PC won't turn on...PERIOD!

[zero]

Hi all...new to forum, and here's my first question:

I've had this PC for about 3 yrs:

PIII 600EB
Asus P3C200 (I know, this is not a good mobo)
ATI Rage128 32mb
Aopen Network card
30 GB Quantum HD
Aopen Cd-ROM
250W PSU, now swapped to a new Antec 300W PSU

My problem started a few weeks ago when I left the computer on to d/l something...came back in about half hour to find screen blank, CD-ROM clicking (spinning but there's nothing in it), power led on...

I thought the system just froze and tried usual steps: 1. Alt-Ctrl-Del, 2. Reset button, 3. Pushing and holding down PWR button, to no avail...I finally had to turn it off at the power bar.

Problem came when I tried to turn it back on after about 15 mins...IT JUST WON'T TURN ON now...nothing, zero, zilch, nada...no POST, no BIOs, nothing...power led stays off, no fan spins...JUST NOTHING!

Since then, I have chk'd everything: 1. everything's secure, no hardware changes caused this, and everything's in place 2. Doublechk'd that everything's in place and as it should, 3. Swapped in a new 300W PSU...

I'm guessing, from what I've read here, that it should be something wrong with the mobo or cpu...do you have anymore insight into this problem? I'm ready to buy a new cpu to replace this, but I'm weary that I might've missed something or another...is this generally the case if the CPU's fried? Any advise will be greatly appreciated...much THX!

[Sylvander]

Hello zero

I'm using diagnostic charts.

SYSTEM
1. Your PC appears dead, the fan does not run etc.
2. You have a new PSU but we'll assume the the PSU output voltages are not correct though not due to a faulty PSU.
3. Disconnect all Peripherals, Adapters, and the System Board.[Whilst disconnected from the power supply of course]
4. If the fan does not run and your Power cable is ok [and voltages are incorrect] then your new PSU is faulty. If your fan now runs then:
5. Re-connect your System Board and if the fan does not run your board [or something on it?] is faulty. If your fan does run then:
6. Re-connect ONE device and switch on to see if the fan now runs.
7. Repeat untill you find the faulty device or untill all devices are connected and the fan is running at switch-on.
8. Go to normal Start-up and if this fails at some point report back to the forum and Email me about the fact.

[sgelhar]

Without a Post checker, it is sometimes diffiuclt to know exactly what is the problem. Are you getting any error codes or beep codes? If not and you have already tried the power supply, I have just learned recently that you can have the motherboard tested at a shop for a minimal fee and they will do a post check for you. You can also try and install the cpu in another motherboard. The shop could do this for you also. Hope this is a little helpful.

[gwallen4]

Most modern computers have a wire that runs from the on/off switch to the motherboard, make sure that this wire is still connected to the MB.
Probably you've already done this though.

If you've disconnected everything, HD's, floppy, video and sound cards, and still no lights or fans will come on, then it's your MB - sorry.



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Sandman

[DCO]

Zero,
We'd love to hear what you discovered. Many of us here use these posts to learn from and gain experience, and seeing the results after the "poster" applies the various troubleshooting advice is important. That way we can all learn from each post.
We're also curious.
Thanks,
DCO

[zero]

Hi all...

I will post a reply when I unsurface/identify the problem...I'm in te process of sorting it out...here's what I've tried since:

1. Tested PSU on another comp...everything's fine with it...
2. Swapped in a TNT2 Ultra, no difference...
3. Chk'd the power wire from the pwr button to the mobo (this was actually my first suspicion of what's wrong)
4. Tried shorting the PWR terminals to see if it's the PWR button

At the moment, I'm heading over to my friend's to test the CPU on another slot 1/socket 370 mobo...we'll see shortly...thx for the support, will keep you posted.




[This message has been edited by zero (edited 05-26-2002).]

[ski]

If the fan on the PSU does not work when it's connected to your system, then try another wall outlet and bypass the surge arrestor.
If its fan works, then suspect a bad motherboard.

[Sylvor]

Amazing - this has happened to me twice recently... firstly my new Dell hung, so I turned her off but it wouldn't turn on, completely dead. Turned out to be power supply.

Second time was much worse, a friends system wouldn't turn on, I did the usual, disconnect everything, new PSU, checked power lead - it was the m/b.

You probably don't want to rush out and buy a new CPU - or m/board until you are sure of what is wrong. Can you test these components in anotehr system / get different components to test in yours?



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Sly :)

"Helping everyday people with everyday problems, everyday!"

"The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit"

[zero]

Hi all...thx for all the comments...

Sorry to report that I have not been successful in isolating the problem...no one in my immediate circle run PIII boards, and I was in a hurry to fix the dead PC...so I did the one thing I knew would work for a reasonable amount.

As you know, the ASUS P3C2000 was such a bad board that they discontinued support of it shortly after its initial run...I found out 2 months after the computer was received...

I suspect the problem was either the motherboard or CPU. A PIII 667 costed around 130CDN and a new Slot 1/Socket 370 mobo was around the same, 130 CDN. Instead of going with new PIII components, I opted to just get a AMD system at the same price range: Athlon Thunderbird 1.4 GHz and a ECS K7S5A, 139CDN and 90CDN respectively. Added a Thermaltake Volcano 7 for 29CDN and voila! Stable system at twice the clock speed for a little bit more than what I'd paid for in time and money in fixing the PIII.

So...yes, I'd given up...but I think, it was for the better... =)

[zero]

For all of you who were disappointed that I did not find out the source of the problem, you'd be happy to know that I've isolated the problem. It was the motherboard. The green LED on the mobo was still lit, but I think I've found some smoke residue on the side of one of the PCI slots...oh well...

Here's something even more interesting: the reason we've isolated the problem was when we tried to put together a staging server, thinking it was the CPU...turns out it was the mobo, so we went hunting for a new one, and a NEW one we've found...SuperMicro BX mobo for 60CAD...what a deal..

Later.

[mjc]

Ok..sounds like coolness has been achieved, all around....and now the old board with the mystery problem can be assigned duties fitting its condition...like pushing up daisies.

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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[mamba]

just wondering have you tried to disconnect your cd rom, you did say it was clicking with nothing in it. that seems odd in itself. maybe it went kaput. let me know if you get everything back by disconnecting it. im hoping this works i know computers are iffy anything is possible