Computer will power on but not boot up

[Mac]

All of a sudden my screen went all distorted this morning, so I decided to
turn my computer off. Once turned back on the lights come on and the fans run
loud but nothing happens, monitor doesn't even get a signal. I've been on
online forums most of the day and havent found any definitive solutions, just
if's and maybe's. Ive tried swapping out my power supply, hard drive, RAM,
and heatsink fan or whatever, but I get the same result each time. My worst
fear is that it's my motherboard or, heaven forbid, hard drive (since I
currently have nada backed up). Anyone have any ideas what might would have
happened all of a sudden and what could be the problem? Any help would be
appreciated, thanks.

 

[Anna]

Is the fan on your video board working?
If not, the board probably fried.
At any rate, try a different video card

Mac:
As philo suggests, it certainly sounds like a defective graphics card that's
causing the problem. So it would seem that would be the first place to
check. At the very least, determine that the card is properly seated in its
motherboard's slot.

I presume that if you disconnect *all* devices including your HDD, all
peripheral devices, optical drive(s), sound card, etc. and then power-on
your PC with *only* your motherboard, processor, heat sink, RAM, video card,
and power supply connected, you get the black screen, yes?

I assume your motherboard does not have onboard graphics capability so that
you could remove the installed graphics card and ensure the BIOS setting
indicates using that onboard graphics capability.

But the likelihood is it's a defective graphics card and you'll need to
install a different card to determine if that is so.
Anna

 

[SC Tom]

All of a sudden my screen went all distorted this morning, so I decided to
turn my computer off. Once turned back on the lights come on and the fans
run
loud but nothing happens, monitor doesn't even get a signal. I've been on
online forums most of the day and havent found any definitive solutions,
just
if's and maybe's. Ive tried swapping out my power supply, hard drive, RAM,
and heatsink fan or whatever, but I get the same result each time. My
worst
fear is that it's my motherboard or, heaven forbid, hard drive (since I
currently have nada backed up). Anyone have any ideas what might would
have
happened all of a sudden and what could be the problem? Any help would be
appreciated, thanks.

Are you sure it's not the monitor? Just because there's a power light on
doesn't mean it's working. Does it have an OSD, and does it come up?

SC Tom

 

[Anna]

Mac:
As philo suggests, it certainly sounds like a defective graphics card
that's causing the problem. So it would seem that would be the first place
to check. At the very least, determine that the card is properly seated in
its motherboard's slot.

I presume that if you disconnect *all* devices including your HDD, all
peripheral devices, optical drive(s), sound card, etc. and then power-on
your PC with *only* your motherboard, processor, heat sink, RAM, video
card, and power supply connected, you get the black screen, yes?

I assume your motherboard does not have onboard graphics capability so
that you could remove the installed graphics card and ensure the BIOS
setting indicates using that onboard graphics capability.

But the likelihood is it's a defective graphics card and you'll need to
install a different card to determine if that is so.
Anna

I forgot to mention that it's possible the problem could be a defective
monitor. I suppose you've considered that possibility.
Anna

 

[Mac]

Are you sure it's not the monitor? Just because there's a power light on
doesn't mean it's working. Does it have an OSD, and does it come up?

SC Tom

The monitors fine, before when the computer messed up the fans would start
loud then gradually go quiet and everything would boot up fine....now the
fans continuously run loud and nothing happens otherwise. As for everyone
else who responded, thanks I appreciate it, and I'll check the video/graphics
card to see if thats the problem.

 

[Paul]

The monitors fine, before when the computer messed up the fans would start
loud then gradually go quiet and everything would boot up fine....now the
fans continuously run loud and nothing happens otherwise. As for everyone
else who responded, thanks I appreciate it, and I'll check the video/graphics
card to see if thats the problem.

The fans running fast, means the CPU is not starting. If
the CPU was running, it would be able to do some minimal
programming of the SuperI/O chip, and its fan control
hardware interface. So something is preventing that
BIOS code from running.

Does your computer normally beep once when it starts up ?

