PC died

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dustie
  • Start date Start date
D

Dustie

Hope someone can help me - my PC has gone completely kaput on me. It was
working fine one minute and then I did a restart and it booted up to Windows
then locked solid. I rebooted it again and now absolutely nothing happens.
The screen remains black. The CD drives have the lights on. I tried a
spare graphics card but it makes no difference at all. The monitor is
working fine as I'm using it right now on my backup PC.

sorry to be so vague - any idea where I could start...?
 
you could start by listing every piece of hardware that you have on the
system....mobo...psu...cpu...ram...hd's..etc
With the present info i would advise checking the temp by entering the
BIOS....does it get that far???
I would check the PSU....just because a few lights go on does not mean it
has enough juice for the actual boot
peter
 
Dustie said:
Hope someone can help me - my PC has gone completely kaput on me. It was
working fine one minute and then I did a restart and it booted up to Windows
then locked solid. I rebooted it again and now absolutely nothing happens.
The screen remains black. The CD drives have the lights on. I tried a
spare graphics card but it makes no difference at all. The monitor is
working fine as I'm using it right now on my backup PC.

sorry to be so vague - any idea where I could start...?
Click to expand...

Did you build this one? Strip it down to the bare minimums for POSTing (not booting).
IOW- PSU /CPU /1 stick of memory/ video card ( no hard drives no CD roms- no modem -no
expansion cards etc.)

see if it posts
 
PC won't even boot to BIOS - the screen just remains completely blank.
Did you build this one?
Click to expand...

It was built for me by someone else (who I lost touch with a long time ago)

Strip it down to the bare minimums for POSTing (not booting).
IOW- PSU /CPU /1 stick of memory/ video card ( no hard drives no CD roms- no modem -no
expansion cards etc.)

see if it posts
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't know what you mean..?
 
On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:08:58 GMT,
in alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
"Dustie" <[email protected]>
wrote:

:PC won't even boot to BIOS - the screen just remains completely blank.
:
:> Did you build this one?
:
:It was built for me by someone else (who I lost touch with a long time ago)
:
:
:> Strip it down to the bare minimums for POSTing (not booting).
:> IOW- PSU /CPU /1 stick of memory/ video card ( no hard drives no CD roms-
:> no modem -no expansion cards etc.)
:>
:> see if it posts
:
:Sorry, I don't know what you mean..?

POST = Power On Self Test

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test

"Power-on self-test (POST) is the common term for a computer's,
router's or printer's pre-boot sequence. The same basic sequence is
present on all computer architectures. It is the first step of the
more general process called initial program load (IPL), booting, or
bootstrapping. The term POST has become popular in association with
and as a result of the proliferation of the PC. It can be used as a
noun when referring to the code that controls the pre-boot phase or
when referring to the phase itself. It can also be used as a verb when
referring to the code or the system as it progresses through the
pre-boot phase. Alternatively this may be called "POSTing."

You're listening for beeps. One short beep means (usually) everything
is ok with your current hardware setup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test

"Steady, short beeps - Power supply may be bad."

"Long continuous beep tone - Power supply bad or not plugged into
motherboard correctly."

"Steady, long beeps - Power supply bad."

"No beep - Power supply bad, system not plugged in, or power not
turned on."

"No beep - If everything seems to be functioning correctly there may
be a problem with the 'beeper' itself."

"One long, two short beeps - Video card failure."

A way of getting more information is to temporarily install a "POST
Card" in a PCI card slot and recording it's output. A web search
turns up assorted prices and flavors.

Good luck.
 
On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:08:58 GMT,
in alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
"Dustie" <[email protected]>
wrote:

:PC won't even boot to BIOS - the screen just remains completely blank.
:
:> Did you build this one?
:
:It was built for me by someone else (who I lost touch with a long time ago)
:
:
:> Strip it down to the bare minimums for POSTing (not booting).
:> IOW- PSU /CPU /1 stick of memory/ video card ( no hard drives no CD roms-
:> no modem -no expansion cards etc.)
:>
:> see if it posts
:
:Sorry, I don't know what you mean..?

