Computer Issue on Start Up

T

Takeda Kenshi

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 4, 2006
Messages
204
For some reason, on my friend's computer shortly after start up the computer will completely turn off. There was recently an electrical storm in the area, so I believe that may have something to do with it. I managed to get into the computer's setup, and the processor and RAM show up. Unfortunately shortly after I looked around in the setup the computer just turned off. When I tried to start it back up, I had to unplug and replug in the PSU for the computer to turn on. Is it safe to say the PSU is fried? Or could it be something else? Any help is appreciated.
 
it could be the motherboard.. have you tried resetting the cmos? unplug the psu from the wall.. remove the cmos battery.. and hit the power button a few times to make sure theres no power left in the system.. then put the battery back in.. plug the psu in and see what happens.. this will reset your bios..
its possible the storm caused the bios to become corrupt.. it may not fix the issue but should atleast try that.. if you have another psu around or a friend with one.. id try throwing one in see what happens.. even if its not powerful enough for the system to run at full load.. just need something to boot it up..
the two possibilities are either the board died or the psu is dying..
 
Yeah that's what I thought. If the BIOS was corrupt, would I be able to use the Boot menu to check on the HDs, CPU, and RAM? Because the weird part is I can get in there without issue,when the computer decides not to turn off. ;/
 
It very likely is the mobo, but it's also possible that the CPU heatsink might not be seated properly and it's overheating. I've had that happen to me before. Make sure that it's not full of lint and that it's seated on the CPU securely. If you have some thermal paste, I'd even pull it off and reseat it.
 
Well the computer is older, so more than likely my friend will get a new PSU, and if that doesn't work replace the cpu/mobo/ram. We'll see what happens.
 
depending on how old it is.. it gets to the point of weather the cost of getting the system running again is worth it.. or is it just more cost effective to upgrade the whole system..
 
Precisely. It's an old s939 system, and getting a new CPU/Mobo/RAM for under 400 bucks is no problemo. It'll be a nice upgrade.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top