Bad Mboard, CPU or ?

[kramer.newsreader]

Hey Guys,

Recently, my computer stopped working. When I press the power button,
the power supply fan spins and it beeps. I hear some clicking sort of
like what I would hear when it is working, but not quite. I removed
all the devices except the mboard, and primary (boot) hd. The same
thing happens or the ps fan jsut spins and it doesn't beep at all. At
first, I thought it would be that the ps is bad, but I tested the PS
and the 5 volt boot pin is giving 3-4 volts (part of the low voltage
could be that I'm not holding the test probe far enough in, but 3-4
volts ought to be enough). The 12 volt pins are getting 11-12 volts
while ps is running.

Thus it seems that either the motherboard is bad or maybe there is a
problem with the CPU. I doubt the boot hard drive is bad because it
doesn't seem to get to the point in the boot process where it would be
looking for the MBR, but I'm not really sure. Is there any way that I
can determine more specifically what's wrong. Are there any simple
motherboard tests. If my motherboard is bad, can I tell if my CPU is
also bad. I'm going to upgrade any way, but if I have a good CPU, I'll
buy a cheap motherboard to go with it and build a second box. If my
CPU is bad, I don't want to buy a motherboard to test it.

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks.

 

[Lawrence Lucier]

Hey Guys,

Recently, my computer stopped working. When I press the power button,
the power supply fan spins and it beeps. I hear some clicking sort of
like what I would hear when it is working, but not quite. I removed
all the devices except the mboard, and primary (boot) hd. The same
thing happens or the ps fan jsut spins and it doesn't beep at all. At
first, I thought it would be that the ps is bad, but I tested the PS
and the 5 volt boot pin is giving 3-4 volts (part of the low voltage
could be that I'm not holding the test probe far enough in, but 3-4
volts ought to be enough). The 12 volt pins are getting 11-12 volts
while ps is running.

Thus it seems that either the motherboard is bad or maybe there is a
problem with the CPU. I doubt the boot hard drive is bad because it
doesn't seem to get to the point in the boot process where it would be
looking for the MBR, but I'm not really sure. Is there any way that I
can determine more specifically what's wrong. Are there any simple
motherboard tests. If my motherboard is bad, can I tell if my CPU is
also bad. I'm going to upgrade any way, but if I have a good CPU, I'll
buy a cheap motherboard to go with it and build a second box. If my
CPU is bad, I don't want to buy a motherboard to test it.

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks.

Have you tried booting from a floppy or CD?

 

[kramer.newsreader]

It doesn't work. It doesn't even try to read the floppy or cd drives.

 

[Lawrence Lucier]

Hey Guys,

Recently, my computer stopped working. When I press the power button,
the power supply fan spins and it beeps. I hear some clicking sort of
like what I would hear when it is working, but not quite. I removed
all the devices except the mboard, and primary (boot) hd. The same
thing happens or the ps fan jsut spins and it doesn't beep at all. At
first, I thought it would be that the ps is bad, but I tested the PS
and the 5 volt boot pin is giving 3-4 volts (part of the low voltage
could be that I'm not holding the test probe far enough in, but 3-4
volts ought to be enough). The 12 volt pins are getting 11-12 volts
while ps is running.

Quite honestly if I was reading 3 volts on a 5 volt line, I would be
concerned........high 4 volts, OK but not 3 volts.

Thus it seems that either the motherboard is bad or maybe there is a
problem with the CPU. I doubt the boot hard drive is bad because it
doesn't seem to get to the point in the boot process where it would be
looking for the MBR, but I'm not really sure.

In a later message you responded to my reply with the following:

It doesn't work. It doesn't even try to read the floppy or cd drives.

<quote off>

Then what point does it get to? Is there anything displayed on the
monitor? Can you access the BIOS? Have you checked the BIOS settings?
Have you tried erasing the CMOS (remove battery etc)? How old is
the battery? Have you checked the voltage on it?

Is there any way that I
can determine more specifically what's wrong. Are there any simple
motherboard tests.

Swap out the memory/power supply, check voltages on motherboard, check
for bulging/leaking capacitors, burnt components, lifted traces, bad
solder connections etc.

 

[CBFalconer]

It doesn't work. It doesn't even try to read the floppy or cd drives.

What doesn't work? Your dog, child, wives, faucet, bicycle? Why
should any of them (apart from wives) be expected to read floppy or
cd drives?

In this particular case it doesn't matter too much, but in general
on usenet you should realize that readers may very well not have
convenient access to previous articles in a thread. That means
that your reply articles should include adequate context, so that
they stand by themselves. Google is NOT usenet, it is only a very
poor interface to the real usenet system. To include proper
context when using google, see my sig. below. Please be sure to
read the referenced URLs.

