Specs:
Soyo SY-7IWM/L (integrated audio and video)(Award BIOS)
Celeron 466
6 GB HD
64~196 MB RAM (attempted changes)

Okay, here's the problem. I turn off the computer just for a minute or two. Turn it back on, and nothing happens. Blank screen, no post at all. I start digging, and unplug the hard drive and all. Still nothing. Interesting note is when the hard drive is connected to the motherboard, it doesn't power up. When it's only got a power cable, it powers up. When I was checking the system out, I found that the fan was on backwards. (my fault!) Now, this is only a celeron 466, and I've had it run without a working fan, and it didn't even get hot. I don't see how it is heat damage, but I'm not ruling it out. I also tried removing and replacing the CMOS battery, to no effect.

I also tried swapping RAM out, using differnt chips, etc. I don't think that's it... This computer is about 2 years old... Used often, and checked regularly. Did the chip or motherboard die on me??

I have seen the lower speed Celerons run with just a heatsink, no fan at all, so I am with you I doubt that it is heat related.....

Start with just the RAM, video CPU and keyboard...see how far you get with just that configuration. If you can get it to error out with "No operating system found" or something like that then start with a floppy drive and so on...add one device back in at a time, powering up after each addition to test it.

Okay, I've gotton nowhere still, after working on this for hours. I can't get any further, no matter what I try. Went to bare bones, and it still did nothing, not even a beep.

Another note, the only way to power down the system is via pulling the plug. I'm getting no post, and I doubt the CPU is cooked...... so this makes me suspect the motherboard. Let me know what you guys think, or if you have any suggestions!!

Three possibilities seem likely to me:

Bad bios - static fried or virus fried.
Bad mobo - static fried, physical damage, power fried, etc.
Bad power supply - not producing proper current to mobo or not having enough power to run everything anymore.

These are just guesses, hold on for more expert opinions.

Budfred

Hello Azure

This will probably take you no further forward but here goes nothing anyway.

I am using diagnostic charts.

START UP TEST
1. Is the PC dead? No. [You have lights and fan?]
2. Did POST appear to run? No.
3. Were there any audible beeps? No.
4. You have no POST.

NO POST
1. Are PSU voltages correct? If not check out the power supply. I'll assume they are.
2. Disconnect all peripherals and system adaptor cards except the keyboard and monitor.
3. Does POST run? If not the system board [or something on it] is faulty. If it does then:
4. Re-connect the floppy disk drive and run advanced diagnostics software.
5. Does the system board pass? If not the system board is faulty. If it does pass then:
6. Switch off and re-connect ONE peripheral/adaptor card.
7. Does POST now run? If it does not this last device is faulty. If it does then:
8. Repeat from step 6 untill all faulty devices are found or none are found, all are connected and POST completes.

If you do not have diagnostic software just see if POST completes with the item connected.

[My PC was bought through a University and came supplied with diagnostic software on a floppy]

I noticed a post where someone had the same problem as you and it was caused by a flat CMOS battery on the motherboard.

Question... Did you by any chance load WinXP on this PC...? I am having the same issue as you except that I loaded a bootleg copy of WinXP and upon first reboot my whole system went dead.

Hello mi2much

I think I read that Winxp is not backward compatible with all "legacy" hardware so before you install it you need to check that it supports yours or replace any it doesn't.