Computer won't even cut on - Calling smart people

Abscissa081

Abscissa081

240
Abscissa081
antirice081
Okay, well we have a Compaq from a few years ago. It's been in the same place for years and has always ran fine. I play Half Life 2, Insurgency, and some other random games on it. Well, a recently got a TV with a VGA in port, so I decided to hook the computer up to the TV (I'm on my macbook now, which doesn't have VGA out). So I turn it off, unplug it and carry it to my room. Sit it down, hook it all up and press the power button - nothing happens. I take the side of the case off and look inside. I took the power switch panel/LED lights off the front and pressed the button with no success. I don't know a lot about computers or what to try now. I can take pictures if needed. I just want to know what to try. I also unplugged the power switch from the motherboard and plugged it back in, did nothing. There are 2 green LEDs that stay on even when it's unplugged (one on the power supply, i think and one in the ethernet port). They flash faster when it's plugged in.

Any ideas on what I should try? Videos/Pictures can be provided.
 
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Hm. Need to know more about the situation, but two things I can suggest, one of which would require you to snap a picture of the motherboard.

1. Try a hard reset; unplug the power cable from the back of the PSU, remove the battery from the motherboard and leave it that way for 30-45 seconds.

2. (What would require said picture) clear the CMOS data.
 
Said pictures are coming, will edit the post in no more than 10 minutes. By the battery idea, you mean just fully unplug everything and take the little battery out of the motherboard (like a buttoncell or whatever it's called?)

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Abscissa081/DSC_1301.jpg
http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Abscissa081/DSC_1302.jpg
http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Abscissa081/DSC_1303.jpg

I don't know exactly what you need to see...I will take better, brighter, closer pictures if needed.

Also, what more about the situation do you need to know? More info can be supplied i guess.
 
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.....Have you looked inside the computer? And it is relatively clean, no dust or dirt whatsoever? Sometimes if the computer has been in the same place for years it can accumulate dust and dirt. Then if you move the computer the dust and dirt can become dislodged and short out the motherboard (worst case) or just interfere with the workings of the computer until it gets cleared away (best case).

I just wonder if a cable has come undone on the motherboard that connects the power on switch. Alternatively, unplugging the power supply unit and turning the computer on would drain the power that was left on the motherboard rather fast. This can be useful sometimes....but is often used before you work inside the computer itself.
 
See above post, if you didn't. I have looked inside of it, it'd not too bad on dust. I tried taking the little battery out for a few mins and putting it back in. and trying. No luck.
 
Can you take a picture of the very bottom of the board, I can see a bit of it in the first and third pictures but I can't really place where the CMOS switch is.

Are the DIMM's (RAM) seated properly? Looks like one of the notches aren't secured to the rightmost stick. Are you sure the PSU still works properly? If you want to make sure, remove the ATX connector and short out the ground and power pins with a paper clip.

Make sure the PSU is either switched off (if there's an onboard switch) or unplugged before doing so.


-------------------------

Worse case scenario: Could you have possibly discharged something?
 
Is the RAM seated properly? From the pictures it looks like the third RAM (away from the processor) has the plastic bracket thing "open" rather than in the closed position. Sometimes if a RAM is not seated properly or gets dislodged, it can interfere with the start-up process. Which can be rather frustrating.

(To check if it is not the RAM that is doing the problem, you will need to fault find the problem. Try it with two RAM sticks. Then one RAM sticks. Then one of each RAM sticks just to make sure they're all in working condition. Then reseat them all back together. If you are out of ideas, this can be something to start off with.)

The power cables and all are all connected to the computer properly? The power supply does not have a 110V and 230V switch? That's not been touched? Well, you would know if you accidently flicked it as it tends to explode...loudly. Sometimes you may need to jump it, rather than switch it on....but we will tell you that later.
 
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If its an older motherboard, the CMOS might not be a switch but a jumper with 3 or 4 prongs sticking up. It should be labelled CMOS RESET or something to that effect. There will be a little plastic cover on the first 2 prongs. Move it to the other prongs that are available, leave it there for 30 seconds or so then move it back.
 
