Power Cut

  • Thread starter Thread starter cuchulain_orourke
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cuchulain_orourke

I've just recieved a partially working Iqon computer from my grandad
he said if i could fix it, I could have it.
The problem with it is that everytime the power is turned on, it'l
power up for a second or two, and then turn off. I've replaced th
PSU and put on a new Thermal interferance pad on the heatsink, bu
with no joy
I'm positive it isn't the HD because i DID get it working at on
point, and everything was fine, but when i downloaded a file fro
the internet, bam, it turns off. I've only managed this once, and
have a bad feeling (Funeral March) that everything has died as
result. It's worth the best try however, and no harm done if there
no solution and its busted
Thank
Cuchulai
 
cuchulain_orourke said:
I've just recieved a partially working Iqon computer from my grandad,
he said if i could fix it, I could have it.
The problem with it is that everytime the power is turned on, it'll
power up for a second or two, and then turn off. I've replaced the
PSU and put on a new Thermal interferance pad on the heatsink, but
with no joy.
I'm positive it isn't the HD because i DID get it working at one
point, and everything was fine, but when i downloaded a file from
the internet, bam, it turns off. I've only managed this once, and i
have a bad feeling (Funeral March) that everything has died as a
result. It's worth the best try however, and no harm done if theres
no solution and its busted.
Thanks
Cuchulain
Click to expand...

OK, you say you put a new thermal pad on the heatsink. WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO
DO THAT???
To me, it sounds like what would happen if the CPU was overheating. This
would usually be caused by a defective fan, or an UNPLUGGED fan, on the CPU
heatsink. It would cause the CPU to get really hot and (eventually) the
system would shut down. (coincidentally, you might have been on the
Internet downloading something at the time)

Or, on startup, if the CPU fan isn't running, OR running TOO SLOW, the
system would power down quickly to avoid burning up the CPU.

But if you managed to get it started with the CPU fan not running, then it's
likely that the CPU is fried now, and will never boot correctly.

The OTHER possibility is that your power switch is sticking. If the power
switch sticks, the system will come on for a few seconds and then shut off
again. But since you mentioned changing the thermal pad on the heatsink,
that leads me to believe that you have a CPU that is too hot. If the CPU
fan is running too slow (or not running at all), that would be a perfect fit
for everything you have posted about this system. -Dave
 
Maybe i should have explained it all a bit better. My grandad is the
sort of guy that likes to ''tinker'' with things, regardless of
whether he has any idea of it or not. When i got the computer, i took
it apart completly, and he had wiped all of the TIM off, well most of
it, still a bit greasy, a half arsed job. Apparently, he didn't use
it after that, APPARENTLY. So i took my chances with a new pad, can't
hurt to try. That's when it worked, just the once. The PSU was dusty
and noisy, and I really hate that, so i bought a new one.
I did think about the power switch getting stuck, only problem is, i
cant get the front section off, only one half, do you think it needs
some elbow grease, or is there a specific way of getting it off? I've
never had trouble with it in the past, must be getting weak :paranoid:
...
Ive noticed that the power cuts out just as the HD initializes, is it
worth trying one from another computer?
And about the cpu fan, its fine.
 
Specs, if it will help.
Gigabyte GA7VM-333M-RZ
AMD Sempron 2800
256mb DDR RAM
80GB Hard Disk Drive
DVD Rom Drive/CDRW
 
Hmm.is the fan on the CPU the 3 wire type?Some motherbard need a CPU fan
with the three wire connector connected to the CPUFAN spot. It because the
BIOS wants to know by monitoring the fan if it's running,othewise you get a
3 second shutdown.
 
Yeah, faulty mobo looks like the one, ive been browsing the net an
i've seen a few people with similar problems with Gigabyte mobo's
 
cuchulain_orourke said:
Maybe i should have explained it all a bit better. My grandad is the
sort of guy that likes to ''tinker'' with things, regardless of
whether he has any idea of it or not. When i got the computer, i took
it apart completly, and he had wiped all of the TIM off, well most of
it, still a bit greasy, a half arsed job. Apparently, he didn't use
it after that, APPARENTLY. So i took my chances with a new pad, can't
hurt to try. That's when it worked, just the once. The PSU was dusty
and noisy, and I really hate that, so i bought a new one.
Click to expand...

Oh boy. I'd be 90% certain the CPU is fried. The fact that your grandad
likes to tinker, and you got the machine with no CPU heatsink installed is a
really BAD sign. If the system is ever powered on, even for a fraction of a
second, with no heatsink on the CPU, the CPU will be damaged beyond repair.
It apparently powered up once, as it wasn't quite dead yet. Just severely
damaged. -Dave
 
I did think about the power switch getting stuck, only problem is, i
cant get the front section off, only one half, do you think it needs
some elbow grease, or is there a specific way of getting it off? I've
never had trouble with it in the past, must be getting weak :paranoid:
Click to expand...
If you want to bypass the power switch just disconnect the 2 pin
connector from the mobo and short the two pins together yourself with
something like a small flat-headed screwdriver.
 
it HAS a heatsink, and a fan. just assume, if you saw it, it look
standard with everything set up correctly. Well its definatly
hardware problem, just cant decide whether its the fried CPU or
faulty mobo.
But as some of you have already said, its probably a fried CPU
 
cuchulain_orourke said:
it HAS a heatsink, and a fan. just assume, if you saw it, it looks
standard with everything set up correctly. Well its definatly a
hardware problem, just cant decide whether its the fried CPU or a
faulty mobo.
But as some of you have already said, its probably a fried CPU.
Click to expand...

back to basics:
pull everything except-
PSU
CPU/HS/F
1 stick of memory
video card or OB video

Reseat the Vid card
check ZIF for damage
check capasitors on MB for bulging and/or discolor/leaking
 
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