Seems to me like a CPU issue I'm afraid. Do you have a spare CPU you can put in to test this theory?
Regards,
Ady
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Why NO RESPONSE From Power button ???
When power button is pushed on a one year old Acer Desktop (Just past warantee) there is no picture on monitor-NO beeps-No access to the BIOS-just a black screen. DVD lights go on breifly and tray will open and close, but when I put a boot disk in, it doers not spin past the rudimentary 1st couple of spins. The CPU Fan spins and I can feel the hard drive vibrations with my hand. That seems to be tas far as it goes. 2 PSU Testers(even tho I do not trust them) show PSU to be working well. PCI slot troubleshooting device gives me no code to tell me what is wrong. So in summary, it fires up but that is all it does. Owner does not have any recovery or driver disks. They would not fire up at this point anyway.
WHAT I HAVE DONE: I have changed memory sticks in many different slots and sizes and different modules. It has 2 slots---- Touching HeatSink near CPU, it is barely warm.. So I think (not sure) I have ruled out memory (DDR2 PC5300) and heat as issues, but again NOT sure. That Is why I am here ---- Tried 2 other working monitors----BIOS is still not coming up. Just a black screen with no signal.
Owner is using onboard video, but MBoard has an empty PCI express slot.
Acer AM1640-U1401A ----Vista- 2x512MB RAM-( I now have 2 new 1GB sticks in there.) No idea of the CPU or any other specs yet. Have not look it up yet. Will do so while I wait for you folks.
THE QUESTION IS: How can I evaluate this PC if nothing not turns on??? Not even sure if this is hardware or SW issue, so I may be in the wrong zones for assistance.
Thank you to the experts in advance.
Donnie616
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Answers
I suppose the good news is you know it's not a software problem because the PC hasn't got as far as loading any!
The motherboard here is an OEM variant of the MSI P6NGM-FIH
Manual here: http://download2.msi.com/f
It's worth trying a BIOS reset - see page 2-18 ("CMOS Reset") make sure the power is disconnected.
It would be helpful to know when it was last working OK and if anything had happened before it stopped.
OK guys. Thank You All. 5 responses--5 things to try. Even if I canno9t fix it, at least I will narrow down what is wrong with your suggestions. I hav e a spare CPU. I have a spare PSU. Hopefully I won't have to go that far if the 1st trick by Thinkpads user works. Wwe shall see. However I may not be able to get back here until tommorrow afternoon. A family affair thisn evening and a doctor's Appt in the AM. UNLESS i get lucky before I leave today.
Thank you all again.
from Donnie's descriptions, i would have to disagree with you, The_Computer_Guy.
since processor fan spins, and optical drives open and close, and hard disks spins - the PSU can be assumed to be working properly.
now the biggest issue is "no POST"
so i would suggest open testing.
remove everything from the case, and assemble outside, on a non-conducting surface - a newspaper laid on a table works nicely!
connect the PSU to the motherboard (with the processor) - no need for RAM.
disconnect everything else like mouse, keyboard, monitor, PCI cards, graphics cards, RAID cards, etc, etc, etc
power up.
does the motherboard beep?
if it doesntbeep, its time for either a new motherboard or a new processor.....
so swap the processor with a working computer to determine whether the processor has gone bad or not, and then replace the motherboard or the processor accordingly.
hathehariken.
Ok thanks again, for a 6th suggestion. Even longer before I get back. However In do not understand how could it be the PSU if it fires up when power on button isb pushed??? And the 2 testers show things going well? Ok going to try 2 of your suggestions, then i have to go. my wife is screaming at me that we are going to be late.
Donnie, if the fan spins, that means 12 V is there
but is there 5 V ? any leds lighted? or can you measure it?
fastest test is with a new PSU as said.
but use the minimal setup for testing, to avoid 1 device shorts something :
Here my troubleshooting procedure :
clean the system from dust, then test with the minimum setup - disconnect also all peripherals and network cables :
connect only motherboard + cpu + 1 ram stick, video card, power supply
verify that the 4-pin or 8-pin CPU Aux power plug is connected
on boot, do you have a display?
if NO it is one of the connected, swap ram, Power supply, video card or monitor - leaving only motherboard and cpu
if Yes, add devices till the problem shows
you can also check the motherboard for bad capacitors as shown here : www.badcaps.net
additional tests and things to try :
boot without ram, it should beep; (also, without video card)
try bios default settings,(if possible) or clear the bios by removing AC and bios battery
renew the CPU heatpaste
Ok-- All diagnostics done as per you Experts, plus what i know myself. The Mother board is cooked!
