I have a computer that just stopped working. It was fine a week ago. Now, it doesn’t power up. I have checked the outlet and the power cord, they are ok. I installed a new power supply, and made sure the on-off switch operates, all to no avail. It still doesn’t power up.
The PC is has a Pentium Pro chip at 366mhz. It is not a “brand”, just a home built. I wouldn’t bother with it, but it is nice as a backup machine, and it keeps Mrs Fireman off my new one.
Any help or suggestions appreciated.
If it is not the power supply, then it is probably a blown motherboard. Sometimes they just go poof like that for no particular reason. You can probably pick one up pretty cheaply because the computer is older but it will take a few hours to replace.
Way to spend your first post mwhahaha :rolleyes: You don’t know much about how this board works do you?
I swear there was another (very rude) post here a minute ago.
There was, I saw it too. Perhaps those SubGenius friends of mine were correct… maybe there really is a Stark Fist of Removal.
Looks like I missed the rude post. I was wondering if it was the motherboard, and if no other solutions arise, I’ll probably just part it out to other machines, and not bother with a board. Thanks for the response.
Oh, and thanks to mwhahaha for registering just to post in my thread!
It will be the motherboard, the very same thing happened to me recently. So I had to get a whole new MB plus CPU, and it looks like a new video card too, darn it all.
Make sure your RAM is completely seated. I’ve seen a few motherboards that won’t allow any power through them if there is no RAM installed.
Does it post at all? Might also be the CMOS battery on a machine that old.
D_Frag I removed and reseated the RAM when I changed the power supply. It seemed like it was seated ok before I took it out.
deathawk It doesn’t do anything, no POST, no lights, nothing. Completely dead.
Thanks for the suggestions.
If it won’t even post odds are it is dead. The only other suggestion I can make is to double check the power lead from the power supply. Probably not the case since you already tried a different power supply.
If you know enough about motherboards, which I’m assuming is probably not the case, you could use a multimeter to check for voltages on the board itself. That’ll give you an indication as to whether power is at all reaching parts of the board it’s supposed to.
I’m offering this advice only because it’s apparent that you’re board is toast anyways. So it’s worth a try, but proceed with caution.
I experienced identical symptoms when an old box of mine died - sounds likes a dead motherboard to me…
Maybe, but I doubt it. I’m pretty sure Intel ended production with the 200 MHz Pro.
Things that could cause power-up failure include all those suggested by other posters, except in my experience, a dead CMOS battery won’t keep the 'puter from POSTing – it just allows the chip to “forget” all the BIOS settings and POST with them reset to the defaults. There are others, such as loose or partly-seated data or power cables (check both ends) and data cables that are backwards at one end. Also, I would check the new PS with another mainboard, if possible. PS’s can be DOA just like any other component. And most PS’s have a fuse inside – usually one of those cylindrical glass “buss” types – that can blow and stop the whole parade.
If you’re set on replacing the mainboard, consider the configuration of the one you have. A mainboard that old could be of either AT or ATX form factor. Trying to make one type fit and work in a case made for the other type is an exercise in futility. If yours is an AT, good luck trying to find a new one – must mainboard manufacturers don’t make 'em any more.
Also, replacing a mainboard is essentially the equivalent of building a new PC from scratch. Follow all the same rules you would with a new one, especially the “one thing at a time” rule. Start with nothing but the mainboard, RAM, CPU, video adapter, and floppy drive, then add one component at a time, rebooting after each component is installed. Trying to troubleshoot hardware in a fully-assembled PC is a pain in the… well, that’s where you are now, isn’t it?
Good luck!!!
Open the pc, remove every connector, cable, card and chip (including the cpu and power connections) check the power switch connector (if atx) and try it again. This usually works if nothing else actually helps. Also, short the reset jumper, and remove the battery overnight if a quick bios reset fails to fix it.
Yeah, but ATX power units have two power switches & make sure they are both on. New boards these days are really cheap. Even at that speed at ebay.com you might find a few pretty cheap.
I guess it’s on strike!
(erm, it’s a UK joke…sorry…I couldn’t help it…)