Acheron79
If its an older motherboard, the CMOS might not be a switch but a jumper with 3 or 4 prongs sticking up. It should be labelled CMOS RESET or something to that effect. There will be a little plastic cover on the first 2 prongs. Move it to the other prongs that are available, leave it there for 30 seconds or so then move it back.
Click to expand...

I call 'em both switches, but you're absolutely right.

Look for a green jumper, if there are two, look for the one labeled as Acheron has mentioned.
 
http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Abscissa081/DSC_1308.jpg
http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz157/Abscissa081/DSC_1307.jpg

There are 2 high res shots of the bottom of the motherboard.

There is a 115/230 switch on the back. It's on the 115 visible side. And yes the RAM doesn't seem to seem be seated properly. It's there very tight and wont go in any further, I think it's been like that for quite some time. It won't snap in. I can take those 2 out as they were added later and seem to be some cheap korean stuff lol.


Oh! I found the little CMOS thing, as Acheron said, it has 4 prongs two covered. So you want me to take the cover off, and move it to the other two. Should I plug it in or not? It is covered up by the black chord, you can see the blue plastic cover in pic 1307 at the bottom right.
 
No keep it unplugged. Moved the jumper to the other 2 prongs, and leave it for 30 seconds like I said. Move it back and see what happens.
 
You need to keep it unplugged because you'll get a risk of a nasty electric shock. Luckily, I've not been shocked before, but they're nasty ones (Seen them before).
 
Nothing happened with the CMOS clear thingy.

Nothing happened with disconnecting the loose RAM either. I'm wondering if maybe like the power switch went back, any way to figure that out? Where the power connecter wires connect to the MB, it has words under it that say "PWR" "LED" "PWR" "BTN" (I'm guessing Power, LED, Power, Button) I'm not smart so bare with me, lol, if I bridge the two PWR prongs together with like a wire maybe it would act as the switch? Same thing as completing a simple circuit or whatever.
 
Abscissa081
Uhh, no? The computer was on, and was running fine. I shut it down normally and moved it then it wouldn't cut back on. What was I supposed/not supposed to smell?
Click to expand...

My desktop acted the same thing at one point though I started to smell that something like Walnuts...though I replaced the power outlet and it wasn't that. It was my motherboard. The Power surge protector didn't even protect against anything T-T.
 
Not supposed to smell any burning at all. Or anything that had an electronic smell (for a want of a better word).

Well, jumping is basically having a screwdriver on the prongs that the "power switch on" stuff is located. Or the Reset button prongs.

It strangely seems that your motherboard is dead, but that's can't be the problem....There's no whirring or anything at all from other areas of the computer? (hard drives?)

You have brought it all the way back up to the original place it was in now?

ninja edit: Test the PSU. That's a requirement now
 
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Terronium-12
I'd suggest testing your PSU to see if it's operable at this point.


Click to expand...

How do I go about doing that? You said something earlier but I was lost on that (something about a paperclip?)

The only sound it makes, Sub, is the LED on the back of the power supply is making a click noise everytime it flashes. The computer will not cut on is basically the bottom line.
 
Submerged
Not supposed to smell any burning at all. Or anything that had an electronic smell (for a want of a better word).

Well, jumping is basically having a screwdriver on the prongs that the "power switch on" stuff is located. Or the Reset button prongs.

It strangely seems that your motherboard is dead, but that's can't be the problem....There's no whirring or anything at all from other areas of the computer? (hard drives?)

You have brought it all the way back up to the original place it was in now?

ninja edit: Test the PSU. That's a requirement now
Click to expand...

I trashed it a long time ago and sold the parts.
 
Abscissa081
How do I go about doing that? You said something earlier but I was lost on that (something about a paperclip?)

The only sound it makes, Sub, is the LED on the back of the power supply is making a click noise everytime it flashes. The computer will not cut on is basically the bottom line.
Click to expand...

Make sure there's no power surging, first off. Kill the power by either removing the power cord or turning it off via the onboard switch (if it has one). Secondly, remove the ATX power connector (what's connected the motherboard) and insert a paper clip into the power lead (green wire) and any of the ground leads (black wires), once that's done restore the power and if it comes on (the fan will start up) you can eliminate the PSU as a problem.
 
