problem with personally resolved hardware problem

KDavidP1987 · 01-26-2008, 05:58 PM

Hi, I have a computer problem that i need some help with.

Recently, my mother and steop-fathers computer had had some sort of a power problem (short or power box i assume). NE Way I had done a thorough diagnostic on the hardware in order to determine where the problem was coming from...

First, I changed the power cord for a cord that i guaranteed worked. Secondly I replaced the power box with the box from my little brothers computer. This had a effect, now the power wasnt completely out. Whenever i plugged it in after this step the power would automatically turn on however the system wouldnt boot up (Lights were on and no one home). Also, when on using my little brothers power supply I could distinctively hear the sound of the hard drive trying to run as well as the two disk drives would open and close.

Now, after this step i went into checking the hard drie to make sure that it worked. I plugged my parents hard drive into my little brother computer and it did indeed work. Not perfectly, I could only boot the system in safe mode. the other normal mode would automatically shut down the computer at the login stage. But, needless to say the hard drive was there and functional.

After this i concluded to my parents that they would probably need to replace the motherboard and the power unit.

NOW A FEW DAYS LATER:

I have bought from a computer shop a compatible motherboard and power supply, installed it using the manual for the motherboard. However, something is still wrong. My mother took the computer home, plugged everything in corrctly, and now it will turn on; but once again nothing is showing up. The disk drives work, the computer hums (lol), but nothing comes on. Did I do something wrong during the installation. I am sort of a "ameteur" at computer hardware but i know very well that i followed the instruction manual to the tee. plugged in everything in the right slots, and distributed all the power cords to their correct place. Maybe someone out here can help me because im completely stumped as to why this is not working and my mom is wanting me to come home tonight to diagnose further and fix it.

In advance I would like to thank ne one for any help that they can provide to me,

Kris

**manic** · 01-26-2008, 07:10 PM

When you swapped power supplies initially, you should have cleared
cmos. If the mobo wasnt fried it then would have booted up and
prompted you to enter setup "bios". A power supply when it goes bad,
can and will take the mobo with it, but not always.
Now you have replaced the mobo, did you pay attention to the brass
standoffs that screw into the case? Did you account for every one of
them? Dont assume that the new motherboard will fit exactly like the
old one. If you have one standoff in the wrong place it will ground out
the mobo. If all is good there, you should read the mobo manual and
clear cmos, and enter bios, the manual should give you a detailed
instruction on how to do this. Did you install cpu correctly? Again
refer to mobo manual.

KDavidP1987 · 01-26-2008, 08:46 PM

I do not understand exactly what u mean by the acranym cmos. however i do know that all of the bolts in the motherboard have fit perfectly. And that every one of them is put into it correctly and that the board is not touching the base of the system. I dont think that the system not being groounded is an issue. I got the CPU in place perfectly and all components to the new motherboard fit like a glove into the old system... It was actually quite a surprise to me just how well the new motherboard fit in place where the old motherboard was.

I appreciate u helping me... if u have ne other ideas or if u can expand on what u said ne more i would be grateful...

Kris

**manic** · 01-27-2008, 04:17 AM

cmos=bios=setup... Your manual should mention how to enter bios,
it may be called setup, or cmos. Bios needs to be cleared more times
than not on a new build. You need to enter bios and set it up as per
your system specs. Most of the time you can enter bios by tapping
the delete key when you turn the machine on, refer to mobo manual.

01-26-2008, 05:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
KDavidP1987 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista	problem with personally resolved hardware problem Hi, I have a computer problem that i need some help with. Recently, my mother and steop-fathers computer had had some sort of a power problem (short or power box i assume). NE Way I had done a thorough diagnostic on the hardware in order to determine where the problem was coming from... First, I changed the power cord for a cord that i guaranteed worked. Secondly I replaced the power box with the box from my little brothers computer. This had a effect, now the power wasnt completely out. Whenever i plugged it in after this step the power would automatically turn on however the system wouldnt boot up (Lights were on and no one home). Also, when on using my little brothers power supply I could distinctively hear the sound of the hard drive trying to run as well as the two disk drives would open and close. Now, after this step i went into checking the hard drie to make sure that it worked. I plugged my parents hard drive into my little brother computer and it did indeed work. Not perfectly, I could only boot the system in safe mode. the other normal mode would automatically shut down the computer at the login stage. But, needless to say the hard drive was there and functional. After this i concluded to my parents that they would probably need to replace the motherboard and the power unit. NOW A FEW DAYS LATER: I have bought from a computer shop a compatible motherboard and power supply, installed it using the manual for the motherboard. However, something is still wrong. My mother took the computer home, plugged everything in corrctly, and now it will turn on; but once again nothing is showing up. The disk drives work, the computer hums (lol), but nothing comes on. Did I do something wrong during the installation. I am sort of a "ameteur" at computer hardware but i know very well that i followed the instruction manual to the tee. plugged in everything in the right slots, and distributed all the power cords to their correct place. Maybe someone out here can help me because im completely stumped as to why this is not working and my mom is wanting me to come home tonight to diagnose further and fix it. In advance I would like to thank ne one for any help that they can provide to me, Kris

01-26-2008, 07:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: problem with personally resolved hardware problem When you swapped power supplies initially, you should have cleared cmos. If the mobo wasnt fried it then would have booted up and prompted you to enter setup "bios". A power supply when it goes bad, can and will take the mobo with it, but not always. Now you have replaced the mobo, did you pay attention to the brass standoffs that screw into the case? Did you account for every one of them? Dont assume that the new motherboard will fit exactly like the old one. If you have one standoff in the wrong place it will ground out the mobo. If all is good there, you should read the mobo manual and clear cmos, and enter bios, the manual should give you a detailed instruction on how to do this. Did you install cpu correctly? Again refer to mobo manual. __________________

01-26-2008, 08:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
KDavidP1987 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2 OS: Windows Vista	Re: problem with personally resolved hardware problem I do not understand exactly what u mean by the acranym cmos. however i do know that all of the bolts in the motherboard have fit perfectly. And that every one of them is put into it correctly and that the board is not touching the base of the system. I dont think that the system not being groounded is an issue. I got the CPU in place perfectly and all components to the new motherboard fit like a glove into the old system... It was actually quite a surprise to me just how well the new motherboard fit in place where the old motherboard was. I appreciate u helping me... if u have ne other ideas or if u can expand on what u said ne more i would be grateful... Kris

01-27-2008, 04:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: problem with personally resolved hardware problem cmos=bios=setup... Your manual should mention how to enter bios, it may be called setup, or cmos. Bios needs to be cleared more times than not on a new build. You need to enter bios and set it up as per your system specs. Most of the time you can enter bios by tapping the delete key when you turn the machine on, refer to mobo manual. __________________