Computer fails to boot

Computer doesn't boot Guys - I'm hoping someone can help me troubleshoot my son's desktop. It was self built in 2009 with the following spec and if this is in the wrong forum please let me know: Case: Cooler Master Centurion 5 Motherboard: NVidia Geforce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 512MB PCIe Power Supply: 400CX 400W Corsair Processor: AMD Phenom 8650 2.3Ghz RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) Hard Drive: Western WD640 SATA OS: Windows XP It's just stopped working. After pressing the 'on' switch, the computer lights up, whirrs a bit, the CD light flashes, the monitor starts up, the lights on the keyboard flash but after a few seconds it just dies. Can anyone help me start to figure this out? Many thanks

The first thing I would do is swap in a known good power supply (or get that one professionally tested). While it does appear the supply is putting out 12V, it needs to supply +5VDC and +3.3VDC too. If your CPU/motherboard are not receiving the necessary voltages, you often get the symptoms you describe. Swapping supplies also provides an opportunity to check all power connections. If the second PSU gives the same results, then deeper digging is required. It could be a failed CPU, RAM, motherboard, graphics, or more - - which makes troubleshooting this type problem a chore. But since everything else depends on good power, that's where to start.

Here's an up date, I bought a new PSU, hooked it up and it's exactly the same. I'd had advice that it may be a worn out graphics card so we disconnected the monitor and attached a different monitor to the video out port on the motherboard and that had no signal at all. Does that give any clues?

Well, sorry the PSU did not correct the problem. I was hoping you could swap in a spare or borrow one from a friend before spending money.

A bad graphics card typically does not prevent a computer from booting - you just can't see what is happening.

Sadly, it now points to something more serious but even worse, without spare parts to swap in, it is very difficult to determine if the problem is the motherboard, or something connected to it, like the CPU, or RAM.

If me, I would disconnect anything not needed, including all drives, all but one stick of RAM, and any USB devices besides the keyboard and mouse and boot. It "should" boot the motherboard, make it past POST (power on self-test) then halt when it cannot find a boot drive.

Note there is no shame in taking it to a shop at this point as most users, even knowledgeable users, don't have the necessary spare parts they are willing to sacrifice for testing. Just be sure tell them you have swapped power supplies, and tried different monitors.

I fear, unfortunately, the motherboard took a hit.

Do make sure the CPU fan is properly connected. Does it spin a bit when you hit the power? The BIOS, if it does not detect a failed (or missing) CPU fan will shut down the system as a protective measure.

Well, sorry the PSU did not correct the problem. I was hoping you could swap in a spare or borrow one from a friend before spending money.

A bad graphics card typically does not prevent a computer from booting - you just can't see what is happening.

Sadly, it now points to something more serious but even worse, without spare parts to swap in, it is very difficult to determine if the problem is the motherboard, or something connected to it, like the CPU, or RAM.

If me, I would disconnect anything not needed, including all drives, all but one stick of RAM, and any USB devices besides the keyboard and mouse and boot. It "should" boot the motherboard, make it past POST (power on self-test) then halt when it cannot find a boot drive.

Note there is no shame in taking it to a shop at this point as most users, even knowledgeable users, don't have the necessary spare parts they are willing to sacrifice for testing. Just be sure tell them you have swapped power supplies, and tried different monitors.

I fear, unfortunately, the motherboard took a hit.

Do make sure the CPU fan is properly connected. Does it spin a bit when you hit the power? The BIOS, if it does not detect a failed (or missing) CPU fan will shut down the system as a protective measure.

Hi, don't worry about the PSU expense. I can return it or I may just use it in the next build (my own computer is from 2004)

I've tried unhooking everything I can think of but I'll give that another go.

Yes the CPU fan spins.

I think everyone should have a spare. Connect a PSU Tester to it and it becomes a simple test supply for fans and drive motors, etc.

Sorry I am not of further help.

ok I removed the video card and tried again, the monitor worked through the onboard video. But the result was the same, fans spinning but no booting. So far I know it wasn't the power supply or the video card. I'm going to hook up an internal speaker and see if there any beeps that may help me figure out the faulty part.