I know the mystery is solved but I have one slight dilemma. If I replace the Mainboard, will the installation of Windows Vista be affected other than activation issues? Will I have to Reinstall the OS? I of course do not have any DVD's. Is it going to be a great big deal without any System CD/DVD's?
However I will of course have a driver disk for the new MB, but that is all. Finally, if I get a replacement MSI Motherboard, will the Front Panel connectors match up with the the sockets on the ACER M1640 Case? That is most important.. The MB can be had for $39.00, but if things do not line up because the original board is a "Specially made for Acer" OEM, then I am screwed. The case connectors are pre-molded.
The HDD appears to be intact and actually tries to boot when connected to another PC. And also iincludes all the usual options that Vista shows at Boot-time. (IE: Repair Vista-Last known good config etc, etc, etc.) Of course it will not boot in another PC, but it tries.
Thanks to all of you.
Almost done here. Just need some quick answers before I make my next move. I do not want to buy a new MB and then have to come back here.
Windows (historically) doesn't take too kindly to having new motherboards introduced. It would be easiest for you if you could find an identical model of motherboard. If not, I would suggest backing up all the data via a different computer, and formatting.
I have not tried replacing a motherboard with Vista as the pre-existing OS, but I can't imagine it would go smoothly.
Then again, after backup... What's the harm in trying?
I didn't see it mentioned, and it is kind of a long shot, but have you tried clearing CMOS?
Also:
You know, maybe you can find a new BIOS chip for the existing motherboard. I know waiting for a new chip for a "maybe" is a pain, but if you order one when you order the new mobo, you can return whichever one you don't need.
Thanks. From MASQUERAID>"It's worth trying a BIOS reset - see page 2-18 ("CMOS Reset")" It did not work for me. I am heading to the HDD in another PC to retrieve some data from his hdd, for the guy, while I wait to hear from you Experts.
THE SITUATION AS IT IS CURRENTLY:- - - - -
I have Vista Home Premium disks to do a re-installation if neccessary, but everything you just mentioned is everything I am afraid of. Mainly afraid that my Install disks will not work. I do not have a Vista VLK. Also from MASQUERAID >" The fried motherboard is an OEM variant of the MSI P6NGM-FIH ". The board mentioned above by MASQUERAID appears to be the correct one, but the MB in the Acer is definitely an MSI, proprietary OEM, to ACER. Question is, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE between the 2 boards, if ANY. Biggest fear regarding that, is the front panel connectors not lining up on the new board. Other than that, It appears they would be identical. I have really taken a long, good, hard look at that aspect. Still afraid. Still not sure. SO I wait. For the Experts.
Whole thing may be a moot issue because I can get the suggested MSI board for $39. ACER exact repacement board is $189.00 and they want the old board. The owner wants to be under $150 out-the-door. So you see why I really need this MSI replacement as opposed to the $189 ridiculously priced Acer BOARD. (It is 4.75x THE Amazon price).
I need some answers my good friend, Experts. I guess I am just looking for some reassurance that the equivalent MSI will work for me. Will it do the trick ???
Thanks and thanks again and over again.
D616
The only bump I can imagine is the mounts in the case don't fit the case, but I doubt it. Does the pic of the MSI board look like the screws will all line up?
I am guessing that the only thing that makes the ACER board any different is the proprietary stuff like the splash screen, and maybe some power management stuff.
Yes the MSI board looks exactly the same. Placement of battery, Sata connectors-Ram slots PCI-PCI Express (both) & EVERYTHING looks the same with only one exception. That is that is there is a 2ndary IDE connector on the original board. There is only a primary on the one I would love to buy.
Other difference might be the front panel connectors, but I cannot tell. The Original does not have any writing to guide with that, on the board. Also original board is intel green, but it is definitly an MSI. New board is the typical MSI red color.
It is so close that Normally. I would take a chance and go ahead and buy it anyway. However, it is such a piece of crap, in my mind, I do not even want one of those $40-&60 budget boards hanging around. When I want a board in that price range for stock, it is definitely an AMD X2 board. Sorry just my opinion.
Anyways, I believe the board is exactly (almost) the same as the original except color. AND not sure of that Front panel. Also I am finding research on this is very difficult and ACER Support is not good.
Not complaining. Just explaining. Complaining = The many hours spent on this junk to no avail. Especially the researching part. Cannot get an answer without paying for it. Except here, of course.
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by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-09-27 at 11:25:59ID: 25434881
Try the following: Unplug it. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds. Do this 3 or 4 times and the last time, hold the power button on for 30 seconds. Then plug it back in and see if it restarts. This works for some computers. ... Thinkpads_User