SpencerKarnovski
asked on
PC will not boot - after shutting down fine.
Hi.
I have never, ever, had this happen before. But I'm fixing a clients PC - the PC had a faulty memory module whereby the PC would not boot - and produced a long beeeeeeep .... beeeeeeeep... error code.
I change the memory module to a work module. I cleaned out temp file, defrag'ed, run disk checker etc.. The PC was in working order last night. So I shut down, took the PC round the clients house today - and nothing. The is no signal going to the monitor. There are no HD sounds. There is no fault, error noise. You cannot shut the PC down by holding the power button in. You have to pull the plug. Basically the PC is dead and not giving me any signs what-so-ever is the cause. It was perfectly fine last night when I shut down.
I did not remove, open up or do anything to the PC - just took it round the clients and it will not start.
I have tried changing power leads, even taking all memory out - hoping to hear a error on boot. Nope, nothing.
Any ideas? I would have thought some kind of ESD, or something just blown the motherboard (even though it was working perfectly last night, and I have not been inside the unit). It just appears as if the motherboard has died, for now reason, last night.
I have never, ever, had this happen before. But I'm fixing a clients PC - the PC had a faulty memory module whereby the PC would not boot - and produced a long beeeeeeep .... beeeeeeeep... error code.
I change the memory module to a work module. I cleaned out temp file, defrag'ed, run disk checker etc.. The PC was in working order last night. So I shut down, took the PC round the clients house today - and nothing. The is no signal going to the monitor. There are no HD sounds. There is no fault, error noise. You cannot shut the PC down by holding the power button in. You have to pull the plug. Basically the PC is dead and not giving me any signs what-so-ever is the cause. It was perfectly fine last night when I shut down.
I did not remove, open up or do anything to the PC - just took it round the clients and it will not start.
I have tried changing power leads, even taking all memory out - hoping to hear a error on boot. Nope, nothing.
Any ideas? I would have thought some kind of ESD, or something just blown the motherboard (even though it was working perfectly last night, and I have not been inside the unit). It just appears as if the motherboard has died, for now reason, last night.
askurat1
It would have to be the motherboard. Maybe try changing the power supply but it's probably the motherboard.
ASKER
I most likely have to agree. But how in the hell could this have happened. I shut down the PC last night, it was fine. Then today it will not boot. Could it be the memory module. A PC will not boot without memory? Or would BIOS still load?
Spencer,
Look at the motherboard for Blown Capacitors. (Bulges on capacitors that shouldn't be there.)
If seen they are readily repaired and inexpensively.
You can also try a power supply tester to see if it is bad as previous poster mentioned.
Look at the motherboard for Blown Capacitors. (Bulges on capacitors that shouldn't be there.)
If seen they are readily repaired and inexpensively.
You can also try a power supply tester to see if it is bad as previous poster mentioned.
MB or PSU as the others have mentioned. Just wanted to answer your question. A PC will power up without memory and will give error beeps. It will not load video onto the screen without memory installed.
ASKER
Just checked the MB for blown Caps, nope. The motherboard does power on, there is power going to the GPU - there does not seem to be any power going to the HD, even though I'm using the same plug on the DVD drive, which works.
When booting the PC at the clients there was a solid orange light just about the power light on the front of the unit - which is not on now.
Questions:
Would I be able to get into BIOS, or would there be some graphic image if the HD has failed? If the HD has failed, suddenly (got to be the worst thing ever!) then there would be no image. But BIOS would still load, I would just get the "No hard drive found" issue.
I'll try resetting the CMOS. This is freaking me out. PC was fine last night, shut down and today its dead. Is there anything I can do to induce a motherboard error, would like to hear a beep or something.
When booting the PC at the clients there was a solid orange light just about the power light on the front of the unit - which is not on now.
Questions:
Would I be able to get into BIOS, or would there be some graphic image if the HD has failed? If the HD has failed, suddenly (got to be the worst thing ever!) then there would be no image. But BIOS would still load, I would just get the "No hard drive found" issue.
I'll try resetting the CMOS. This is freaking me out. PC was fine last night, shut down and today its dead. Is there anything I can do to induce a motherboard error, would like to hear a beep or something.
You really don't need an error to tell you anything. If you don't get a bios screen then it is obviously not the hard drive.
Solid amber light also means a bad mobo.
ASKER
Yeh agreed askurat - so very strange though. Have you ever booted down a PC, which was working totally fine - then the next time you boot up, MB is dead?
Maybe an indication that the motherboard was going bad, was the issue with the memory module.
Maybe an indication that the motherboard was going bad, was the issue with the memory module.
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ASKER
Ok, thanks Ask and Kad, lots of help. Never had this happen before. But will get back to you before I assigned well deserved points.
one other piece of advice for you is to check your rear I/O shield and make sure it's touching your ports with the grounding leads. Also check and make sure all of your screws are tight. If you don't have a good ground your system can fail as well. I've had this happen before.
the Power supply, as already mention, could be the problem. However, not everyone has an extra power supply laying around for testing. If you are repairing computers, you should have a multimeter. Follow these instructions. http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ht/power-supply-test-multimeter.htm Testing this first will be your cheapest start.
Try Using different SMPS.....
ASKER
Helpful.