POST = Power On Self Test

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test

"Power-on self-test (POST) is the common term for a computer's,
router's or printer's pre-boot sequence. The same basic sequence is
present on all computer architectures. It is the first step of the
more general process called initial program load (IPL), booting, or
bootstrapping. The term POST has become popular in association with
and as a result of the proliferation of the PC. It can be used as a
noun when referring to the code that controls the pre-boot phase or
when referring to the phase itself. It can also be used as a verb when
referring to the code or the system as it progresses through the
pre-boot phase. Alternatively this may be called "POSTing."

You're listening for beeps. One short beep means (usually) everything
is ok with your current hardware setup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test

"Steady, short beeps - Power supply may be bad."

"Long continuous beep tone - Power supply bad or not plugged into
motherboard correctly."

"Steady, long beeps - Power supply bad."

"No beep - Power supply bad, system not plugged in, or power not
turned on."

"No beep - If everything seems to be functioning correctly there may
be a problem with the 'beeper' itself."

"One long, two short beeps - Video card failure."

A way of getting more information is to temporarily install a "POST
Card" in a PCI card slot and recording it's output. A web search
turns up assorted prices and flavors.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Don't the beeps depend on the BIOS? I had steady short beeps once upon and
time and it was bad RAM. I had used high density RAM in a board that could
not handle it. Switching the RAM to a regular, low density version solved
the problem.

Patty
 
On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:15:47 -0400,
in alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Patty <[email protected]>
wrote:

:On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:06:55 GMT, (e-mail address removed) wrote:
:
:> On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:08:58 GMT,
:> in alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
:> "Dustie" <[email protected]>
:> wrote:
:>
:> :PC won't even boot to BIOS - the screen just remains completely blank.
:>:
:>:> Did you build this one?
:>:
:>:It was built for me by someone else (who I lost touch with a long time ago)
:>:
:>:
:>:> Strip it down to the bare minimums for POSTing (not booting).
:>:> IOW- PSU /CPU /1 stick of memory/ video card ( no hard drives no CD roms-
:>:> no modem -no expansion cards etc.)
:>:>
:>:> see if it posts
:>:
:>:Sorry, I don't know what you mean..?
:>
:> POST = Power On Self Test
:>
:> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test
:>
:> "Power-on self-test (POST) is the common term for a computer's,
:> router's or printer's pre-boot sequence. The same basic sequence is
:> present on all computer architectures. It is the first step of the
:> more general process called initial program load (IPL), booting, or
:> bootstrapping. The term POST has become popular in association with
:> and as a result of the proliferation of the PC. It can be used as a
:> noun when referring to the code that controls the pre-boot phase or
:> when referring to the phase itself. It can also be used as a verb when
:> referring to the code or the system as it progresses through the
:> pre-boot phase. Alternatively this may be called "POSTing."
:>
:> You're listening for beeps. One short beep means (usually) everything
:> is ok with your current hardware setup.
:>
:> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test
:>
:> "Steady, short beeps - Power supply may be bad."
:>
:> "Long continuous beep tone - Power supply bad or not plugged into
:> motherboard correctly."
:>
:> "Steady, long beeps - Power supply bad."
:>
:> "No beep - Power supply bad, system not plugged in, or power not
:> turned on."
:>
:> "No beep - If everything seems to be functioning correctly there may
:> be a problem with the 'beeper' itself."
:>
:> "One long, two short beeps - Video card failure."
:>
:> A way of getting more information is to temporarily install a "POST
:> Card" in a PCI card slot and recording it's output. A web search
:> turns up assorted prices and flavors.
:>
:> Good luck.
:
:Don't the beeps depend on the BIOS? I had steady short beeps once upon and
:time and it was bad RAM. I had used high density RAM in a board that could
:not handle it. Switching the RAM to a regular, low density version solved
:the problem.
:
:Patty

Different BIOS have different error/beep codes.