I was going to ask if you heard any beeps.

ok I removed the video card and tried again, the monitor worked through the onboard video. But the result was the same, fans spinning but no booting.
So far I know it wasn't the power supply or the video card.

Do note that most motherboards and many graphics cards require additional power connections besides the large 20/24 pin main motherboard connection.

The saga continues: I plugged in an internal speaker (actually there was a wire already connected to the motherboard but it seemed not to be working). When I tried to start the computer the there were no beeps. The text appeared asking if I wanted to start windows in safe mode or normally or with command prompt etc. Whatever choice I made it went to the windows loading screen and just hung there. There were no beeps from the new internal speaker. I then removed all RAM and on powering up there was a long beep (20 secs) a one second gap and another long beep (continuous I believe). Inserting a RAM stick returned the computer to the original problem operation (fans spinning but not booting). Does that tell me anything? Thanks

thanks for the help guys, it was the motherboard, all is well now

Hi guys, thanks for all the help in June this year. I'm afraid the problem is returned. If you recall I replaced the PSU, then the motherboard and the computer worked for about 6 months. Now however it's doing the same thing. On pressing the power button fans spin, it whirrs a bit and then just stops. Occasionallly it will boot but after a while it stops for no aparent reason. I'v scoured th inside for loose connections and looked for shorts but can't see anyhting.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks

Hi

 Again its worth trying the steps outlined by Digerati,

 

If no joy then we need to try and establish if its likely a hardware issue or an operating system/software problem.

 

One way of starting up is to try and boot to a bootable disc, Linux Puppy is good,( you may have to set the BIOS boot priority to boot first from optical disc CD/DVD and then second from the harddrive. 

 

With the Linux Puppy  disc in the CD tray exit the Bios (saving the changes to boot priority) and the computer should boot into Puppy (follow onscreen directions as to language keyboard etc.,)

 

Puppy will run happily within RAM ( dont try and install it on your computer) just run it from the CD and in RAM

 

Post back if you need instructions on how to download and burn a bootable Linux Puppy disc.

 

Give your machine a good workout with Puppy, you will be able to look at your photos, documents etc… your hard drive will probably be called sda1 by Puppy and rememeber only one click to open stuff in Linux (no double clicking!)

Post back and let us know how you get on….

Regards

paws

yes please paws, I think I do need instructions on how to download and burn. I did go to the web site but it was confusing. Thanks

Hi Spiny Norman,

If you want to use Puppy then here's my "canned" words on how to go ahead: The Linux Puppy Live distro is a very useful tool, that is in constant use in the workshop, but for a home user it has 3 main uses:

In explanation, Linux Puppy Live distro is a self contained operating system that runs in memory from a CD…..or even a thumb drive if you are crafty (That's what the "Live" bit means), so it doesn't need Windows at all, IE no need for a working copy of Windows XP, Vista or any earlier version of Windows. It is in effect an alternative to Windows and also has the advantage of being free (quite legally). Because Windows is fitted to the majority of PC's, folks are often unaware that there are different operating systems available….one of the advantages of Linux is that it is issued free under a general licence unlike so

me other operating systems (like Windows or Mac's) that are charged for by their developers.

1 If a machine won’t boot, then we need to know first off, if its a hardware problem. or an operating system (Windows) problem…..if it is hardware then there's no need for us to spend time trying to alter Windows settings……. so first we try to boot from the Linux Live Puppy disc (altering the boot priority in the BIOS if necessary to facilitate this) if the machine works perfectly under Linux then we can be reasonably sure that the hardware is OK and so we start looking at the Windows operating system to try and identify the problem so that we can fix it.

