View Full Version : I think I killed it. *IT LIVES!!!*
My main computer is now as good as a doorstop.
I was setting it up with a new OS install and the programs I use with no extras, and when I finaly got the sound working again it froze up and refused to do anything. No beeps or codes on POST and the display is dead.
Stripped everything except the power to the CPU, no beeps on power up but the case fans and the CPU fan worked so I think I fried my CPU instead of a motherboard issue. Pulled the CMOS battery to reset it and that didnt help anything either.
Ill be OK with my ADD if I can get the 3rd monitor working on this box until I can repair the main comp.
DJFyrewolf36
03-30-2009, 11:10 PM
Boy do I know the feeling...My computer was having USB issues under Vista so I rolled it back to XP. Right after I got the last program I wanted installed on it the thing refused to post :(. My motherboard was the culprit...found a replacement for $10 at the computer recycler and am now gaming again! Hopefully you'll find a good deal on a used processor.
Im gonna try and get a used CPU either locally or when I go for my A+ testing this week. If its a MB issue hopefully I can find one cheap like you did.
DJFyrewolf36
03-31-2009, 02:34 AM
Do you have a PC recycler in the area? I got lucky because my board was untested by the shop so I got it cheap. A lot of gamers just wholesale throw out parts when they get new ones so the odds are that the part will work and if it doesnt the PC recycler here offers exchanges within 30 days lol.
Medusa
03-31-2009, 06:44 AM
You two may as well be talking in Klingon. Good luck, though, blue, w/your new whatever so that you can do whatever. ;)
Laura's Babies
03-31-2009, 08:06 AM
You two may as well be talking in Klingon.
DITTO! I can even get the case off of mine.. Wouldn't know what to do with it if I did! :rolleyes:
DJFyrewolf36
03-31-2009, 08:40 AM
Hubby is a hardware tech and I've been troubleshooting software for years lol. I've just reciently started learning the particulars of hardware diagnostic and repair, mostly because when something breaks I at least want to have a clue how to fix it so I don't get ripped off!
My dad always said try to learn how to fix it yourself, and if you have to call an expert make sure you know enough to trust the expert you hire lol.
Blue, are you running Intel or AMD? I got to thinking about this more and started yapping with the hubby (nerd moment!) and he said that Intel boards will power the fans even when they are shot. If you have an AMD set up then more than likely your processor is done and a lot of times when the processor goes the board goes too.
Get your motherboard tested if at all possible, if not see if you can get a cheap board that is a known runner to put the processor on to at least test it. If you dont want to expense out the money, try to get a shop or a recycler to test your processor. Hopefully since you are testing for A+ you'll know someone to do it for free ;) Don't want to put the money out on a new processor if you don't need to unless you find a really good deal.
Or just say forget the whole thing and find a cheap board/processor combo that uses your RAM. It's lazy but a lot of times you can get good deals and you don't have as much potential for something frying later.
Sorry to babble lol.
Its an AMD board. I have an identical computor I could test the CPU in but not sure if I want to risk the motherboard on the good comp or the good processor on the bad comps MB.
Ill see what the local repair shop has for used MBs, thanks for the tip.
Catty1
03-31-2009, 12:26 PM
There is a power tester, costs about $30 CDN here; if one is available to you, you can test the power and not worry about trying it in another computer.
pomtzu
03-31-2009, 12:33 PM
DITTO! I can even get the case off of mine.. Wouldn't know what to do with it if I did! :rolleyes:
That's a relief!!! I thought I was the only techno-idiot on PT!!! :o
Catty1
03-31-2009, 12:53 PM
Google your brand and model of computer and add the words "open case". Then get a can of compressed air and blow the sucker out! Esepcially the fans and the metal around them. That alone can speed up your computer some and prevent expensive repairs from overheating.
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/3/30/128828945784466432.jpg?t=633740900070963517
Puckstop31
03-31-2009, 02:55 PM
Google your brand and model of computer and add the words "open case". Then get a can of compressed air and blow the sucker out! Esepcially the fans and the metal around them. That alone can speed up your computer some and prevent expensive repairs from overheating.
