I think I killed it. *IT LIVES!!!*

[blue]

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]

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.

[blue]

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]

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]

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]

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!

[DJFyrewolf36]

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.

[blue]

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]

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]

DITTO! I can even get the case off of mine.. Wouldn't know what to do with it if I did!

That's a relief!!! I thought I was the only techno-idiot on PT!!!

[Catty1]

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.

[Puckstop31]

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.

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]

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.

[blue]

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.

[blue]

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.