Is it still beeping once ? Do you hear no beeps, or some
kind of repeating beep pattern ?

If it is completely silent, whereas before it beeped once,
that too might indicate that the processor is not running
at the current time.

If the computer has a speaker or beeper, you can use that
for some crude testing. If the computer has a separate
video card, removing it should give three beeps. If you
heard the beeps, then you know the CPU is running, as it
makes the beeps. If you removed all the RAM, perhaps you'd hear
two beeps. (Remove hardware or make adjustments, with the
AC power cord disconnected. That protects the hardware from
+5VSB derived voltages in the sockets.) You can do
simple go/no_go tests, by removing the components,
and then interpreting the beep pattern that results.

Some Dell computers, have four diagnostic lights located
somewhere on the computer. A Dell manual may list ten
different codes the display can show. If you had a display
like that, it further adds to what you know about the failure.

Popular failing components, are things like the power
supply. On some Emachines, a power supply failure can
ruin the motherboard. So that one is a double whammy.
On other computers, a new supply may be all that is
needed.

Some receot computers have had the "capacitor plague".
So many computers of that type have failed, that
some entrepreneurs have started web sites dedicated
to fixing those specific computers. So that is another
possibility.

http://www.badcaps.net/images/caps/kt7/image004.png

By you naming the computer (Dell GX280 or the like),
someone may recognize a popular problem it suffers from.

Paul

 

[Mac]

The fans running fast, means the CPU is not starting. If
the CPU was running, it would be able to do some minimal
programming of the SuperI/O chip, and its fan control
hardware interface. So something is preventing that
BIOS code from running.

Does your computer normally beep once when it starts up ?

Is it still beeping once ? Do you hear no beeps, or some
kind of repeating beep pattern ?

If it is completely silent, whereas before it beeped once,
that too might indicate that the processor is not running
at the current time.

If the computer has a speaker or beeper, you can use that
for some crude testing. If the computer has a separate
video card, removing it should give three beeps. If you
heard the beeps, then you know the CPU is running, as it
makes the beeps. If you removed all the RAM, perhaps you'd hear
two beeps. (Remove hardware or make adjustments, with the
AC power cord disconnected. That protects the hardware from
+5VSB derived voltages in the sockets.) You can do
simple go/no_go tests, by removing the components,
and then interpreting the beep pattern that results.

Some Dell computers, have four diagnostic lights located
somewhere on the computer. A Dell manual may list ten
different codes the display can show. If you had a display
like that, it further adds to what you know about the failure.

Popular failing components, are things like the power
supply. On some Emachines, a power supply failure can
ruin the motherboard. So that one is a double whammy.
On other computers, a new supply may be all that is
needed.

Some receot computers have had the "capacitor plague".
So many computers of that type have failed, that
some entrepreneurs have started web sites dedicated
to fixing those specific computers. So that is another
possibility.

http://www.badcaps.net/images/caps/kt7/image004.png

By you naming the computer (Dell GX280 or the like),
someone may recognize a popular problem it suffers from.

Paul

Sadly, its an emachine, model W3115 and as for beeping, yes it did once
before the fans started to quiet down after being turned on. Now it makes no
sound other than the fans running extremely loudly. I've swapped out the
power supply with another and I still had the same result, if it does turn
out to be my motherboard, I'll just break down and buy a new computer, I
don't know the price ranges on new motherboards but I'd guess them to be
expensive. Only thing I'm worried about is it being my hard drive (since I
don't have anything backed up), but from the responses I've gotten, it seems
like it's something else causing the problem. There's a local repair shop up
the road, I'm probably going to break down and have someone there take a look
at it. I don't know enough about the internals of computers to trust myself
to mess with it anymore, but i really do appreciate the help you all have
given. If the hard drives fine, then i dont particularly care about the
computer itself, I've had nothing but problems with it since I bought it.