That is a generic list I swiped off the Wikipedia page to show that
the various beeping noises a board might make booting or trying to
boot actually relate to BIOS specific error codes and were not just
random noise.
 
:Patty

Different BIOS have different error/beep codes.

That is a generic list I swiped off the Wikipedia page to show that
the various beeping noises a board might make booting or trying to
boot actually relate to BIOS specific error codes and were not just
random noise.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Just wanted to be sure.

Patty
 
In said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test

"Power-on self-test (POST) is the common term for a computer's,
router's or printer's pre-boot sequence. The same basic sequence is
present on all computer architectures. It is the first step of the
more general process called initial program load (IPL), booting, or
bootstrapping. The term POST has become popular in association with
and as a result of the proliferation of the PC. It can be used as a
noun when referring to the code that controls the pre-boot phase or
when referring to the phase itself. It can also be used as a verb when
referring to the code or the system as it progresses through the
pre-boot phase. Alternatively this may be called "POSTing."

You're listening for beeps. One short beep means (usually) everything
is ok with your current hardware setup.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link.
Since the usual need for the above URL-based information is when the
computer doesn't even start, I've printed out the page itself and the
information from about four of the links at the bottom as well, and am
making up a folder with the dead-tree references for the next time a
computer I'm servicing only beeps. Usually I just binary-search or
easter-egg such problems; which works; but a knowledge of the codes
*might* save me some time whenever it happens next (if it happens).

In any case, I don't think the extra time or toner spent won't be
worthwhile, even if I never really *need* it. Sometimes just having
insurance is worth the extra time or money for the peace-of-mind, even
if the disaster insured-against never happens.
 
On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 12:56:21 -0500,
in alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Frank McCoy <[email protected]>
wrote:

:In alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (e-mail address removed) wrote:
:
:>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test
:>
:>"Power-on self-test (POST) is the common term for a computer's,
:>router's or printer's pre-boot sequence. The same basic sequence is
:>present on all computer architectures. It is the first step of the
:>more general process called initial program load (IPL), booting, or
:>bootstrapping. The term POST has become popular in association with
:>and as a result of the proliferation of the PC. It can be used as a
:>noun when referring to the code that controls the pre-boot phase or
:>when referring to the phase itself. It can also be used as a verb when
:>referring to the code or the system as it progresses through the
:>pre-boot phase. Alternatively this may be called "POSTing."
:>
:>You're listening for beeps. One short beep means (usually) everything
:>is ok with your current hardware setup.
:
:Thanks for the link.

You're welcome, it wasn't much though.

:Since the usual need for the above URL-based information is when the
:computer doesn't even start, I've printed out the page itself and the
:information from about four of the links at the bottom as well, and am
:making up a folder with the dead-tree references for the next time a
:computer I'm servicing only beeps. Usually I just binary-search or
:easter-egg such problems; which works; but a knowledge of the codes
:*might* save me some time whenever it happens next (if it happens).

Nothing sadder than an empty file cabinet. :-)

:In any case, I don't think the extra time or toner spent won't be
:worthwhile, even if I never really *need* it. Sometimes just having
:insurance is worth the extra time or money for the peace-of-mind, even
:if the disaster insured-against never happens.

