COmputer just died

[kj21]

Hello. I have an ECS K7VTA3 v2.0 MB, 1.52 ghz AMD AThalon system. Yesterday I left it rendering some video files and left. Upon returning a few hours later the comp was off (no one else was around). Now it wont start up. When I hit the power button the case fan, cpu fan, and fan in the power supply spin for about 1/4 second then stop. The power led on the MB does stay lit. The power supply makes a little click at the begining then nothing. I have reset the cmos by changing jumpers on the MB as per the manual. Not sure if its the MB, power sup, or another component. Does anyone hve any idea?

Thanks a lot, Keith

[mjc]

I'd start with the power supply...if it tries to turn on but just doesn't quite make it, it could be that the 12v leg of the PSU has given out. You would still get some power from the 5V and 3.3V legs, but that will not let you boot.

[eddie]

Before you go out and buy anything, open the case and check that the board connectors are seated correctly. I had a customer bring a box back for a new M/brd because of the same symptoms as yours. I simply reseated the connectors and it worked.

[Sylvander]

You could use my Diagnostic Flowcharts.
Send me a personal message requesting them and giving an e-mail address to send them to.

Here’s one route through them.

START UP
1. Is the PC dead? No.
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 you, have a POWER SUPPLY problem.
If they are ok then:
2. Disconnect all peripherals and system adaptor cards except the keyboard and the monitor.
3. Does the POST now run? If it doesn’t then your system board [or something on it (video card, CPU, memory)] is faulty. If it does run then:
4. Re-connect the floppy disk drive and run advanced diagnostic software from a floppy disk. Get “TuffTest-Lite” from http://www.tufftest.com/free.htm, or better if you can. This is simple and basic.
5. Does the system board pass? If not then it is faulty. If it does pass then:
6. Switch of and re-connect ONE peripheral/adaptor card.
7. Does POST now run? If it doesn’t this last device connected is faulty and should be disconnected. If it does run the device should be tested using the diagnostics and if it fails is faulty and should be disconnected. If it passes it's ok and should be included.
8. Repeat from step 6 until all devices are tested, all faulty are excluded and all working are included, then re-test the system.

Here’s what “Computeractive” PC magazine issue 132, page 34 & 35 diagnostic charts says for your symptoms:
“POTENTIALLY SEVERE PROBLEM
You have a problem with your hardware. As the screen comes on [your display has power and a signal], the likely culprit is an expansion card (but not the graphics card), memory or hard disk. If you know how, you can check inside the PC to see that everything is connected properly or look in the BIOS screens to ensure that a setting hasn’t been inadvertently changed. Otherwise, contact your PC manufacturer for assistance.”

[kj21]

Thanks everyone for replying. Eddie, are you just refering to the general connections inside like, power, ATA, etc? Or something specific? I checked everything I can see several times. When I power up the hard drives don't even spin up. While I am completely ignorant about such things as voltages and power in general, a friend threw a DVM on a couple of the legs of the PSU and got virtually nothing.

Related: several moths ago I tried replacing the stock SiS graphics card with an nVidea. Didn't work. Site suggested flashing the BIOS. Tried that, comp wouldn't work (same symptoms as now), but could get it to START boot up with different combinations of the internal peripherals disconnectd. Got a new BIOS chip from BIOSworld, all probs fixed. No worries since (till now). However I've not modified (or even touched) any thing in the box since then. This time it died while it was up and running. I wasn't here so I'm not exactly sure how it spent its last moments before it slipped away. Guess first I'll try the PSU. Hope I can return it if its not the prob.

Question: does a video card HAVE to be installed for the comp to even TRY starting up?

Thanks again everybody, Keith

[kj21]

Its alive! Turned out it was the PSU. Got lucky and found a guy that was open here in Orlando on Sunday (whew). Thanks again all for the help.

-Keith