Uncle's Computer Dead

N

notsane

Gawd
Joined
May 23, 2007
Messages
583
I just received my Uncle's sick PC. It is an Asus motherboard with a Pentium D 3ghz processor, 4GB DDR2 533, and an antec neo 480 power supply. I built this machine about 3-5 years ago and it has been good for him (used to have 2gb ram).

He was complaining of intermittent shut downs... looks like this one is more permanent.

I can't get the bios to come up or the CPU fan to spin. When I plugged in the PS, the mobo power light would come on, but when I hit the power button only a momentary jerk in the cpu fan then nothing. When pushing the power button more nothing further happens (no jerk on the fan unless you unplug for a while). I tried all of the connections and reseated the ram and still nothing. Thinking it may be the power supply and so I tried the old paperclip test and it seems to powerup and spin fine. Thoughts? I think the mobo may be dead.

Thanks!

Mike
 
Mobo is probably dead. If resetting the CMOS at this point doesn't work either time to get a new one.
 
ya, reset the cmos and removed the battery for a while too. Damn

Thanks!

It would really pain me to buy a socket 478 mobo at this point...
 
Replace the CMOS battery? They usually start dying in the 3-5 year range, and that can cause all manner of difficulty during startup.
 
Definitely sounds like a dead CMOS battery. I have replaced so many of those on old boards it's not even funny. They just don't last, especially when the computer has been sitting around for awhile not plugged in.
 
Even with a dead cmos battery the computer should boot. I would test the psu it is more likley it has died than the mainboard. Not enough power or a failed rail will cause shut downs and finally not starting up. Test with a good psu and if the problem continues then look at the mainboard.
 
That is funny I have never had a issue with one not booting because of a bad battery unless I had some special boot up info and it was lost when it was off.

I have been building computers for about 10 years! I am not saying you are wrong but It isn't hard to test the psu. and it's cheaper than a mobo.
 
notsane said:
Thanks all!

Now I remember why I sell my hardware after a year or so..
Click to expand...

Meh....It's a crap shoot. I've got some hardware in my basement that works fine, and is probably older than you are.
 
Heh. Not that far.:D 1990.......but I had a 386 still not that long ago, but junked it finally (really had no reason to keep it). 1985, but it ran. Same for the commodore 64, but that still wasn't far enough.......you got me beat.
 
Unless I missed something, it sounds like it could also be a short... do a barebones bench test to rule that out.

I, too, have never had a problem with a system booting despite a dead CMOS battery (again, unless certain config was needed for bootup).
 
jackofalltrades said:
Even with a dead cmos battery the computer should boot. I would test the psu it is more likley it has died than the mainboard. Not enough power or a failed rail will cause shut downs and finally not starting up. Test with a good psu and if the problem continues then look at the mainboard.
Click to expand...

This was bad power supply (probably a failed rail) only enough power for the "power" led on the motherboard. Thanks all who chimed in!

Mike
 
Looks like we have another problem! the computer works fine for a while with windows 7.... then if you leave it alone for a bit it does this (see pic). Does he need a new video card? Currently running 7900gt.
screen.jpg

screen_2.jpg
 
i have a bfg 7900gt and it artifacted also. i would try a different card if you got one laying around.
 
it works for a while then does this... Don't really have another card to try. Should he buy a new one (probably ati 4850)?
 
I suspect that going to sleep may have caused it. Disabled sleep and leaving it on all night to see what happens.
 
didn't do it again all night. mmm I wonder if it is sleep resume bug. I will try a bios update and the latest driver.
 
OK, video card dead for sure, just did it again in the middle of an operation.

What card to get? thinking a 4850. He is running 1680x1050 mostly email and web browsing, but he does do flight simulator.

Thanks!
 
Be sure to send the 7900GT in for an RMA if its still under warranty.
 
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