Computer not fully booting

Slimee · 08-23-2006, 05:53 PM

Ok, I just bought new RAM. I come home, vaccuum the inside of the computer with a brush attachment to clean out the dust, and take out the two 256 sticks, and put in a GB stick. I turn the computer back on, and the processor fan turns on, the regular fans turn on, the motherboard lights up, the GFX card lights up, the webcam light turns on..but the monitor does not turn on, The mouse and keyboard also do not turn on. I took the stick out, and replaced with the old sticks...and its still not turning on

MB - Asus K8V Deluxe
CPU - Athlon 64 3200+ (I think it's 768?...can't remember and the information is not close at hand)
mem (Old - Corsair value select dual 256 sticks, DDR400 3200 184 pin) (new - Corsair XMS series, 1 GB, CL 2, DDR400 3200)
GFX - GeForce 6800 128 MB I think...can't remember brand.
OS - Windows XP Home SP2

I move into college tomorrow and need to pack this computer up tonight, so the faster this gets resolved the better. Thanks in advance.

Slimee · 08-23-2006, 06:51 PM

Ooops...Meant socket 754

Tumbleweed36 · 08-23-2006, 07:00 PM

Hi,

One can only guess on something like this. First of all, I would almost bet you (when cleaning out the computer) knocked a wire loose in the process of using the attachment. Therefore, go in there and do a visual inspection looking specifically for the 12 volt molex wire and the cpu/heasink fan wire both need to be hooked to the motherboard. Check all other wires also including the video card wire if you have a pci-e card.

With the 1 gig stick.....make sure by reading your manual which slot that thing goes in. Most people think if you use one stick only, it is always put in the first physical slot.....and, that is always not the case. For example, in this board, one stick goes in dimm3. Check those two things out first.

Post back with questions/concerns.

Slimee · 08-23-2006, 08:53 PM

ok I troubleshot with someone who's like a repair kinda guy...Did a bunch of things, I put an old video card in to make sure the brush didn't static zap the card...the computer still didn't boot with the replaced card, so I doubt its that. All wires seem snug and in place, I didn't go crazy with the vaccuum...really only touched the mobo in a couple places. I'll try sticking a RAM stick in the 3rd slot and see how that works out...But my troubleshooter thinks its possible I may have shorted something. He said even though the board's light turns on, that doesn't mean something didn't happen to it. I dunno, if the board is fried, that's easy to replace...

I just went and tried the RAM in DIMM3...and still nothing...all kinds of lights go on, but it doesn't boot to anything.

**Bartender** · 08-23-2006, 09:24 PM

Slimee-
This doesn't help you much tonite while you're packing, but I was told by a guy who ran a local PC shop that vaccuuming is very dangerous. I've had good luck using compressed air, with the output regulated down to 10 or 15psi. Yes, yes, I know you're not supposed to use compressed air either because of water and dirt, but I've done just that a few dozen times and haven't blown anything up yet. Knockonwood

Good luck with yours

Slimee · 08-23-2006, 09:33 PM

Thanks, I hope I only killed my Mobo and not the gfx card. I'm taking the computer directly to OIT when I get on campus, so hopefully they can at least tell me that my mobo is toast so I can order a new one. I would just order one now and hope that's the problem, but don't want to spend the money and then figure out its something else. Hopefully they can tell me what it is. I've never had problems vaccuuming before so I never gave it a second thought

**Doby** · 08-23-2006, 10:13 PM

http://www.computerhope.com/cleaning.htm

That will give you some insight on computer cleaning but in general don't use a standard electric vac they will produce static electric that is harmfull to computer parts, you can use a battery powerd vac, this is less dangerous.

It is best to use a can of compressed air but you still need to becarefull not to turn the can on its side because this will cause liquid to come out.

As said your problem here could be almost anything and likely caused by static

Slimee · 08-23-2006, 10:35 PM

Since after swapping out the graphics card, can I at least assume that after replacing with a different card, it's not the card and is the mobo?

Slimee · 08-24-2006, 12:04 AM

btw is there anyway to tell if Just the motherboard is fried? Or just the graphics card? Or both?

