Computer won't boot

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 1:03 pm

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?

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:45 pm

I have another PS but the one that's in there now has another connecter which plugs into the MB. It has 4 wires, 2 black and to yellow.

Do you know if I need that connecter to test the other PS in the emachine?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 3:57 pm

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.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:13 pm

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?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:33 pm

Yeah, viruses can't cause a computer to not POST.

Flatlander · Post by **Flatlander** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:52 pm

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.

I've seen this many times as well on emachines. Replace the motherboard and power supply (or buy a new computer).

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:32 pm

I had it running for a few days and couldn't get it to act up and now it's shutting down after bing on for about 15 minutes.

Does that still sound like the PS?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:33 pm

PSU or heat related would be good places to check.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:41 pm

Only had it on for about 15 min. And chip fan is running. Would 15 minbe enough time to heat up.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:44 pm

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.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:59 pm

I'm going to try it w/ the computer open. It was running ok when I had the side panel off. Then I'm finally going to try a new PS.

Thanks again.

Apogee · Post by **Apogee** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:31 pm

Run a program that can check temp levels, like Speedfan, and rule out overheating... you never know.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:27 pm

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.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 1:35 pm

I bought a new PS. Noticed that the fan on the old one was not running (da!)although all the lights were on on the tester.

Replaced the PS, it started up and then shut down in about 2 minutes.

What next?

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:37 pm

check to see if there is thermal paste on the CPU.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:12 pm

Someone else mentioned that to me but I didn't know what they were talking about.

Can you explain?

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:16 pm

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?

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:20 pm

Seems like thing are deteriorating in the last to days.

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:14 pm

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?

if its a modern CPU, then yes it can happen that fast.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:20 pm

Should I try the paste. I ass-u-me it's not too much money.

I just spread it thinly over the top of the chip?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:35 pm

Correct, less is more when it comes to thermal paste. You want to get as little as possible but still enough to fill the gaps.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:20 am

Will go \"shoppin\" in the next day or so.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:58 pm

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.

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:15 pm

what ya gonna do with that thing? part it out?

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:26 pm

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 8:42 pm

Chapter 47.....

Called my friend and said I'm putting the old PS (with the fan not working) back in and will bring it by.

Decided to plug it in one last time (with the old PS) and it's running like a champ. Have powered down twice now and it's booting up fully.

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 9:06 pm

well.... so much for the parts

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:33 am

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.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:29 am

Use the connector with the two yellow and two black. All connectors on the PSU should be keyed so you can not use them the wrong way or in the wrong place.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:14 pm

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.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:11 pm

Found another PS but on the tester the 5V is not working.

Can I still use it?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:42 pm

I wouldn't use one if the 5V doesn't read.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:46 pm

Ten-four

Diedel · Post by **Diedel** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:12 am

Krom wrote:Yeah, viruses can't cause a computer to not POST.

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.

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 · Post by **Krom** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:08 pm

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.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:17 pm

Bought a new PS this AM and it's been running for about 3 hours. I have also shutdown a couple of times and restarted.

All seems well at this point.

Thanks again for the advise.