Solve : Hardware Problem - Not MoB, RAM, or CPU?

1.	Solve : Hardware Problem - Not MoB, RAM, or CPU?
Answer» What are the best troubleshooting methods to determine a hardware problem? My COMPUTER shuts down on it's own. I tried everything I could think of and finally took it to a computer technician. They said it was probably the MoB, but couldn't assure that it wasn't the RAM or CPU as well since they couldn't get power past the MoB. I contacted the MoB COMPANY and received a refurbished MoB under WARRANTY program. Still no luck. I replaced the RAM and the CPU with new hardware, but still no luck. I have a 450 power supply, so it shouldn't be a power problem. At wits end... Where Next?New board RAM replaced ? ? CPU replaced ? ? This part is confusing...did you swap the RAM/CPU into the new board or are you saying you replaced both ? ? DLoad and run MemTest to check the RAM...let it run a few hours. A CPU can only be tested by swapping it into a known good machine. My guess...PSU. Borrow one of the same wattage or greater and see if conditions improve. If so replace it and don't get a $20.00 model... First I replaced the motherboard -- still didn't work Then I replaced the RAM -- still didn't work Then I replaced the CPU -- still didn't work I can't even get the computer to stay on LONG enough to DLoad and run MemTest to check the RAM. If something is wrong with the power supply, is it possible that the power supply appears to be working but is not pushing enough power?Quote from: caparkin on June 20, 2007, 05:25:53 PM If something is wrong with the power supply, is it possible that the power supply appears to be working but is not pushing enough power? It is certainly possible. People never think about the power supply when they are troubleshooting hardware. They assume it either works or doesn't, like a light bulb. That is very MISTAKEN. A power supply has a big and complex task to do, and when they fail they don't always just go 'dead'. when you have the computer plugged in are there any lights on on the motherboard? If not then its the power supplyQuote from: TehGerg on June 21, 2007, 09:17:05 AM when you have the computer plugged in are there any lights on on the motherboard? If not then its the power supply Quote from: caparkin on June 20, 2007, 05:25:53 PM I can't even get the computer to stay on long enough to DLoad and run MemTest to check the RAM. Yes I'd say the motherboard is receiving power otherwise it wouldn't be turning on at all.A PSU could possibly be capable of starting up the PC but not capable of running it for very long. They aren't passive devices like wall warts.

Answer»

What are the best troubleshooting methods to determine a hardware problem? My COMPUTER shuts down on it's own. I tried everything I could think of and finally took it to a computer technician. They said it was probably the MoB, but couldn't assure that it wasn't the RAM or CPU as well since they couldn't get power past the MoB. I contacted the MoB COMPANY and received a refurbished MoB under WARRANTY program. Still no luck. I replaced the RAM and the CPU with new hardware, but still no luck. I have a 450 power supply, so it shouldn't be a power problem. At wits end... Where Next?New board
RAM replaced ? ?
CPU replaced ? ?

This part is confusing...did you swap the RAM/CPU into the new board or are you saying you replaced both ? ?

DLoad and run MemTest to check the RAM...let it run a few hours.
A CPU can only be tested by swapping it into a known good machine.

My guess...PSU.

Borrow one of the same wattage or greater and see if conditions improve. If so replace it and don't get a $20.00 model...
First I replaced the motherboard -- still didn't work
Then I replaced the RAM -- still didn't work
Then I replaced the CPU -- still didn't work

I can't even get the computer to stay on LONG enough to DLoad and run MemTest to check the RAM.

If something is wrong with the power supply, is it possible that the power supply appears to be working but is not pushing enough power?Quote from: caparkin on June 20, 2007, 05:25:53 PM

If something is wrong with the power supply, is it possible that the power supply appears to be working but is not pushing enough power?

It is certainly possible. People never think about the power supply when they are troubleshooting hardware. They assume it either works or doesn't, like a light bulb. That is very MISTAKEN. A power supply has a big and complex task to do, and when they fail they don't always just go 'dead'.

when you have the computer plugged in are there any lights on on the motherboard? If not then its the power supplyQuote from: TehGerg on June 21, 2007, 09:17:05 AM

when you have the computer plugged in are there any lights on on the motherboard? If not then its the power supply

Quote from: caparkin on June 20, 2007, 05:25:53 PM

I can't even get the computer to stay on long enough to DLoad and run MemTest to check the RAM.

Yes I'd say the motherboard is receiving power otherwise it wouldn't be turning on at all.A PSU could possibly be capable of starting up the PC but not capable of running it for very long. They aren't passive devices like wall warts.

Solve : Hardware Problem - Not MoB, RAM, or CPU?

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