Abscissa081
How do I go about doing that? You said something earlier but I was lost on that (something about a paperclip?)

The only sound it makes, Sub, is the LED on the back of the power supply is making a click noise everytime it flashes. The computer will not cut on is basically the bottom line.
Click to expand...

Sounds similar to what happened to one of my computers here, the power supply unit did click to try and power the computer but because the motherboard decided to die a quiet death and not work whatsoever, it never turned on. So it never worked. I do have another computer that has a noisy "on" procedure, sounds like it's exploding at times, but it has been doing that for years now and still works.

You have definately checked out the RAM slots? When you said the third one has been like that for years and never fitted properly....I don't think RAMs are supposed to be like that. I would take that one out and not have it inside, just to eliminate that possibility.

To test a PSU, you would require another motherboard that works and just plug it into that motherboard itself. If you do not have another motherboard....then that's going to be tricky to diagnose. Do you have another PSU that you can use?
 
Submerged
Sounds similar to what happened to one of my computers here, the power supply unit did click to try and power the computer but because the motherboard decided to die a quiet death and not work whatsoever, it never turned on. So it never worked. I do have another computer that has a noisy "on" procedure, sounds like it's exploding at times, but it has been doing that for years now and still works.

You have definately checked out the RAM slots? When you said the third one has been like that for years and never fitted properly....I don't think RAMs are supposed to be like that. I would take that one out and not have it inside, just to eliminate that possibility.

To test a PSU, you would require another motherboard that works and just plug it into that motherboard itself. If you do not have another motherboard....then that's going to be tricky to diagnose. Do you have another PSU that you can use?
Click to expand...

The RAM (the 2 aftermarket ones) have been removed. I don't have another mother board or anything. I never have built computers (don't use them enough, but it would be beneficial in price and performance I guess). But I think it's odd for it to die for no reason. It ran fine for years and had been shut down and moved before. :indiff:

Edit, I'm still confused what you mean by test the PSU? Just stick a paper clip into the connector green wire hole thing and the ground wires? What does that prove?
 
If you put a paper clip connecting the green wire to any black wires will start the power supply(to check to see if it works or not). Make sure you disconnect the motherboard power(the cable with 20 or 24 wires attached) cable when you do this. If it works then you have a different problem(such as a dead motherboard and you can get that replaced). But if the power supply does not kick on then it's a bad power supply and will need to be replaced.
 
Even if the fan is working I would the use a DMM and check the voltages that the PSU is putting out. The power supply not working would be the easiest thing to replace. A Digital Multi meter doesn't cost a lot BTW. One of these.
http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/digital.htm
This one is only $9
m810bm.jpg
 
Abscissa081
Just stick a paper clip into the connector green wire hole thing and the ground wires? What does that prove?
Click to expand...
It shorts out the power supply controller. Then fans in the supply will spin. It says the power supply might or might not be the problem. Just as reliable is to go buy a new supply right now and install it. It will tell you the same thing.

Now, it is a Compaq. That means four status LED are somewhere on the machine (back panel?) I could tell you so much more had you posted the model number. And I could have posted all that information without speculation if you had measured six wires with a multimeter (a tool sold in most any store that also sells hammers - for less money than a good hammer).

One minute to measure the numbers. And the next reply could spend maybe five minutes describing the many items that are or are not causing your failure. Including power cord, memory, switch, loose wire, etc. Without hard facts (numbers), then the only replies will be more 'try this' or 'maybe that'.

Either status LEDs or a multimeter mean a useful reply in the very next post. No more 'it could be' answers. IOW your replies will only be as useful as the facts you provide. You provide three things - model numbers, status LEDs, and multimeter numbers. Then you next reply defines the suspect AND why that failure happened.
 
Power supply works. Fan is running with the paperclip idea!

This is a old machine, the model is SR1750NX i think.

But now I guess we are down to a motherboard issue?

I see no status LEDs on the back...I think we have a old ass multimeter somewhere, see if I can't go dig it outta the garage.
 

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