No Boot

Yportne · 06-02-2009, 06:52 AM

Hey guys, I needed some insight on a computer not booting issue.

The power button does nothing when trying to boot. But further observation inside the unit shows that when plugged in the power LED on the mother board is lit up. The graphics card and CPU fans spin briefly if only less than a second and then stop. The power button still does nothing. I plugged a power cord of an external mount into the HDD and it will spin up. Same with both IDE cd drives. But the normal PSU cords don't spin the HDD up or open the drives.

Am I looking at a failed PSU or perhaps something else could be causing a no boot. At first I thought it was a failed psu because I swapped out power cords that plug into the outlet and still nothing happened. But the power LED on the board is lighting up which confuses me?

Thanks in advance for any help.

**speedster123** · 06-02-2009, 07:38 AM

The light on the board can light even with a defective or undersized psu.

Please list your complete system specs. along with your psu info.

Tumbleweed36 · 06-02-2009, 07:52 AM

Is this a new build?

Yportne · 06-02-2009, 07:53 AM

This is a link to the system specs. The only modification is a nvidia g-force 6 series graphics card. Model P260.

No this isnt a new build it's stock

dai · 06-02-2009, 10:59 AM

post the specs here

Yportne · 06-02-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dai

post the specs here

specs are in link...here's a copy and paste

General

* Width 7.4 in
* Depth 17.5 in
* Height 17.5 in
* Weight 34.0 lbs
* Desktop type Monitor included , Gaming-friendly system

Processor

* Type Intel Pentium D 2.8 GHz

Cache Memory

* Type L2 cache
* Installed Size 2.0 MB

Mainboard

* Chipset type Intel 945G
* Data bus speed 800.0 MHz

RAM

* Installed Size 1.0 GB / 4.0 GB (max)
* Technology DDR SDRAM

Storage

* Hard Drive 250.0 GB - DMA/ATA-100 (Ultra)
* Hard Drive (2nd) 160.0 GB

Optical Storage

* Type DVD??RW

Monitor

* Monitor Type LCD display
* Diagonal Size 19.0 in
* Viewable Size 20.0 in

Graphics Controller

* Graphics Processor / Vendor NVidia GeForce 6800
* Installed Size 256.0 MB

Audio Output

* Type Sound card - Integrated
* Speaker(s) 1.0

Telecom

* Modem Fax / modem - PCI - Integrated
* Max transfer rate 56.0 Kbps

Networking

* Networking Network adapter

Expansion / Connectivity

* Expansion Bays Total (Free) 2.0 ( 0.0 ) x Internal - 5.25 in , 2.0 ( 2.0 ) x External - 3.5 in , 2.0 ( 1.0 ) x External - 3.5 in
* Expansion Slots Total (Free) 3.0 PCI Express x16 , 1.0 PCI , 4.0 Memory , 1.0 PCI Express x1 , 1.0
* Interfaces 1.0 x USB 2.0 - RJ-45 , 1.0 x Modem - VGA , 1.0 x Ethernet - USB 2.0 , 1.0 x Audio - RJ-11 , 7.0 x Mouse , 1.0 x Microphone , 1.0 x Headphones , 5.0 x Keyboard , 1.0 x DVI-output , 1.0 x Monitor , 1.0

Power

* Operational power consumption 375.0 Watt
* Operational power consumption (standby) 375.0 Watt

Operating System / Software

* OS Provided Windows XP Media Center 2005
* Software McAfee SecurityCenter , Drivers & Utilities

dai · 06-02-2009, 09:14 PM

see if you can borrow a 550w psu to try in it

Yportne · 06-03-2009, 06:04 AM

Don't have a spare PSU to test. How about I buy a cheap multi-meter and probe it? I think radio shack has them for like $20

dai · 06-03-2009, 11:24 AM

i was suggesting the psu was faulty you upgraded by adding the card and the current supply probably does not supply enough amps

Yportne · 06-03-2009, 12:34 PM

Nah the card has been in there for awhile and has worked just fine. This no boot occurred when my buddy tried to upgrade his ram. He swapped in the new ram and it wouldnt boot, so he put the old ram back, I double checked...its in the right spot, but the cpu doesnt boot. No beep code either it just doesnt boot.

