Help me determine the problem with my computer please?

[robathome]

OMG - I'm totally confused by what is going on with my computer. When I boot up the computer I get a blank black screen on my monitor (the power light stays orange). The computer sounds like it is powering up and hard drive seems to move a little bit but then everything stops and nothing ever appears on the monitor. The red light for the hard drive never comes on either. Hitting the power button on the front of the computer doesn't turn it off anymore. Puzzling!

The old solution for this problem was to remove all the cards and then put them back in the computer. I would have to then flip the switch in back to turn the computer on. It would do the same thing as it did before the first time i tried to boot the machine up. Then i'd hit the switch in the back again and turn the power on again. It would boot up. Now when i turn it on it does nothing except for the power light on motherboard comes on and the power light on the front of the computer comes on too. And it makes some noise like the fans spinning and all.

So - I bought a new motherboard and processor thinking that that was the problem. I bought a P4 1.7 Ghz and an Abit BL7 motherboard. I installed the new motherboard and processor (though at this time i don't have a heatsink fan for the processor - its on the way in the mail) but when i went to turn on my computer with these new parts I had the same problem. Though this motherboard has a digital LED display on the board that is supposed to run through some system checks. It doesn't really do anything at all but show "00" all the time. Anyone familiar with this board enough to know what that means? Anyway, we still got no video. I don't have alot of hardware but from reading some of the other posts it sounds like it is my power supply going bad? Or is it my hard drive?

I'm confused - I've never seen a computer act this way before.

Someone help! Thanks in advance!

[wiltrot]

I would get a new 400watt power supply for starters. I wouldn't run that processor with out the heat sink + fan.

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http://trotter.infopages.net/

[This message has been edited by wiltrot (edited 01-22-2002).]

[bassman]

Mr. Trotter, this is the second time I have seen you respond with a "Throw in a power supply" comment without further analyzing the problems at hand. This attitude of throwing parts at a problem is neither productive or professional. Not to say that everyone here has to be a professional to help others, but there is system of problem solving that we must all follow to be able to effectivly help.
This person has already spent good money trying to fix the problem, and does not need to spend anymore wastefuly.

Robathome, refering to the old mobo system, when you boot, do you hear any beepcode? If not, are you sure the little system speaker is connected properly?
Your symptoms are classic of several problems. Bad or dieing RAM, bad or dieng Vid card, yes, even bad or dieing PSU.

Refering to new system.NEVER run your system without a heatsink and fan. I realize you were trying to see if it would start up, but you risk total loss by doing this. I am not familiar with that exact mobo, but I would think is has a temp and fan sensor and therefor would not boot without the heatsink and fan attached and working properly. Check specs in the manual and see if it does have this sensor.
Also, did you use the same vid card and RAM from other mobo?
I think these items should be tested before you buy anything else.

Let us know http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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Waiting patiently for the future to arrive Frank's Place (http://www.members.aol.com/frankscompsrvice)

[robatwork]

Bassman,

1. the heatsink and fan are on the way - so i won't do any testing with that stuff until i have everything.

2. Right now, I don't hear any beep codes when i power up - I used too before i took apart the computer - I might have the speakers plugged in the wrong way...I will try it the other and see what i get when i get home.

3. "...Bad or dieing RAM, bad or dieng Vid card, yes, even bad or dieing PSU." - I just bought a new 256 MB ram chip and i had an older 256 mb ram chip, both are PC133 PNY memory. I tried both ram sticks in Dimm slot 1 and i get the same result.

4. Yes- I used all my old parts on my new motherboard. I have a Geforce2 ULTRA by Creative. Its only a year old - so you would think that this card is ok. I don't think it is the video card because I tried a different video card on the new and old boards and got the same results. Blank screen.

5. How should i test the ram? video card? Just plug em into a different computer and see what happens?

[bassman]

Hi Rob,
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif, at leased your second user name is easy to identify that it is still you.
Do you remember what the beep sequence was on the old system?
Being a year old does not mean it can't go bad. I have received brand new goods, bad out of the box. It just happens.

Yes you can test the RAM and vid card on a known good system. A recommendation would be to remove the existing RAM in the test system, install the RAM to be tested, boot into BIOS, save and exit without actualy making changes. This insures that the BIOS recognizes the RAM correctly if it doesn't do that automaticly.

Also, when testing the Vid card, boot into SafeMode, remove the existing card from Device manager, shut down, uninstall existing card, install the card to test, and boot up.
Be sure to follow these steps when putting the test system back together http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif
Let us know how it goes.

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Waiting patiently for the future to arrive Frank's Place (http://www.members.aol.com/frankscompsrvice)

[robatwork]

hey gang - i got my heatsink fan in the mail today. I bought a 350 watt power supply from best buy yesterday so i think I've gotten everything i could possibly need that will make my computer live again.

I tested the Video Card and the Primary Hard Drive. It looks to me that the motherboard and power supply were shorted out because hooking up known hardware that works produces the same effect.

Is it possible that running a humidifier too close to the computer could have damaged my hardware? I had the side of the case open but i was sick so i needed to run the humidifier - I have a small room and a big humidifier.

Let me know if that is anything to consider...

Also, could it also be my power cord? my power strip? I think it may also be wise to replace these items as well.