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Answer» Hi
The problem is that when I turn on the computer it is unable to boot even as far as bios. The fans come one (including CPU fan), it seems to be trying to talk to the CD drives. The boot process does not get started, it does not get into bios and nothing is displayed on the monitor. I do not think it could be the video as there is normally a beep shortly into the regular boot which does not happen either.
I suspect the problem has to be with the motherboard, but optimistically I'm hoping this major failure is something simpler than that. I can't easily switch out the mboard.
CPU: AMD Sempron 3100+ overclocked from 1.8 to 1.99ghz.
MBoard: ASRock Combo-Z [using socket 754] [Uli 1689 chipset]
Graphics: Leadtech/Nvidia 64mb somethingerother
1 stick of 512mb ram
WinXPsp2
What chance is there that replacing the battery could make all the difference? Surely that shouldn't affect bios booting up. (Obviously, I have tried and can't boot to a live linux CD). It is WinXP, and I have had periodical blue screens of death (every few days) while playing online games. The "prevent damage to computer" message maybe didn't succeed... I don't know.
Help! THANKS in advance!
~NickQuote This is the cause of numerous PC problems where lights and fans are operating but it won't boot. This occurs because the power good signal is not received.
When the power supply first starts up, it takes some time for the components to get "up to speed" and start generating the proper DC voltages that the computer needs to operate. Before this time, if the computer were allowed to try to boot up, strange results could occur since the power might not be at the right voltage. It can take a half-second or longer for the power to stabilize, and this is an eternity to a processor that can run half a billion instructions per second! To prevent the computer from starting up prematurely, the power supply puts out a signal to the motherboard called "Power Good" (or "PowerGood", or "Power OK", or "PWR OK" and so on) after it completes its internal TESTS and determines that the power is ready for use. Until this signal is sent, the motherboard will refuse to start up the computer.
In addition, the power supply will turn off the Power Good signal if a power SURGE or glitch causes it to malfunction. It will then turn the signal back on when the power is OK again, which will reset the computer. If you've ever had a brownout where the lights flicker off for a split-second and the computer seems to keep running but resets itself, that's probably what happened. Sometimes a power supply may shut down and seem "blown" after a power problem but will reset itself if the power is turned off for 15 seconds and then turned back on.
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=power_good_signalThank you! I haven't got a solution yet - still tinkering with things that feed and take power from the supply. It is (or at least was) a decent Aopen supply, I don't remember the exact numbers, but changing that is less agony than the Mboard.QuoteI suspect the problem has to be with the motherboard, but optimistically I'm hoping this major failure is something simpler than that. I can't easily switch out the mboard.
From what you have told me, I think so as well. But try the following none the less:
- Reset CMOS
- Test the motherboard with other hardware components (PSU, processor, etc)
Hi again,
Just to let you know that the computer is functioning well an happily... [or almost - the keyboard seems to have dc'd and while it worked fine when the pc was lying open on the floor it's now kicking up a fuss...] BuT having decided the problem was most likely to be power supply (or at least that being the cheapest starting point) I bought a new one and installed it and now it is kicking along.
Thanks for your pointer - the faulty power supply was clearly the problem and it's all resolved now. If it hadn't been for your very astute pointer it WOULD have been weeks to get a solution.
~SlavaI'm glad it's sorted out for you, that link to PSU stuff is a very good read, there's a lot more to PSUs than anyone would expect.
Let us know if you need advice on your keyboard problems.Thanks Fed,
That just fixed my friends computer I was looking at!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Two for the price of one.
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