 

[SC Tom]

I forgot to mention that it's possible the problem could be a defective
monitor. I suppose you've considered that possibility.
Anna

I suggested that right before you did. He was too enthused with that
suggestion

SC Tom

 

[Paul]

Sadly, its an emachine, model W3115 and as for beeping, yes it did once
before the fans started to quiet down after being turned on. Now it makes no
sound other than the fans running extremely loudly. I've swapped out the
power supply with another and I still had the same result, if it does turn
out to be my motherboard, I'll just break down and buy a new computer, I
don't know the price ranges on new motherboards but I'd guess them to be
expensive. Only thing I'm worried about is it being my hard drive (since I
don't have anything backed up), but from the responses I've gotten, it seems
like it's something else causing the problem. There's a local repair shop up
the road, I'm probably going to break down and have someone there take a look
at it. I don't know enough about the internals of computers to trust myself
to mess with it anymore, but i really do appreciate the help you all have
given. If the hard drives fine, then i dont particularly care about the
computer itself, I've had nothing but problems with it since I bought it.

According to this, the original supply in the W3115 is the Bestec ATX-250-12E.

http://www.cputopia.com/emachine-480w-w-series-w3115.html

My guess is, the motherboard is dead, killed by the power supply.
Dunno what the odds are on your hard drive...

Paul

 

[SC Tom]

I suggested that right before you did. He was too enthused with that
suggestion

SC Tom

Correction: That should be "NOT too enthused."

 

[Mac]

According to this, the original supply in the W3115 is the Bestec ATX-250-12E.

http://www.cputopia.com/emachine-480w-w-series-w3115.html

My guess is, the motherboard is dead, killed by the power supply.
Dunno what the odds are on your hard drive...

Paul

Hard drive isn't the original, I had to have it replaced a couple of years
back, as well as the modem. As for the motherboard, that's what i was afraid
of. Thanks again.

 

[Mac]

OOps emachine...

too bad

I do a lot of computer repair work and unfortunately the emachines tend
to loose motherboards *a lot*

Yea, my sis's "died" as well...never owning another one.

 

[Rich]

Sadly, its an emachine, model W3115 and as for beeping, yes it did once
before the fans started to quiet down after being turned on. Now it makes
no
sound other than the fans running extremely loudly. I've swapped out the
power supply with another and I still had the same result, if it does turn
out to be my motherboard, I'll just break down and buy a new computer, I
don't know the price ranges on new motherboards but I'd guess them to be
expensive. Only thing I'm worried about is it being my hard drive (since I
don't have anything backed up), but from the responses I've gotten, it
seems
like it's something else causing the problem. There's a local repair shop
up
the road, I'm probably going to break down and have someone there take a
look
at it. I don't know enough about the internals of computers to trust
myself
to mess with it anymore, but i really do appreciate the help you all have
given. If the hard drives fine, then i dont particularly care about the
computer itself, I've had nothing but problems with it since I bought it.

Just make sure you've covered all the basic troubleshooting options before
you pay to have it looked at. Although I am using an old Dell, I run 3
eMachines in this household embarrassed to admit). They are 1 to 3 years old
& all I have needed to do was replace the DVD in the oldest one. Anyway,
about 6 months ago, the oldest of these suddenly would not boot. It was my
wife's computer & I received the exasperating phone call from her when I was
at my son's baseball game. The symptoms were not exactly like yours. It
would begin to power up & then immediately shut down. Because it was an
eMachine, I immediately jumped to the bad PSU/MB assumption & went so far as
to swap the PSU's between eMachines. The PSU from the "dead" computer worked
fine in another box & a known good PSU exhibited the same symptoms in the
"dead" box. As a last resort just to rule out everything else, I
disconnected everything & the plain box booted up. As I added components, I
quickly discovered that it was an old external USB hub that my wife had told
me was giving her strange error messages about voltage while she was in
Windows. Eliminating it fixed the computer.
Long story short, did you rule out everything by disconnecting all
components & starting the computer?
Just a thought.

Rich

 

[w_tom]

Yea, my sis's "died" as well...never owning another one.

After so much work, you have a list of what you know is good and
what is bad? That is the point. Accomplishment is near zero because
you attempted to fix things by swapping rather than first learn facts.