Suspenders and belt. Works every time.
 
you could start by listing every piece of hardware that you have on the
system....mobo...psu...cpu...ram...hd's..etc
Click to expand...

ok, here's the spec of the PC - it's 4+ years old and consists of the
following:

Intel 845PE motherboard
Antec 550W power supply
Pentium 4 (2.66) processor
120 gb hard drive
160 gb secondary hard drive
Creative Audigy 2 sound card
Creative Inspire 6.1 speaker system
Plextor CD rewriter
Optorite DVD rewriter

I've decided that, while it's kaput, I might as well upgrade at the same
time as fixing it. However, I'm a complete thickhead when it comes to
building PCs (as I've normally had other people do it for me) so can someone
help me? Basically, I want to get a new motherboard and graphics card (so
it's more up to date for all the newer games) but I want to keep the hard
drives and sound card (and 6.1 speaker system). Now, is that actually
possible to do? I've been recommended this kit as it's pretty cheap (but
supposedly powerful)

http://www.saverstore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=20016493

If I was to plug my old C: drive into it (which has XP installed on it) and
all the other bits and pieces, would they go in or would it be like putting
a square peg into a round hole?

?
 
Dustie said:
ok, here's the spec of the PC - it's 4+ years old and consists of the
following:

Intel 845PE motherboard
Antec 550W power supply
Pentium 4 (2.66) processor
120 gb hard drive
160 gb secondary hard drive
Creative Audigy 2 sound card
Creative Inspire 6.1 speaker system
Plextor CD rewriter
Optorite DVD rewriter

I've decided that, while it's kaput, I might as well upgrade at the
same time as fixing it. However, I'm a complete thickhead when it
comes to building PCs (as I've normally had other people do it for
me) so can someone help me? Basically, I want to get a new
motherboard and graphics card (so it's more up to date for all the
newer games) but I want to keep the hard drives and sound card (and
6.1 speaker system). Now, is that actually possible to do? I've
been recommended this kit as it's pretty cheap (but supposedly
powerful)

http://www.saverstore.com/productinfo/product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=20016493
Click to expand...
On that bundle you wont be playing any but older (~3years) games at default
configuration as it uses an on-board "nVidia 6100 graphics chip", uses main
RAM, it's PCI-express x16 slot (for upgrading gfx) only works at x8, it
only has 1 IDE connector (limits you to 2 PATA devices, ie HDs and CD/DVDs,,
not the 4 you have now)
And ECS doesn't necessarily have the world's best reputation....

And the CPU is on the lowest end of now available AMD (AM2 socket) dual-core
processors (they range from 3200+ to 6000+)

In short, I wouldn't consider that as an upgrade from your existing computer
If I was to plug my old C: drive into it (which has XP installed on
it) and all the other bits and pieces, would they go in or would it
be like putting a square peg into a round hole?

?
Click to expand...

The feasibility of putting your old HDs into the new computer is another
thing. It is doable by making a "Repair Install"
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341



--
Tumppi
=================================
A lot learned from these newsgroups
Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate
=================================
 
:> Strip it down to the bare minimums for POSTing (not booting).
:> IOW- PSU /CPU /1 stick of memory/ video card ( no hard drives no CD roms-
:> no modem -no expansion cards etc.)
:>
:> see if it posts

You're listening for beeps. One short beep means (usually) everything
is ok with your current hardware setup.
Click to expand...

hi again, sorry for late reply

well, I've stripped it down to the bare minimum - the single hard drive,
memory card, graphics card, NO CD or DVD drive, NO sound card and....
still exactly the same... I switch it on and the power revs up but nothing
happens - completely blank screen without any writing. No beeps.

Time to try a new power supply?
 
Dustie said:
Hope someone can help me - my PC has gone completely kaput on me. It was
working fine one minute and then I did a restart and it booted up to Windows
then locked solid. I rebooted it again and now absolutely nothing happens.
The screen remains black. The CD drives have the lights on. I tried a
spare graphics card but it makes no difference at all. The monitor is
working fine as I'm using it right now on my backup PC.

sorry to be so vague - any idea where I could start...?
Click to expand...
Since you have tried everything else suggested, try clearing the CMOS
(your motherboard manual will tell you how- online if you don't have a
hard copy) and checking (or just replacing the battery- they're cheap).
Clearing the CMOS will the reset the BIOS to default settings. The
motherboard manual should also have instructions on configuring the BIOS
(date, time, optimized system settings).
 
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