Computer won't start

Mpalze · 10-19-2008, 04:09 PM

Hey all.
New member here, hopefully someone can help. I have a HP Media center computer, m7640n. It's almost 3 years old. I've been having problems starting it lately. When I push the power button, the power light on the front turns on, the fans all start up, and the lights on the keyboard and mouse blink once. The dvd drive light blinks a few times, like it's searching for a disc, and then stops. Then nothing else happens. It does this about 95% of the time. Once in a great while, it'll start up fine, and runs fine.

I tried a new power supply. Didn't work. I removed all cards, and the dvd drive. Still didn't work. I tried taking one ram chip out, then the other, then both, and didn't work. I tried removing the hard drive, still nothing.

Is my motherboard possibly shot? If so, why would it start occasionally, and run fine when it's booted up completely?

Anyone have any ideas? :)

Matt

Zombeast · 10-19-2008, 07:45 PM

welcome to tsf
do you think anything could be possibly grounding it, or did you ever take the mobo out uncarfeully and maybe you gave it some static somewhere, those are my two guesses

Mpalze · 10-19-2008, 09:15 PM

I'm not sure. I had never opened the case when the problem started. What's confusing, is how sometimes it'll start fine, most of the time it won't. And that one it does start up, it works perfectly till it's shut down.

dai · 10-19-2008, 11:58 PM

the power supply you tried needed to be of quality build and of higher wattage than is already in there
if you are running on the onboard video still you need to be up here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b550w
if you have installed a video card it could be higher depending on which card

Mpalze · 10-20-2008, 06:58 AM

Ok, i'll try a bigger power supply. It has a nvidia video card, that is built into the motherboard. The power supply it originally came with is only a 300w. The one I put in was also a 300w.

Matt

Mpalze · 10-20-2008, 07:42 AM

Update: Today, when I tried turning it on, I got some beeps. It was one long beep, repeated over and over. It doesn't do it everytime I turn it on though.

coolday · 10-20-2008, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombeast

welcome to tsf
do you think anything could be possibly grounding it, or did you ever take the mobo out uncarfeully and maybe you gave it some static somewhere, those are my two guesses

Mostly probably it is shorting somewhere

1) reset or power button of the pc is shorted ( came across this may times)

2) motherboard is shorting with the cabinet. (provide some antistatic packing underneath the motherboard)

Mpalze · 10-20-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolday

Mostly probably it is shorting somewhere

1) reset or power button of the pc is shorted ( came across this may times)

2) motherboard is shorting with the cabinet. (provide some antistatic packing underneath the motherboard)

Right now, when ever I plug the computer in, it starts up, I don't have to push the power button at all. Never used to be like that though. I did unhook the power button from the motherboard, and the computer still tried to start up when I plugged it back in. Not sure if that helps at all.

dai · 10-20-2008, 01:15 PM

it sounds like the front case button is jammed on replace it
check what the bios code is saying here
www.bioscentral.com

Mpalze · 10-20-2008, 01:22 PM

I reseated the Ram, and it stopped the beeping. Can't get to bios, as it doesn't load that far. I disconnected the front button, and the comp still tries to power up when I plug it in. When the button is connected, it works for starting and stopping the comp.

dai · 10-20-2008, 02:03 PM

if the fron case button is disconnected and you plug in the main power plug to the m/b and it starts the computer it points to a faulty psu or faulty m/b
if it does'nt it is the case button
with the case button disconnected you can start and shut down the computer by touching the 2 pins on the m/b with a small scewdriver for a fraction of a second

Mpalze · 10-20-2008, 05:31 PM

Ok, I got it running. It's running really slow though.

dai · 10-20-2008, 05:53 PM

check your tempretures and voltages in the bios and post them

Mpalze · 10-21-2008, 06:50 AM

Ok, I couldn't find the temp or voltages anywhere in the Bios, so I used PC wizard 2008 to get them. Here's what it says:

Voltage cpu:
Voltage : 1.300 V
StartupVID : 1.100 V
MaxVID : 1.350 V

+3.3 voltage 3.39 v
+5 voltage 5.16 v
+12 voltage 12.00 v

Processor Temperature: 89.6 F
mainboard temperature: 95 F
Power/aux temperature: 93.2
ACPI Thermal Zone 104 F

Processor Thermal Diode:
AMD Athlon 64 x2 (core 1) 86 F
AMD Athlon 64 x2 (core 2) 73.4 F

dai · 10-21-2008, 01:43 PM

on the advanced page in the bios look under hardware monitoring or some similar wording

Mpalze · 10-21-2008, 05:55 PM

This link shows pics of a HP bios, that is exactly like mine. Nothing on there(or in my bios) about temps or voltages. :(

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...&lang=en#N1023

dai · 10-21-2008, 09:01 PM

pity,the ones you posted are ok
check any ide drives are running in dma mode and have not dropped back to pio mode

Mpalze · 11-15-2008, 03:15 PM

Hey all. Ok, I replaced the power supply, and that did not fix the problem. Anyone have any more ideas? I'm beginning to suspect the onboard graphics card.

dai · 11-15-2008, 08:01 PM

did you check what the drives are running in

Mpalze · 11-16-2008, 07:05 AM

DMA mode.