--
"If you want to post a followup via groups.google.com, don't use
the broken "Reply" link at the bottom of the article. Click on
"show options" at the top of the article, then click on the
"Reply" at the bottom of the article headers." - Keith Thompson
More details at: <http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/>
Also see <http://www.safalra.com/special/googlegroupsreply/>

 

[Norm De Plume]

What doesn't work? Your dog, child, wives, faucet, bicycle? Why
should any of them (apart from wives) be expected to read floppy or
cd drives?

"Wives" -- plural? Unlike using a redundant power supply, ECC, or RAID
5, multiple wives tend to cause higher failure rates.

 

[Norm De Plume]

Recently, my computer stopped working. When I press the power button,
the power supply fan spins and it beeps.

I thought it would be that the ps is bad, but I tested the PS
and the 5 volt boot pin is giving 3-4 volts (part of the low voltage
could be that I'm not holding the test probe far enough in, but 3-4
volts ought to be enough). The 12 volt pins are getting 11-12 volts
while ps is running.

Thus it seems that either the motherboard is bad or maybe there is a
problem with the CPU.

Reading 3-4V isn't from bad meter probe contact because that usually
gives 0V, but some power supplies don't put out correct voltages unless
loaded down enough.

 

[kony]

Reading 3-4V isn't from bad meter probe contact because that usually
gives 0V, but some power supplies don't put out correct voltages unless
loaded down enough.

.... and what the heck is a "boot pin"?

For all we know he might be reading the wrong lead and it's
not supposed to be 5V at all.

For the OP's benefit, typically when PSU is on, the 3.3V,
5V, 12V, and 5VSB are measured and compared to their
supposed values.

 

[kramer.newsreader]

... and what the heck is a "boot pin"?

Pin 9 - the one with the purple lead.

For all we know he might be reading the wrong lead and it's
not supposed to be 5V at all.

For the OP's benefit, typically when PSU is on, the 3.3V,
5V, 12V, and 5VSB are measured and compared to their
supposed values.

That's what I did. The rest are okay pin 9 was a bit on the low side
low 4 V instead of 5 V.

 

[kramer.newsreader]

Then what point does it get to? Is there anything displayed on the
monitor? Can you access the BIOS? Have you checked the BIOS settings?
Have you tried erasing the CMOS (remove battery etc)? How old is
the battery? Have you checked the voltage on it?

I wasn't aware that Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductors had
batteries (or is it a different CMOS you are refering to?). Please
explain further.

Swap out the memory/power supply,

I wish that I had spares lying around. I guess that I can buy a new
PS, but if I have to buy new memory, I'll just upgrade motherboard and
CPU while I'm at it..

check voltages on motherboard,

Please be more specific. I checked the voltage on the P1 connector
while the PSU was running. The pin 9 (boot pin) seemed a little low,
but nothing to be so concerned about.
Is that what you are refering to or

check
for bulging/leaking capacitors, burnt components, lifted traces, bad
solder connections etc.

What do you mean by lifted traces?

I did a quick inspection of the motherboard, but saw none of those
other things, but I'll look it over a little more carefully.

 

[kony]

Pin 9 - the one with the purple lead.

You had failed to mention your specific system. Feel free
to do so.

A standard ATX PSU has 5VSB on pin 9, there is no pin termed
a "boot pin". Indeed, it should be near 5.0V, excepting
that some OEMs had in the past used proprietary PSU that did
not follow this scheme.

That's what I did. The rest are okay pin 9 was a bit on the low side
low 4 V instead of 5 V.

You might have your USB jumpered to use 5VSB and it is
causing a higher load than the PSU can support. Unplug the
keyboard, mouse, etc, all USB peripherals and recheck that
voltage, and try to power up the system. Your motherboard
manual may mention whether there is a jumper on the board to
switch between the main 5V rail and the 5VSB, and if your
board is jumpered to the latter it would be advisable to
jumper all to 5V instead of 5VSB, excepting any ports which
you "need" to be able to use to power on the system if such
a feature is supported by the board.

 

[Lawrence Lucier]

?????????????????? Have you checked out any of this?

I wasn't aware that Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductors had
batteries (or is it a different CMOS you are refering to?). Please
explain further.

BIOS = CMOS

I wish that I had spares lying around. I guess that I can buy a new
PS, but if I have to buy new memory, I'll just upgrade motherboard and
CPU while I'm at it..


Please be more specific. I checked the voltage on the P1 connector
while the PSU was running. The pin 9 (boot pin) seemed a little low,

Pin 9 isn't a "boot pin"........it provides a standby voltage of 5 volts.

but nothing to be so concerned about.

Says who? Not trying to be unkind here but you don't even know how to
check voltages on the motherboard......why do you assume that a power
supply that is rated for supplying a standby voltage of 5 volts is OK at
3 to 4 volts?

Is that what you are refering to or


What do you mean by lifted traces?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printed_circuit_board


I did a quick inspection of the motherboard, but saw none of those
other things, but I'll look it over a little more carefully.

Methinks you should also do a lot more reading on basic
troubleshooting/electronics.......lots of information on the net about
this topic.