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/3/30/128828945784466432.jpg?t=633740900070963517
That works... But I recommend you use a vaccumm cleaner and suck it up. The duster cans just spread the dust around, unless you take the PC outside to do it.
Hellow
03-31-2009, 06:24 PM
Are you /sure/ its a CPU issue? The PSU gets tested in POST too. Try putting the CPU into a different computer - it wont hurt the other computer, CPUs dont fry mobos. I'm suspecting that it is the PSU, CPUs don't frequently just up and die like that, and the PSU is almost always stressed. Either that or your just utterly dominated your mobo.
Im at the point where I am willing to try the suspect CPU in the other box but I dont have any thermal paste for the heatsinks.
If I get bored later Ill swap a different PSU in and see if it will POST.
The comps are Acers not the greatest on the market. The one that is broken has already been refurbished once, I bought it that way dont know what was fixed.
Tried the other PSU (550w) that POSTed on another comp. No beep code on POST with only the fans and CPU powered and nothing else.
Swapped the CPU and it works.
Looks like tomorrow Ill be picking up a new motherboard and thermal paste from the local shop.
DJFyrewolf36
03-31-2009, 09:51 PM
Are you /sure/ its a CPU issue? The PSU gets tested in POST too. Try putting the CPU into a different computer - it wont hurt the other computer, CPUs dont fry mobos. I'm suspecting that it is the PSU, CPUs don't frequently just up and die like that, and the PSU is almost always stressed. Either that or your just utterly dominated your mobo.
Thats exactly what I was thinking too, AMDs tend not to up and just die...*although Ive seen it happen due to overheating*
Looks like you have a bad mobo if the new PSU did the same thing.
Its a good thing I dont need a fancy MB, hopefully by tomorrow night I can have both comps running, cleaned up, and all the monitors working.
DJFyrewolf36
03-31-2009, 10:59 PM
Glad you found the culprit! MBs seem to be getting cheaper and cheaper nowdays I swear. My mobo fried because some jerk at Emachines thought that overtighning the cpu heatsink clamps was a good idea. I found out that it was tightened so much that it warped my MB and some of the resistors fried. :mad:
Tis the bane of using refurbished although hubby just got a new set up and is already having hardware issues. Asus says "its just the way that board is" and I'm all "you put out bad hardware on purpose?!?" Sigh...
Here is hoping it is the MoBo and not something sneaky.
Im gonna get an external harddrive enclosure as well, Ill use an external drive to store the disc image for future restores so I dont have to rebuild from scratch.
Medusa
04-01-2009, 08:10 AM
A resurrection! And just in time for Easter! Good for you, blue! ;) :)
New motherboard, its a cheapy but it works. Still dont have the third monitor working but it LIVES AGAIN.
DJFyrewolf36
04-02-2009, 08:43 PM
I about :eek: myself looking at new mobos online...computer parts have gotten WAY too expensive lol.
People wonder why I upgrated my old beast instead of going for a top of the line model. My upgrade cost me a little under $100 and it plays the games I want it to (which are a lot lol) just fine!
Glad to see ya up and running again blue!
I about :eek: myself looking at new mobos online...computer parts have gotten WAY too expensive lol.
People wonder why I upgrated my old beast instead of going for a top of the line model. My upgrade cost me a little under $100 and it plays the games I want it to (which are a lot lol) just fine!
Glad to see ya up and running again blue!
$68 for the new MoBo. AND I JUST GOT THE THIRD MONITOR WORKING AGAIN!!!! I r happy.
The MoBo is a POS but it works. I get the BSOD every week or so, but all I have to do is swap the SATA cable to the other SATA slot on the MoBo and it works for a week or so.
Hellow
05-26-2009, 12:26 AM
The MoBo is a POS but it works. I get the BSOD every week or so, but all I have to do is swap the SATA cable to the other SATA slot on the MoBo and it works for a week or so.
Yay for screwed up SATA controllers. Be glad that you didnt do this to your CPU: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5393904704265757054
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