10-19-2008, 04:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Computer won't start Hey all. New member here, hopefully someone can help. I have a HP Media center computer, m7640n. It's almost 3 years old. I've been having problems starting it lately. When I push the power button, the power light on the front turns on, the fans all start up, and the lights on the keyboard and mouse blink once. The dvd drive light blinks a few times, like it's searching for a disc, and then stops. Then nothing else happens. It does this about 95% of the time. Once in a great while, it'll start up fine, and runs fine. I tried a new power supply. Didn't work. I removed all cards, and the dvd drive. Still didn't work. I tried taking one ram chip out, then the other, then both, and didn't work. I tried removing the hard drive, still nothing. Is my motherboard possibly shot? If so, why would it start occasionally, and run fine when it's booted up completely? Anyone have any ideas? :) Matt

10-19-2008, 07:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zombeast Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Moreno Valley, CA Posts: 345 OS: Windows Xp Pro SP3 My System	Re: Computer won't start welcome to tsf do you think anything could be possibly grounding it, or did you ever take the mobo out uncarfeully and maybe you gave it some static somewhere, those are my two guesses __________________ Be your own Boss Steam Friends Name: Zombeast69

10-19-2008, 09:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start I'm not sure. I had never opened the case when the problem started. What's confusing, is how sometimes it'll start fine, most of the time it won't. And that one it does start up, it works perfectly till it's shut down.

10-19-2008, 11:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,575 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Computer won't start the power supply you tried needed to be of quality build and of higher wattage than is already in there if you are running on the onboard video still you need to be up here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b550w if you have installed a video card it could be higher depending on which card __________________

10-20-2008, 06:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start Ok, i'll try a bigger power supply. It has a nvidia video card, that is built into the motherboard. The power supply it originally came with is only a 300w. The one I put in was also a 300w. Matt

10-20-2008, 07:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start Update: Today, when I tried turning it on, I got some beeps. It was one long beep, repeated over and over. It doesn't do it everytime I turn it on though.

10-20-2008, 01:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,575 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Computer won't start it sounds like the front case button is jammed on replace it check what the bios code is saying here www.bioscentral.com __________________

10-20-2008, 01:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start I reseated the Ram, and it stopped the beeping. Can't get to bios, as it doesn't load that far. I disconnected the front button, and the comp still tries to power up when I plug it in. When the button is connected, it works for starting and stopping the comp.

10-20-2008, 02:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,575 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Computer won't start if the fron case button is disconnected and you plug in the main power plug to the m/b and it starts the computer it points to a faulty psu or faulty m/b if it does'nt it is the case button with the case button disconnected you can start and shut down the computer by touching the 2 pins on the m/b with a small scewdriver for a fraction of a second __________________

10-20-2008, 05:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start Ok, I got it running. It's running really slow though.

10-20-2008, 05:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,575 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Computer won't start check your tempretures and voltages in the bios and post them __________________

10-21-2008, 06:50 AM	#14 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start Ok, I couldn't find the temp or voltages anywhere in the Bios, so I used PC wizard 2008 to get them. Here's what it says: Voltage cpu: Voltage : 1.300 V StartupVID : 1.100 V MaxVID : 1.350 V +3.3 voltage 3.39 v +5 voltage 5.16 v +12 voltage 12.00 v Processor Temperature: 89.6 F mainboard temperature: 95 F Power/aux temperature: 93.2 ACPI Thermal Zone 104 F Processor Thermal Diode: AMD Athlon 64 x2 (core 1) 86 F AMD Athlon 64 x2 (core 2) 73.4 F

10-21-2008, 01:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,575 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Computer won't start on the advanced page in the bios look under hardware monitoring or some similar wording __________________

10-21-2008, 05:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start This link shows pics of a HP bios, that is exactly like mine. Nothing on there(or in my bios) about temps or voltages. :( http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...&lang=en#N1023

10-21-2008, 09:01 PM	#17 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,575 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Computer won't start pity,the ones you posted are ok check any ide drives are running in dma mode and have not dropped back to pio mode __________________

11-15-2008, 03:15 PM	#18 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start Hey all. Ok, I replaced the power supply, and that did not fix the problem. Anyone have any more ideas? I'm beginning to suspect the onboard graphics card.

11-15-2008, 08:01 PM	#19 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,575 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Computer won't start did you check what the drives are running in __________________

11-16-2008, 07:05 AM	#20 (permalink)
Mpalze Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 13 OS: windows xp service pak 3	Re: Computer won't start DMA mode.