[TML] Computer problems

[shadow at shadowgard.com]

On 25 Jul 2008 at 2:27, GDWGAMES at aol.com wrote:

> OK, my "new" machine broke down in a most annoying manner: I can't shut it 
> off, and the screen is blank. The monitor indicates it is in power saver mode, 
> and pulling the plug to the computer shuts it off, but plugging it back in 
> doesn't reboot. Control/alt/delete does nothing. I can't open the cd drive to kick 
> out the disc that's stuck in thee. 

CD drives have a small hole smewhere below the ray. It's sized to let 
you poke a straightened paper clip in there. Push gently but firmly 
against th metal plate there (with the power off) and it'll eject the 
CD.

> All I can figure is that this is something very fundamentally wrong. Any 
> advice? 

Likely causes: dead power supply, dead CPU, dead ram

Depending on how old it is there should be a LEd on the motherboard 
that lights up when the power is on. If it doesn't light, the power 
supply is bad or some motherbosard compenents are really, really 
dead. 

If you can borrow a compatible power supply, that's a good first 
test.

CPUs are harder to borrow for tests. But if you know if the computer 
takes single memory DIMMs or double ones, you can likely test the RAM 
easily enough. 

If it'll take singles, pull all of them (noting which sockets they 
were in. Try them one at a time in the first socket. Always make sure 
that the power is off and the motherboard power LED is off when 
changing them.

If one is bad, the system should boot ok (or at least start to) when  
one of the others is in the first socket.

If the system takes pairs of DIMMs and you only have one pair, you'll 
have to borrow some to test with. 

If you've got two pairs, pull both, noting which sockets they were in 
and try them one at a time in the first set of sockets (the silk 
screening on the board will identify which sockets are which)

Note that if your system has RAMbus memory, testing gets really ugly.

Fibally, if the powrer LED lights up, and swapping memory doesn't 
work, the CPU is the likely culprit.

But jusy to be sure, disconnect all the drives (note which cables go 
where. A few sorts of drive problems will nmake some systems act 
dead.

A last resort is pulling all the add on cards except the video. If it 
comes up, then you know it's one of the cards that's the problem and 
can try them one at a time to find the culprit.

If it's a "brand name" system like A Dell, HP or Compaq, it's likely 
not worth fixing if the above can't find the problem. Just pull the 
drives, RAM and cards and look fotr a new system to stick them in.

If it's a generic box (or a Gateway) it may be woprth sticking a new 
motherboard in.





--
Leonard Erickson (aka shadow)
shadow at shadowgard dot com