08-23-2006, 05:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Slimee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 35 OS: XP	Computer not fully booting Ok, I just bought new RAM. I come home, vaccuum the inside of the computer with a brush attachment to clean out the dust, and take out the two 256 sticks, and put in a GB stick. I turn the computer back on, and the processor fan turns on, the regular fans turn on, the motherboard lights up, the GFX card lights up, the webcam light turns on..but the monitor does not turn on, The mouse and keyboard also do not turn on. I took the stick out, and replaced with the old sticks...and its still not turning on MB - Asus K8V Deluxe CPU - Athlon 64 3200+ (I think it's 768?...can't remember and the information is not close at hand) mem (Old - Corsair value select dual 256 sticks, DDR400 3200 184 pin) (new - Corsair XMS series, 1 GB, CL 2, DDR400 3200) GFX - GeForce 6800 128 MB I think...can't remember brand. OS - Windows XP Home SP2 I move into college tomorrow and need to pack this computer up tonight, so the faster this gets resolved the better. Thanks in advance.

08-23-2006, 07:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,697 OS: XP Professional	Hi, One can only guess on something like this. First of all, I would almost bet you (when cleaning out the computer) knocked a wire loose in the process of using the attachment. Therefore, go in there and do a visual inspection looking specifically for the 12 volt molex wire and the cpu/heasink fan wire both need to be hooked to the motherboard. Check all other wires also including the video card wire if you have a pci-e card. With the 1 gig stick.....make sure by reading your manual which slot that thing goes in. Most people think if you use one stick only, it is always put in the first physical slot.....and, that is always not the case. For example, in this board, one stick goes in dimm3. Check those two things out first. Post back with questions/concerns. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

08-23-2006, 10:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 8,109 OS: XP sp2/ Vista My System	http://www.computerhope.com/cleaning.htm That will give you some insight on computer cleaning but in general don't use a standard electric vac they will produce static electric that is harmfull to computer parts, you can use a battery powerd vac, this is less dangerous. It is best to use a can of compressed air but you still need to becarefull not to turn the can on its side because this will cause liquid to come out. As said your problem here could be almost anything and likely caused by static __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF

08-23-2006, 06:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Slimee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 35 OS: XP	Ooops...Meant socket 754

08-23-2006, 08:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Slimee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 35 OS: XP	ok I troubleshot with someone who's like a repair kinda guy...Did a bunch of things, I put an old video card in to make sure the brush didn't static zap the card...the computer still didn't boot with the replaced card, so I doubt its that. All wires seem snug and in place, I didn't go crazy with the vaccuum...really only touched the mobo in a couple places. I'll try sticking a RAM stick in the 3rd slot and see how that works out...But my troubleshooter thinks its possible I may have shorted something. He said even though the board's light turns on, that doesn't mean something didn't happen to it. I dunno, if the board is fried, that's easy to replace... I just went and tried the RAM in DIMM3...and still nothing...all kinds of lights go on, but it doesn't boot to anything.

08-23-2006, 09:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Slimee- This doesn't help you much tonite while you're packing, but I was told by a guy who ran a local PC shop that vaccuuming is very dangerous. I've had good luck using compressed air, with the output regulated down to 10 or 15psi. Yes, yes, I know you're not supposed to use compressed air either because of water and dirt, but I've done just that a few dozen times and haven't blown anything up yet. Knockonwood Good luck with yours

08-23-2006, 09:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Slimee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 35 OS: XP	Thanks, I hope I only killed my Mobo and not the gfx card. I'm taking the computer directly to OIT when I get on campus, so hopefully they can at least tell me that my mobo is toast so I can order a new one. I would just order one now and hope that's the problem, but don't want to spend the money and then figure out its something else. Hopefully they can tell me what it is. I've never had problems vaccuuming before so I never gave it a second thought

08-23-2006, 10:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Slimee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 35 OS: XP	Since after swapping out the graphics card, can I at least assume that after replacing with a different card, it's not the card and is the mobo?

08-24-2006, 12:04 AM	#9 (permalink)
Slimee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 35 OS: XP	btw is there anyway to tell if Just the motherboard is fried? Or just the graphics card? Or both?