Computer won't boot
Computer won't boot
Computer won't boot
Have a friend's e-machine T2042 running Win Xp.
The machine won't boot.
I tested (power tester) the PS and it seems ok.
When the power cord is plugged in the HD light on the front flashes and the floppy
drive makes a click at the same pace as the light. I unplugged the floppy and nothing
changs except the floppy drive click is gone.
The HD doesn't start and the chip fan runs.
The power button on the front does not do anything.
They said they were getting beeps but I'm getting none now.
What next?
Have a friend's e-machine T2042 running Win Xp.
The machine won't boot.
I tested (power tester) the PS and it seems ok.
When the power cord is plugged in the HD light on the front flashes and the floppy
drive makes a click at the same pace as the light. I unplugged the floppy and nothing
changs except the floppy drive click is gone.
The HD doesn't start and the chip fan runs.
The power button on the front does not do anything.
They said they were getting beeps but I'm getting none now.
What next?
I hooked everything back up and plugged in the AC cord and it started. So I shut
down, brought it over where I could hook up a monitor and keyboard. Plugged it in
and got the old results.
Tried about 7 more times and got it running.
I'm backing up their data and downloaded AVG and running it now. I found 36 viruses
so far but they're all associated with \"doc\" files so I don't think they're the problem.
Still sound like the PS?
down, brought it over where I could hook up a monitor and keyboard. Plugged it in
and got the old results.
Tried about 7 more times and got it running.
I'm backing up their data and downloaded AVG and running it now. I found 36 viruses
so far but they're all associated with \"doc\" files so I don't think they're the problem.
Still sound like the PS?
- Flatlander
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I've seen this many times as well on emachines. Replace the motherboard and power supply (or buy a new computer).Krom wrote:The ATX12v connector is required. And odds are the emachine faulty PSU fried the motherboard, I've seen it happen in 3 other systems. Even though it looks fine it will burn any board it is connected to within about 30 minutes.
si vis pacem, para bellum
- Krom
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Depending on the problem, a CPU can overheat and cause a shutdown in as little as a few seconds. Though normally when something shuts down from an overheat the PC speaker would be sounding an alarm. Try it with a known good PSU (meaning a PSU that was NOT out of an eMachine).
A video card overheating can also crash a system, but generally won't cause a power off.
A video card overheating can also crash a system, but generally won't cause a power off.
- Krom
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Even though it could cause it, heat is probably not the problem here, if it is, then it would probably be the PSU that is overheating. It is just a good idea to check the dumbest possible problems first and that is the only reason you should make sure nothing is overheating. Start with the easy fixes first, if someone says a computer won't power on I always start by checking to make sure it is plugged in and the PSU is switched on.
Once someone had a computer that wouldn't post no matter what they did to it, the power came on and the fans would spin, but it wouldn't post. So they had me come over on a lunch break and have a look at it. I fixed the computer in seconds by using a ball point pen to get the reset switch unstuck.
Once someone had a computer that wouldn't post no matter what they did to it, the power came on and the fans would spin, but it wouldn't post. So they had me come over on a lunch break and have a look at it. I fixed the computer in seconds by using a ball point pen to get the reset switch unstuck.
if its a modern CPU, then yes it can happen that fast.thewolfe wrote:Read up on the thermal paste. Now the computer starts to boot sounds like the fan starts to lag a little and then shuts down.
I can unplug, plug back and then it will start to start up.
Would the heat cause that in just like 10 seconds?
Tried the thermal paste, no help.
No the heatsink fan and HD start to spin, slow down, speed up and stop. All within about 5 to 10 seconds.
Won't bootup at all now.
Also checked the capacitors to see if they were blown and looked at the chip to see if there were any spots. All looks good.
There is only one \"card\" (modem) in the machine, everything is onboard.
Don't know if the MoBo is fried but I know I am.
Stick a fork in me, I'm done.
Thanks for all your assistance.
No the heatsink fan and HD start to spin, slow down, speed up and stop. All within about 5 to 10 seconds.
Won't bootup at all now.
Also checked the capacitors to see if they were blown and looked at the chip to see if there were any spots. All looks good.
There is only one \"card\" (modem) in the machine, everything is onboard.
Don't know if the MoBo is fried but I know I am.
Stick a fork in me, I'm done.
Thanks for all your assistance.
Power supply question.
My new PS has 2 four wire connectors. One has 2 yellow and 2 black and one has black, yellow, orange and red.
The old PS used the yellow and black connector to the MoBo.
Does it matter which connector I use from the 2 choices I have on the new PS.
Is there anyway I can hook up the HD, CD-ROM, DVD, incorrectly.
I know red goes closest to ribbon cable.
My new PS has 2 four wire connectors. One has 2 yellow and 2 black and one has black, yellow, orange and red.
The old PS used the yellow and black connector to the MoBo.
Does it matter which connector I use from the 2 choices I have on the new PS.
Is there anyway I can hook up the HD, CD-ROM, DVD, incorrectly.
I know red goes closest to ribbon cable.
Thanks, can't figure out why the new PS shuts the computer down (as in will try to start for about 10 seconds) where I can actually get the computer to bootup and stay on for 15 or 20 minutes w/ the old PS were the fan is not working.
Going to try the new PS agin.
Can't give up yet although my friends have already been out looking for a new computer if I can't get this puppy going again.
Going to try the new PS agin.
Can't give up yet although my friends have already been out looking for a new computer if I can't get this puppy going again.
WHAT? They would need to change the BIOS for that. Theoretically you can do that, by overwriting the EEPROMS, but I doubt this is the case here.Krom wrote:Yeah, viruses can't cause a computer to not POST.
If there are no beeps any more, there's a good chance the mobo or CPU are gone.
It could also be the CPU overheats and some thermal protection shuts the system down. It's pretty strange that the cooler fan starts and then stops to spin again.
Maybe the fan's bearings are damaged, and the fan speed control of the BIOS shuts the system down because the fan doesn't work.
Maybe also the RAMs are damaged ...
It would be helpful if the system beeped in case of error and you would post the number and duration of the beeps here.
Man, it never pays to use cheap computer components ... you don't always have to buy the most expensive stuff, there's good quality available for reasonable prices, but saving money at the wrong places may get expensive in the long run.
- Krom
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Yeah, in theory you could make a virus that would damage the BIOS, but I have never heard of one. I think it is safe to say viruses do not cause hardware failures.
The motherboard controls the fans that are plugged in to it, so it is possible for the board to stop the fans even if the PSU is still running. So if the CPU fan stops, the system can still be powered on, but if the PSU fan stops then you know the power supply is off. Also if the motherboard is not getting a good power signal it can prevent the attached hard drives and cdroms from spinning up.
The motherboard controls the fans that are plugged in to it, so it is possible for the board to stop the fans even if the PSU is still running. So if the CPU fan stops, the system can still be powered on, but if the PSU fan stops then you know the power supply is off. Also if the motherboard is not getting a good power signal it can prevent the attached hard drives and cdroms from spinning up.