power up and you get various lights on different components such as the CD. This does not mean however, that the Power Supply is delivering adequate power across the full range of all of its circuits. :mad: Standard trouble shooting procedure in this instance would call for testing the unit with a known good Power Supply.

I hope this information will be of some help to you. Good luck, and feel free to contact me directly at blair@orphancomputers.net with any further questions.

Esoterik
OrphanComputers.net

[FIREPHD/PA]

Thanks for the follow up... Its been a while since I have performed any pc trouble shooting. I have moved into data center design and implementation. I am sure between the both of us we can get his pc up and running... I was wondering what did you pay for it? I have an older model compaq presario that has been totally rebuilt, and is sitting in my basement. I was using it as a server, but could pass it off to you.

[Sunnydee06]

Hi!
Thank you both for your help. I reseated, then changed the power supply and voila' it worked! By the way its an emachine T1440 and I paid $9.99 for it. Thanks again! My next project is a pentium 4, starting from scratch, so, you may hear from me again!

Diane

[FIREPHD/PA]

Hi!
Thank you both for your help. I reseated, then changed the power supply and voila' it worked! By the way its an emachine T1440 and I paid $9.99 for it. Thanks again! My next project is a pentium 4, starting from scratch, so, you may hear from me again!

Diane

I hear they are good pc's never owned one. I enjoy building my own from Scratch.. Rather than a P4, have you checked out the new AMD's? They sure beat the hell out of the new Pentiums...

[Sunnydee06]

Hi Again!,
How are you? I have yet to check out an AMD. I've been told by a couple of people that AMD is the way to go, however, I build and/or destroy Ha! Ha! my computers from whatever "deal" I may find and the pentiums are everywhere. Which either means, AMD is really, really good or really, really bad!! Ha! Ha! Have a good one!!