Computer screwed up....big time.

[Munch]

Ok, as many of you have heard, my computer crapped out on me. now i am posting here for suggestions. when i turn on the computer, all the fans, and the heatsink turn on. but i get no picture on the monitor. so i am not entirely sure what is wrong. Now, this is an old motherboard, bout 4-5 years old. so would it be better just to say, screw it and save up for a new copmuter?? or take the time to try and repair, or even replace what is wrong on this one. help is most....well, helpful.

 

[Lafinass]

Well that rules out the powersupply, which is generally my first thought when smoke is mentioned in conjunction with a computer. Now, you said this was due to the wrong kind of memory? Did you actually try to boot the computer with the wrong memory installed?

It's a blank screen, ok, but do you hear the computer booting up? (ie. the normal noises you hear when you turn the computer on, particularly the hard-drive spinning up) Since the heatsink fans turn on I am going to go ahead and assume that the motherboard is at least receiving power. If you can hear it booting up, hard drive and everything, then the video card or worst case the AGP Bus is shot (4-5 year old, I'm assuming it's an AGP card). If the hard drive never spins up, then the system isn't even trying to boot, which means something on the motherboard is screwed- something integral to the motherboard's operation (the primary bus, the BIOS, the memory channels, something...) and you basically need a new one.

Summary...

1. Doesn't sound like it's your PSU.
2. If it makes booting noises, it might be your graphics.
3. If it doesn't do anything but turn on the fans, some part of the MOBO is dead.


In the industry we generally consider 3 years to be the average lifespan of computer components, so after 4-5 years it isn't unreasonable for things to start dying.

 

[Munch]

Nah, i didnt try to boot with the wrong memory. i hear the comp booting, the hard drive spins ect. and good guess it is AGP, so could it be my AGP bus is broken...or something. and thanks for the info lafin...

 

[Lafinass]

Oh good! If you can hear the booting sounds, then the MoBo is fine. The AGP Bus being fried is a worst case scenario and it's far far more likely that the graphics card is just dead. Or for that matter, the monitor- does the monitor turn on?

If you have a spare graphics card, swap it out to test.

If not, then you have to decide if you want to build a new computer or buy a new video card. The GeForce 7 series is about as good as it gets for AGP and would suggest... [link=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130076]This[/link]


But really, you're gonna start hitting limits pretty soon with a 5 year old machine. The HL2 engine scales pretty well, but newer games are gonna start straining your machine's capability. If you decide to replace the video card, start planning on a new machine before too long.

 

[Munch]

well actually the board has onboard video, i have tried that...but that hasnt worked. im pretty sure im just gonna build a new computer, but it would be nice to have one until then. also, if you think it was just the AGP, do you think anything else could be damaged? like if i could buy a replacement board until i build my next comp?

 

[Lafinass]

The onboard video was probably disabled from the BIOS when the computer was put together. Occasionally having it enabled when you're using a video card causes issues. Of course, to turn that on you'd need to be able to see the BIOS, it's very catch 22.

I'm still leaning towards the video card being smoked. You could always go buy a cheapo 20 dollar AGP card to test that theory and then return it.

 

[Munch]

kk, im gonna ask around to some friends and my computer teacher to see if they have a card i could try out. but, if that dont work....what should i expect to do then?

and also, thanks for all the help lafin. the clan is lucky to have you here.

 

[Lafinass]

If replacing the video card doesn't work, the monitor works fine, and you can hear the system booting up? Then you managed to fry the AGP Bus and the MoBo needs to be replaced. But it really is most likely the video card. If it's the MoBo you might want to just scrap the system now. Take what you can salvage and move on.

 

[Munch]

right o!

 

[Volcom]

i think you to can be bestest friends!!

