So my PC died last week.
It died after one of my many random crashes I'd been experiencing these last few weeks.
Up until right now, I assumed it was because of the PSU (fairly old) and bought a new one.
This hasn't solved the problem.
Here's what I get when I turn it on; The hard-drive indicator light stays on, but nothing else happens. Power is obviously on, but the monitor is unresponsive. No BIOS noises etc.
So I assume the problem is now/was the CPU or Hard-drive?
Posts
still, check your cables, etc.
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e: A bad HDD will not cause these symptoms. A bad HDD will either not report itself at all to the BIOS (this happens well beyond post), or will cause other, more insidious, errors, like bad data on the HDD. Usually if you have S.M.A.R.T. enabled, a bad HDD will also cause warnings at boot up time. It will, on the other hand, not cause the symptoms Euphoriac is describing.
I just tried using its original graphics card from that other PC and still no change. Whatever it is, it's way beyond my ability and budget to solve right now...
My guess is it's likely your processor, however depending on your motherboard, you may be able to get a replacement proc for fairly cheap (let us know its model no.).
Can you access your hard drive when you pop it into the older computer? Since you have another working setup, you can swap parts out piecemeal until you get close to making a diagnosis. It sucks, but that's sort of what you've got to do. I had an old computer with an Abit IS7 board that would randomly shutdown/restart. I began slowly upgrading/changing out parts until it turned out the board was crap. It just took me forever and I had basically built a new computer by the end.
If you want ideas for a new build and you have a budget, let us know.
I checked the RAM, but that's not it either.
I'll check the HDD idea tomorrow when I get home from work. If it works I'll report back.
If not, then it's most likely the processor/motherboard, and I can't find replacements for them at all, and I've looked. Alot.
In that case, I'll be back here or in the main build thread asking for advice on a new PC. I'd probably have to take a loan out, but I can afford that at least.
You might turn it on with the case open and see if the system fan spins or not, but either way it's probably going to be an expensive fix. I guess "processor" is my vote, but it's pretty hard to tell between processor or motherboard failure without opening it up and swapping components.
Shit.
EDIT: And the only cpu I found which vaguely looks like it'd fit is £50. And if it's the motherboard, I'd have wasted the money.
Meh, I was making plans to buy a new PC, might as well move them forward.
Edit: Just noticed you quoted a price in that weird not dollars currency so I'd only be willing to bet a modest pile of cash.
I'm still considering a cheap for-internet-mostly PC, but only if the loan doesn't work out (might as well try to work on my as-yet non-existent credit rating anyway). I'll be [strike]begging[/strike] asking for the loan on Saturday, so wish me luck!
If you make sure that it's plugged in right, then try to boot, and you still get no beeps, you should then rip out your RAM, and try booting again, you will most definitely get a beep code. If you still don't get a beep code, it's pretty safe to assume that your motherboard is fail.
Thanks for the idea, hope it works.
If you have onboard video, leave 1 DIMM in and remove everything else, try another DIMM and if you have the same result chances are good your board is hosed. Chances your CPU is shot if there isn't a fantastic amount of uncleaned dust sitting in your HSF is minimal, and it really sounds like a motherboard issue to begin with here.
Try a different one from your other comp for a test.
It describes the specific beeps you should hear and what kind of situations you would hear them in. The basic gist of it is that you'll get a beep code for everything (including missing/bad CPU) except a bad motherboard or bad power supply.
Having tried all the other suggestions, and still no beeps I think it's safe to assume it's the motherboard/cpu.
Since we've pretty much now diagnosed the problem, I pronounce the PC dead. Time of death was 21:00 Wednesday 31st. Please inform the loved ones.
It led a long fruitful life, where it played many games and witnessed many nerd-rages. It shall be missed, but in these times of loss and grief it's always important to remember that he wouldn't want us to wallow in misery. He would want us to forge on, and get a replacement, for such is life, the cycle must complete.
Thanks for the help guys you've been a great help. At this point, the PC is just too old to warrant buying a replacement motherboard, as everything else is just as dated (7600GS graphics card, 2GB DDR1 RAM etc etc) so I may as well buy a whole new tower.
I'll look around just as soon as I get the money.