Argh, something died. :(

ScribeOfTheNile · n00b Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 45

Hi all,

Just ran into a hardware(?) problem, but I really have no idea what to do now.

To start with, I got my graphics card in the mail earlier today. NVIDIA GeForce 4, Ti4200, and it worked fine (easier to setup on Gentoo than windows, too.

) Later, I shutdown, turned the power off at the wall, and fixed the mess of entwined molex and IDE cables. Then I turned it back on. No system beep, no mouse, keyboard or picture on monitor. I tried removing the card and plugging the monitor back into intergrated graphics, yet still nothing. I tried two other monitors, but with no effect. Fans and cold cathode are running as usual, and I haven't detected any odd smoke.

Does anyone have any idea on how to pinpoint the problem, or confirm X is fried, or anything else?

Thanks,
Michael
(BTW, yes, I do have lots of un-backedup data.

)

z3ro · Apprentice Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 261

You could have killed something what static electricity, perhaps.

ScribeOfTheNile · n00b Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 45

I was careful to earth myself regularly...perhaps it wasn't good enough.

dsd · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:00 pm Post subject:

you could try unplugging everything you don't need (network cards, hard disks, ...) and seeing if you can get any life at all out of a "bare-bones" system
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ScribeOfTheNile · n00b Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 45

Thanks for the reply. I removed everything bar ram, cpu and HSF, but made no difference.

miseiler · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 118

Okay, start by unplugging everything except for RAM, CPU, HSF...and make sure there is a regular PC speaker plugged into the board correctly. Make sure all molex connectors and IDE connectors are unplugged.

Boot. No beep? Remove all RAM. Boot. Beep? It's your RAM. If...

No beep still (just CPU/HSF now). Clear the CMOS. No jumper? Take off the battery, unplug the machine for 15 seconds or until the capacitors audibly discharge. Replace battery, try again. Still no beep...

You're SURE power is flowing (fans working, etc) and your PC speaker works...it's one of three things: 1) Your CPU, 2) Your Board, 3) Your PSU.

Next step is to remove the HSF. Anything brown? How about heat bubbles? Cracks in the die? Did the heat-conductive goop get far away from the die, indicating it was so hot it turned to liquid and ran off? If so, did it run over your L# bridges? These are all indications of CPU failure due to heat problems. If the thermal grease ran all over the place, scrape it off and try again. Anything of the other conditions, or if that doesn't work, get a new CPU. Preferably a new HSF, too.

None of these? It *MIGHT* be your PSU, more likely it's your CPU (without obvious damage) or it *MIGHT* be your board (more likely than PSU problems). I only suggest trying the PSU next because many people have an extra one they can try. If not, still...

You've narrowed it down to your CPU and your board. In all likelyhood, it's your CPU. 99% of the time, I'd just grab a new CPU and try it, banking on the statistical improbability of board failure. If you've got another place you can stick your CPU to test, go for it. If you've got another CPU to test in your board, go for it. Replace the b0rked part, and you're on your way.

Hope that helps.
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Rainmaker · Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 12:01 am Post subject:

Press "insert" or "delete" (depends on your BIOS) while turning on. Keep it pressed for something like 10 seconds. this is to make the BIOS reset to favctory defaults. Worth a try...

PS also try page up
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ScribeOfTheNile · n00b Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 45

Well, after a fight with the guy that sold it to me, it was rather faulty. Oh well, my new mobo supports sata.

Thanks for all your help.