 

[imported_GreenMonkey]

I rarely check the TF2 site, but while I am here I have a few other questions. Does the computer make any beeping noises upon startup? These beep codes indicate exactly what has failed when cirtain things go wrong. Also another question - you turn the computer on and realise nothing happens so you go to turn it off: When you turn it off does it turn right off when you press the button or do you have to hold the button for 10 seconds? If it turns right off it means the mobo is never getting past POST but if you have to hold it down it is likely trying to boot into windows.

Depending on how you answer those questions, if you wanted to try to use the onboard video to see if that works all you would have to do is clear the CMOS and then reboot. By default motherboards with onboard video have it enabled so this would reset to defaults thus enabling the onboard video.

Please tell us exactly what event happened when this all started - it is important. I have seen this same thing happen for different reasons - some of which included fried processors, motherboards, video cards etc. What was the last thing that happened when the computer worked correctly?


and PS for all of you wondering, his computer is about 5 years old yes, but its an athlon xp 2800+ (i think) to give you guys a refference. 5 years ago I had an athlon fx51, and before that athlon xp 2100+, and before that a thunderbird 1GHz (which I would never use all that power lol)

 

[Munch]

ok, well i dont have a speaker on my motherboard so i cant really hear any beep codes. but when i do turn off my computer it does take about the usual 6 seconds or so to turn off. i have tried to clear my CMOS but im not sure if after i tried to use the onboard video.

 

[GardenGroveVW]

[quote1194634982=Volcom]
i think you to can be bestest friends!!
[/quote1194634982]

Did you really need to post this?

SPAM SPAM SPAM> Come on guys. knock it off. stop posting useless stuff like ^^^ Volcom.

 

[imported_GreenMonkey]

I saw in another forums (by luck) that you also saw smoke..... that would be VERY important informaitn to post in a tech help forum you know. You cannot assume that everyone reads every forum. Please try to answer my other questions as they are also usefull information.

Are you sure that your PC / Mobo doesnt have a speaker? it could be built onto the case or be a little dongle that is plugged intot he board itself. I am not trying to insult you, it's just that most cases you buy come with speakers, and so shouldnt premade computers.

Although every motherboard is different, they are also similar when clearing the CMOS - what did you do specifically to clear the CMOS, step by step. And or did you follow the directions in the motherboard book?

 

[Munch]

i know for sure i dont have a speaker cause i broke it . and to clear the CMOS i followed the directions in the manual, using a jumper for 3 seconds....

 

[SHUT_EM_DOWN]

Something that I could possibly add to this, even though most bases have been covered already, is this: I had a similar problem that I was trying to fix on my friends computer and the problem ended up being the motherboard. When I would turn the computer on all of the fans would start up and so would the hard disk and everything seemed to be going normal and then the system would just shut off on its own after around 5-10 seconds. If your system will stay on as long as you don't turn the power off, then there is a chance that the problem is indeed your video card. It is unfortunate that your PC speaker is broken because a lot of motherboards have an error beep code for a faulty display adapter.

 

[Munch]

the computer remains on until i turn it off, although im gonna have to test out a new graphics card to see if that works. :|

 

[imported_GreenMonkey]

If you cleared the BIOS (corectly) then the onboard video would be working. If it is not then either the BIOS did not get cleared, or the problem is somehting other than the video card. Again, can you please tell us more informaiton, such as what was the cause of the issue, be it installing a new part, a power surge or completely random all of a suddne and you didnt evne opent he cas eor anything. What kind of sound occured when it stoped working. Where did the smoke come from. Can you smell burnt comming from anyplace?

I strongly think that it is likely the motherboard. It could be that to further diagnose the problem you will need a second computer to swap out components one by one but that all depends on the answer to my questions. But most liekly to answer your original question, you probably will need a new computer if you cannot find the source of the problem. And even if you could, its really up to you if it is worth putting money into a computer this old you are using to game with.

 

[Munch]

i will stop it at this, thanks for the help guys but im pretty sure im just gonna build my new system and not worry to much about this one. if i could get this locked that would be helpful.

 

[Wal-Mart Security]

Okie Dokie, locked