Dark Jedi

The issue: computer went into stand by/hibernation and does not restart. The PS and CPU fans run, but there is no response from any I/O device (blank screen, no mouse/keyboard response, no drives open or make any sound, including HDD).

Some background: This computer was left on for several days over a vacation when I thought it was off. I returned to find it in stand by/hiberanation (do not recall the settings).
Moving the mouse/using keyboard keys do nothing (keyboard lights are on, both work on other machines, other keyboards/mice do not do anything on this machine).
CD/DVD drives do not open or respond, placing a diskette in the drive does nothing, placing a flashdrive in the USB port does nothing.
Screen is blank (except that it says it's working and to check the computer and/or connection - then it goes back to sleep). Another monitor just stays blank, this monitor works on another machine.
HDD LED is on steady, but HDD makes no sound (like all other devices).
The PS has no 1/0 switch, however, I can unplug the machine. If I unplug it, no matter how long, the fans simply start when I plug it back in and nothing responds.
Removing the battery does not help.
There were no storms, etc., during this time and the machine is connected to a good power surge protector. It was also not particularly warm during this period, the room probably remained in the low 70s.

Ideas?

Underclocker

What power supply are you running? Also, what motherboard, graphics card, etc.?

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Dark Jedi

It's an ATX 250 PS, it's fan runs as does the CPU fan connected to the mobo. I checked the PS with a multimeter, there is output. I do not know the mobo brand - trying to figure that out (it's an emachines computer). It has a built in video card. This system is used for very basic computing (word processing, internet access) in an elementary school lab. In the orginal post I forgot to mention that the power on light is not on, only the HDD light.

Madcatz

first thing I would do is try another power supply in it.

Dark Jedi

Funny you should mention that, Madcat, I just did. No difference - fans run, nothing else responds. I also hooked up a different hard drive, just to see of there would be a response - none.

Madcatz

ok, next step, unhook all devices from the motherboard, as in IDE/SATA cables, any PCI cards, USB port plug ins (well as long as they are one plug and not a connector for every little wire) only thing you want hooked up is video, memory, PSU connector on mobo and processor. see if that does anything for you.

if not also try swapping out memory, take a stick out and try it, move the stick left in to another slot and try it, then swap the sticks and do the same thing. all else fails, take all memory out and power it on and see if you get three beeps from the mobo.

Dark Jedi

We seem to be on the same page Madcatz. When everything is disconnected from the motherboard, there is a friendly single beep and lights on the DVD & CD drives come on and they will open. I can also hear that it checks the a: drive if i put a diskette in there. However, the HDD makes no sound, and the monitor is still blank and goes back to sleep. Note that the HDD light is off because its wire is disconnected from the mobo. I completely removed the RAM stick and plugged in again - no beeps of any kind, good or bad. Placed the stick in the other slot, and got the same result as before. I'm looking around for a spare stick that would fit this machine, but I bet we don't have one. This machine was donated, we have lots of spare parts for our older machines. And, since this machine was donated, we do not have the CDs that came with it, although I may be able to contact the guy and see if he still has them (doubtful, and I don't even know how long it has been).

I am not a great diagnostician, and originally posted this in the Windows XP forum because I believed it to have something to do with the standby mode. I still think that's a possibility, the post got moved here. I also still think it may be the video card (also looking around here for a compatible one) or, worst case, the motherboard.

Thanks for your help Madcatz. With what I have told you, what direction would you point me in? (The school is not going to spend significant money to fix a donated machine. If it were the PS, we have spares, and they might spring for a video card or memory stick, but not a new mobo. I just feel sorry for the who was doing a PP project for Grandparent's Day and lost his stuff and it's next week. )

Madcatz

so did unhooking things make it seem like it was going to work but no video? from what you said, thats what it sounds like, that it starting doing more than what it was to begin with.

it really sounds like its the mobo, no video still and no beeps with no memory, but it gives a single beep when the memory is in? interesting, but it may not beep with no memory, rare but some mobos are like that /shrug

but I'd agree with you, trying another video card/memory would be my next step, but try it with another PSU hooked up, one that you know works, just to eliminate the possibility of multiple hardware failures.

Dark Jedi

It did seem like it was going to work - at least some things responded in some way. However, neither the HDD nor the monitor made any indication of response. The beep thing is strange - it should alarm with no memory, but doesn't, yet with everything disconnected it gives one friendly beep. I know I'm stubborn, but I am still not convinced it's not a windows power management issue.

dai

connect one device extra at a time until you lose the post beep to try and isolate if one device is causing the problem
see if you can borrow a 450w to try in it

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Dark Jedi

I started that yesterday, Dai, but haven't finished. Will try to get to it today. I don't think we have a big PSU laying around, but we do have some 250s (which is what it has). I did try a different 250 and there was no change.

The problem I have with trying a different video card is a driver issue. I can't install drivers because of the access issue (keyboard and monitor don't respond), and I know how fickle video cards and mobos can be. I'm going to try it anyway, but I'm not optimistic. And since that HDD light stays on steady but the drive itself gives no hint of response, I'm leaning toward it being an HDD issue - although the funny thing there is that the other drives respond when not connected to the mobo. Finally, I'm not sure that friendly beep is a POST beep (although I don't know what else it would be). I really don't believe the machine is shut down, but is in standby and that's why the fans run. The power appears to be on.

Madcatz

well, the thing to rmember about this is first, your not even getting into windows yet, so anything with windows won't have to do with the problem, 2nd, drivers arn't an issue atm either again since your not even getting into windows.

but if your still not getting any video after pushing the power button with only the PSU, motherboard, memory, and video hooked up to the system, the problem will be with one of those components. Thats the purpose of trying other components, to narrow down and see which one is causing the problem. but its imporant to leave everything unhooked from the motherboard and PSU except these four components.

as far as it being in standyby and staying there, unplugging it from the power cord for a few minutes resets that.

Dark Jedi

You're right, Madcatz. If I am getting into windows I don't know it because there is no video. On Monday I will try a different video card, I didn't have time Friday.

Any idea why the fans are running constantly, no matter how long it has been unplugged? No matter what I do (besides disconnecting the motherboard power or the CPU fan itself), the fans are always running. Shouldn't whatever is making them run reset when the power is cut?

dai

motherboard

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Dark Jedi

I put in a different video card today (AGP slot) with no change in any symptoms. Also tried individually disconnecting each drive, and the only time I get the friendlier sounding beep is when the HDD is disconnected, hwever, there is still no response from anything else including keyboard/mouse/monitor.

dai

if you are still trying with a 250w,you will have to get hold of a larger one
most computer today are in the 550-800w range
if you have a friend who has rebuilt or upgraded they may have a larger psu lying around

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Dark Jedi

Why are you stuck on this power supply thing, Dai? Am I missing something? The PS tests good and works in another machine, and another similar PS works in this machine. Nothing else has changed in the last six months, no new hardware. The only new software was AVG Antivirus a few months ago. I have eliminated the power supply as the cause of this problem (unless I am missing something). I do realize that there are bigger PSUs out there, but there has always been plenty of power to run this older system and there is no lack of power.

I am beginning to lean heavily toward the mobo on this one. Before I ask the boss to pay for one (likely a cheapie from TigerDirect or the like), any other ideas I should try (besides what I have already tried)? Thanks.

dai

expierence
is the psu supplying 18a on the 12v+ line that is required for agp
it's easier to borrow a psu to check than a m/b

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Dark Jedi

Yes, I did check the power supply with a multimeter. I decided to check it again after your reply, Dai, and it is indeed supplying plenty of power. (The origina