2 If a machine won't boot into Windows even in safe mode, It can be a very worrying time.
For Example
When the machine won't boot up, no matter what you do and you realise that all your important stuff, (music, photos, work, address books and contact lists, emails, downloaded programs and all your Microsoft Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, data bases PowerPoint presentations and all the rest perhaps including the only draft of the book you have spent the last 3 years researching and the writing of your PhD thesis) have all disappeared………… then we can try to boot into Live Puppy, mount the hard drive (Live Puppy does this automatically) and copy off the data to safe external media (its surprising that despite everything that has been written about the need for back ups, so few folks actually have an up to date accurate and reproducible back up of all their important stuff kept safe on removable media…… When copying off stuff using Puppy, there are only 2 things to remember:
A. Make sure your external hard drive (the location where you will save the stuff you copy off) is plugged in and powered up (if necessary) before booting into Puppy. This way it will be easy for Puppy to "see" your external hard drive.
B. You will be able to recognise both your Windows hard drive and your External hard drive by the "size" that Puppy reports. Some folks find it easier to copy things off by opening a window for your hard drive and also your external hard drive so you can see them both then just drag and drop the files between them.
(NOTE)
only drag and drop One Folder at a time. (if you try and copy more than one folder at a time you will give the poor Puppy indigestion! As soon as you have copied one folder across sucessfully its OK to copy the next one and so on.

Linux Puppy backup
Back up when you can't boot into Windows
A.) Please take the opportunity now to bring your back up/archive/copy of all your important stuff 100% up to date, check that it's accurate, reproducible and held securely on removable media (not your hard drive)……
the idea here is to ensure that all your important data, files, spreadsheets, work, music, emails, log in details, user names, address book, drivers, letters, invoices, videos etc….in fact everything that is important to you (stuff that you would not like to permanently lose) is kept safe on external media. I recommend the use of a USB external hard drive for this.
Whilst you are doing this, collect together all your application installation discs (or downloaded installation executables) serial numbers, product licence keys (including the one for Windows itself and the Microsoft Windows installation disc and or Manufacturer's Restore and Driver/utilities discs.
If you have made a "disc image" using Paragon, Acronis, Ghost or one of the free disc imaging alternatives then keep this image safe also on removable media, verify it for correctness and reproducibility and ensure you have made a bootable CD/DVD for use in the event that Windows will not start.

Now, here's the detailed instructions on how to do it:
B.) Download Linux Puppy from here:
http://puppylinux.org/main/Overview%20and%…g%20Started.htm
Its a download of only about 100MB, so a broadband connection is advisable for the download… Puppy is an alternative operating system….. it does not need Windows to run, and the licence to use it is free of charge and comes included automatically. It is different in its interface from Windows, but sufficiently intuitive for most folks to use it successfully without problem.
C.) Burn the iso (that you have downloaded) to CD ROM as an "image"…it must be as an image, a copy will not work!……..Imgburn is good for this, available from here:
http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
D.) Switch on your "original" computer and Set Bios to Boot from CD as first priority…on most Dells it's F2 to enter the Bios (set up) otherwise try F12, Esc or Del.NOTE you will need to press the appropriate key (to enter the Bios) immediately after power on.
Your hard drive should be next in priority followed by USB/network if the settings provide these options. Remember to save your altered settings in the Bios before exiting
E.) With your external back up media plugged in to a USB port I.E. External USB hard drive, flash drive etc and the Linux Puppy CD ROM inserted into the CD drive, close down your machine and:
F.) Boot from the CD, you may get a message to "press any key to continue booting from CD" so allow this, Now follow the on-screen Linux Puppy prompts (remember don't install it) let it run in memory, it will be quite happy doing so, and will allow you access to your Hard drive so you can copy off to your external media anything you need. You will soon get used to Puppy and you'll find that you will be able to use the Internet and do most things that you want to do. However as you need to back up your files, I suggest you concentrate on copying off your important stuff first.

QUOTE

Will they be Linux files or still Windows when they arrive on the external HD?

They will be your files, exactly as they were on the computer's original internal hard drive, so you don't have to do anything (apart from scan them with multiple virus scanners until you are completely sure that they are clear of infection) . You can use them normally when you have reinstalled the operating system on your computer. They will not be "Linux" files. just your own files.

3 Puppy is a useful tool to keep for the future and also a super way of becoming familiar with a different operating system…….without making any changes to the hard drive..that might affect Windows…its a way of learning and experimenting and finding out information in a no risk, or at least low risk way.

There's lots of other things, but hopefully, the above will give you the idea.

 

If you find you cant get Puppy to run then its indicating one of two things

1 You are are doing it wrong…

or 2

There is a hardware fault that is likely preventing your computer from starting….. 

 

In any event it should indicate the area where we need to next focus our attention.

Regards
paws