Now, the first thing that can make everything else look defective is
the power supply 'system'. Note the work system which means more than
just a power supply. Even a perfectly good supply can appear
defective in a perfectly good computer. To know that the power supply
'system' is working requires a meter. No other method provides a
definitive (no doubt) answer. Even a defective power supply will
still spin fans.

Procedure to get numbers (so that you have an answer or so that the
informed can post something useful) was posted in "When your computer
dies without warning....." starting 6 Feb 2007 in the newsgroup
alt.windows-xp at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh
Connector chart to locate each color:
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/power/atxpower.html

Less than two minutes of labor. Without the massive risk you
exposed hardware to by swapping parts. In your case, most important
numbers start with DC voltages on the green, gray, and purple wire.
IOW measure each voltage (by pushing the probe into the nylon
connector from power supply to motherboard) both before and when power
switch is pressed. Yes, this even reports on the power switch
connections, quality of AC power, etc. But only if you also post
those numbers here.

Without those numbers, every reply will only be "it could be this or
could be that".

Also useful would be numbers from any one orange, red, and yellow
wires when power switch is pressed. Does any one voltage not even
attempt to rise? Key information that means nothing to you and is
significant the few who actually know this stuff. Also notice how the
best analysis begins. By disconnection or swapping nothing.

Meters are sold often where hammers are sold for about the same
price as a hammer. A blunt comment about others who cry because they
don't have a meter - who actually entertain their fears rather than
solve the problem. Get a 3.5 digit multimeter to save money, to get a
useful reply without speculation, and fix it the first time. Only
then can we move on to other suspects.

Or keep buying and swapping parts until it was cheaper to buy a new
computer. Idea is to first know what is good. To move on to other
suspect - and don't even look back. Your progress is measured in a
list of what is definitively known good. Currently that list is empty
- nothing has yet been accomplished.

 

[Mac]

Just make sure you've covered all the basic troubleshooting options before
you pay to have it looked at. Although I am using an old Dell, I run 3
eMachines in this household embarrassed to admit). They are 1 to 3 years old
& all I have needed to do was replace the DVD in the oldest one. Anyway,
about 6 months ago, the oldest of these suddenly would not boot. It was my
wife's computer & I received the exasperating phone call from her when I was
at my son's baseball game. The symptoms were not exactly like yours. It
would begin to power up & then immediately shut down. Because it was an
eMachine, I immediately jumped to the bad PSU/MB assumption & went so far as
to swap the PSU's between eMachines. The PSU from the "dead" computer worked
fine in another box & a known good PSU exhibited the same symptoms in the
"dead" box. As a last resort just to rule out everything else, I
disconnected everything & the plain box booted up. As I added components, I
quickly discovered that it was an old external USB hub that my wife had told
me was giving her strange error messages about voltage while she was in
Windows. Eliminating it fixed the computer.
Long story short, did you rule out everything by disconnecting all
components & starting the computer?
Just a thought.

Rich

Yea, I went ahead and took it to a repair shop and they confirmed that my
motherboards fried. I don't exactly feel bad considering there were 5 other
emachines in there, lol. They're checking my hard drive to see if it' fine,
in which case I'll just swap it with another system. Thanks again for the
help.

 

[Leythos]

Yea, I went ahead and took it to a repair shop and they confirmed that my
motherboards fried. I don't exactly feel bad considering there were 5 other
emachines in there, lol. They're checking my hard drive to see if it' fine,
in which case I'll just swap it with another system. Thanks again for the
help.

E-machines have always been crap, always. It's a good thing you didn't
waste money on a that Multimeter that W-Tom wanted you to purchase and
learn how to use - it can't diagnose a bad motherboard.

 

[Nehal]

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[Agile Consulting]

Samsung is a brand of Computers, Mobiles, ipode etc{{http://
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[Agile Consulting]

Samsung is a brand of Computers, Mobiles, ipode etc{{http://
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[Agile Consulting]

Samsung is a brand of Computers, Mobiles, ipode etc{{http://
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