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bfr
Member
Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 108
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Posted: 10 Aug 2009 12:30:49 pm Post subject: |
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After being away from my home and my computer for about a week and a half, I came back yesterday and tried to turn my computer on. The lights for the computer case turn on, the fans turn on, but nothing else seems to work. The monitor, even though it is on, stays blank with the orange standby light, as if the computer were still off. I don't hear any beep codes, even though the speakers are on (the blue light on one of the speakers is on). The keyboard's lights don't come on and the CD/DVD drive won't open either. Everything is securely plugged in as far as I can tell (I even opened up the case and everything inside it seems to be plugged in), and the power cables are plugged into a surge suppressor power box, or whatever it's called.
I searched online and found that unplugging the power cable and holding the power button for a minute could help reset any electricity in the components and could possible help. I also found that taking out the RAM modules and putting them back in might help. Neither of those worked, though.
Any ideas? |
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JoeYoung
Advanced Member
Joined: 15 Nov 2008 Posts: 316
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Posted: 10 Aug 2009 01:31:21 pm Post subject: |
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A friend had this happen to him before. He unplugged the power and removed the motherboard battery for a few hours that night, leaving whatever leftover charge bleed out. This worked in his case.
Dunno what the problem is, though. You can try the above, but there's no guarantee. |
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magicdanw pcGuru()
Calc Guru
Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 1110
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Posted: 10 Aug 2009 03:53:07 pm Post subject: |
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This...exact...thing...just...happened...to...me! WTF!!! Actually, it was to my mom's computer, but w/e. I'm pretty sure that the power supply is bad, and a replacement is only $30 (for a Dell proprietary one too!), so I've already ordered one. Best of luck with your computer, bfr! |
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DigiTan Unregistered HyperCam 2
Super Elite (Last Title)
Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 4468
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Posted: 10 Aug 2009 05:58:57 pm Post subject: |
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You had it too?!!? What is this? Contagious? |
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Newbie
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Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2247
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Posted: 10 Aug 2009 06:02:50 pm Post subject: |
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bfr wrote: After being away from my home and my computer for about a week and a half, I came back yesterday and tried to turn my computer on. The lights for the computer case turn on, the fans turn on, but nothing else seems to work. The monitor, even though it is on, stays blank with the orange standby light, as if the computer were still off. I don't hear any beep codes, even though the speakers are on (the blue light on one of the speakers is on). The keyboard's lights don't come on and the CD/DVD drive won't open either. Everything is securely plugged in as far as I can tell (I even opened up the case and everything inside it seems to be plugged in), and the power cables are plugged into a surge suppressor power box, or whatever it's called.
I searched online and found that unplugging the power cable and holding the power button for a minute could help reset any electricity in the components and could possible help. I also found that taking out the RAM modules and putting them back in might help. Neither of those worked, though.
Any ideas?
I've had this issue too as well in the past. Taking out the RAM for me worked, but only if I put it in a different order than when I took it out. Don't stick the RAM back in the same way you take it out.
Last edited by Guest on 10 Aug 2009 06:03:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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benryves
Active Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 564
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Posted: 10 Aug 2009 06:46:11 pm Post subject: |
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You say the lights come on; which lights? Several motherboards report failure with lights, rather than beep codes. If the lights aren't shown on the case, they may be on the motherboard itself. |
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bfr
Member
Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 108
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Posted: 10 Aug 2009 07:23:09 pm Post subject: |
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metagross111: OK, I think I'll try that tonight too if it still isn't working by then.
magicdanw: Yeah, there could be something wrong with the power supply unit. I may try a different one if nothing else works.
Newbie: I tried all valid combinations of RAM modules in slots, and none worked. :(
benryves: I don't see any lights that are on directly on the motherboard. The only lights coming from inside/on the case are the case lights and the ethernet cable port light, if that's what you mean.
Thanks for all of the help so far. |
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Newbie
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Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2247
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Posted: 10 Aug 2009 07:42:33 pm Post subject: |
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Try your monitor on another computer to see if it still works. If so, maybe there is an issue with the video card. If you hear no beeps its hard to tell what it might be. You don't need speakers though to hear the beeps. |
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Galandros
Active Member
Joined: 29 Aug 2008 Posts: 565
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Posted: 11 Aug 2009 04:34:13 am Post subject: |
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DigiTan wrote: You had it too?!!? What is this? Contagious?
Me also but with some differences. This is quite common. I didn't expected, too.
If I unplug from electricity for a week there is a chance that my pc doesn't turn on although leds and the light on the network cable are alright. What I do is wait some time and if still doesn't work I unplug, open it and pull all cables like putting them into its places. Then it comes back from the sleepy. |
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bfr
Member
Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 108
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Posted: 11 Aug 2009 03:43:39 pm Post subject: |
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I tried using another working monitor on the computer and it still didn't work (it was easier than using the broken computer's monitor with a different computer), and messing with the cables...
Uh, while I was typing my reply here and my reply to the thread at Cemetech...
bfr at Cemetech wrote: I decided to mess around with the cables some more. Most of the power supply cables in the case seemed to be pretty stuck, but I was able to take out the one going to the optical drive and then put it back in. Somehow, after I turned the computer on, the optical drive could open and close again (the monitor still doesn't show anything, though, by the way). |
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NETWizz Byte by bit
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Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 2369
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Posted: 19 Aug 2009 09:52:20 pm Post subject: |
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Okay... What you have here is a no POST situation
Your sytem will not complete the Power On Self Test (POST). Generally, there are beep codes or status lights that tell you what may be the problem.
If there is power lights on the computer, i.e. network power light, or power indicatior light, you know the system is getting power. If when you turn it on, the fans spin but the computer never comes to life it means one of a few things.
One, it means the processor is dead (unlikely). The system will not beep.
Bad Power supply could cause the problem too.. Try another.
___________________
Minimal setup troubleshooting':
Power Supply, 1 Stick of RAM, Processor/Heatsink Mounted, Integrated Video (or video card if no Integrated video), keyboard, No drives, no expansion cards, nothing connected to USB....not even a mouse. Only output device is a monitor, and the only input is a keybaord. You are you even trying to get the system to boot into Windows; instead, you will be satisfied if you get stuff on the screen.
Teh system should POST and let you enter system setup/CMOS Setup/BIOS Setup. If it fails, you have a bad motherboard or power supply. You may wish to check for bulging capacitors. It is unlikely to be a bad processor, but this is one probelm that could prevent a POST and even the motherboard beeps.
Usually, if RAM is bad, your system should beep or work when you remove some ram.
Statistically, your motherboard is most likely to be bad than anything else, and your power supply is the second most likley culprit. |
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magicdanw pcGuru()
Calc Guru
Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 1110
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Posted: 20 Aug 2009 12:14:47 am Post subject: |
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I got a new power supply and the computer didn't change. I figure there's a good chance it's the motherboard, and its more worthwhile for my mom to just get a new computer than buy a new motherboard that might help. Better luck to you! |
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+ZERO+
Advanced Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 289
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Posted: 25 Aug 2009 01:38:49 pm Post subject: |
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There's several things you can try:
1. Reset the the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery
2. Try another Power Supply
3. Try booting bare bones (processor, power supply, ram, integrated graphics, hard drive) only
Something is making POST fail. Once you find what is making POST fail you will be able to replace and move on. |
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