Odd thing...i'm thinking either his PSU went bad or his graphics blew out. Would either of those sound like a possibility? Would a bad graphics card prevent it from booting without a beep code on start up?

And would a cheap multimeter allow me to test the psu?

Lol Genius me, The power supply tested good by the multimeter so I decided to check the pwr_on lead to the mother board...It wasn't plugged in, hence the reason the power button did nothing...

But the reason I overlooked it is that the power button lead to the mother board connects via ide cable...is that normal? thats the first time i've seen it. I didn't pay attention to it because the HDD and CDROM drives were plugged in so I figured it was extra.

dai · 06-03-2009, 10:50 PM

i have never seen a connection like that
an ide cable is just a data cable i know of no way an ide cable can come into it
all the power button does is make a brief contact on the m/board circuit to turn the computer on
there is no actual power on these 2 wires
can you post a picture of what you are describing

06-02-2009, 06:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Yportne Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 18 OS: XP	No Boot Hey guys, I needed some insight on a computer not booting issue. The power button does nothing when trying to boot. But further observation inside the unit shows that when plugged in the power LED on the mother board is lit up. The graphics card and CPU fans spin briefly if only less than a second and then stop. The power button still does nothing. I plugged a power cord of an external mount into the HDD and it will spin up. Same with both IDE cd drives. But the normal PSU cords don't spin the HDD up or open the drives. Am I looking at a failed PSU or perhaps something else could be causing a no boot. At first I thought it was a failed psu because I swapped out power cords that plug into the outlet and still nothing happened. But the power LED on the board is lighting up which confuses me? Thanks in advance for any help.

06-02-2009, 07:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,216 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: No Boot The light on the board can light even with a defective or undersized psu. Please list your complete system specs. along with your psu info. __________________

06-02-2009, 07:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,642 OS: XP Professional	Re: No Boot Is this a new build? __________________ ---------- 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.

06-02-2009, 07:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
Yportne Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 18 OS: XP	Re: No Boot This is a link to the system specs. The only modification is a nvidia g-force 6 series graphics card. Model P260. No this isnt a new build it's stock

06-02-2009, 10:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,560 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: No Boot post the specs here __________________

06-02-2009, 09:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,560 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: No Boot see if you can borrow a 550w psu to try in it __________________

06-03-2009, 06:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
Yportne Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 18 OS: XP	Re: No Boot Don't have a spare PSU to test. How about I buy a cheap multi-meter and probe it? I think radio shack has them for like $20

06-03-2009, 11:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,560 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: No Boot i was suggesting the psu was faulty you upgraded by adding the card and the current supply probably does not supply enough amps __________________

06-03-2009, 12:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
Yportne Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 18 OS: XP	Nah the card has been in there for awhile and has worked just fine. This no boot occurred when my buddy tried to upgrade his ram. He swapped in the new ram and it wouldnt boot, so he put the old ram back, I double checked...its in the right spot, but the cpu doesnt boot. No beep code either it just doesnt boot. Odd thing...i'm thinking either his PSU went bad or his graphics blew out. Would either of those sound like a possibility? Would a bad graphics card prevent it from booting without a beep code on start up? And would a cheap multimeter allow me to test the psu? Lol Genius me, The power supply tested good by the multimeter so I decided to check the pwr_on lead to the mother board...It wasn't plugged in, hence the reason the power button did nothing... But the reason I overlooked it is that the power button lead to the mother board connects via ide cable...is that normal? thats the first time i've seen it. I didn't pay attention to it because the HDD and CDROM drives were plugged in so I figured it was extra. Last edited by dai; 06-03-2009 at 10:40 PM.

06-03-2009, 10:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,560 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: No Boot i have never seen a connection like that an ide cable is just a data cable i know of no way an ide cable can come into it all the power button does is make a brief contact on the m/board circuit to turn the computer on there is no actual power on these 2 wires can you post a picture of what you are describing __________________