Computer won't boot

[Trent©]

I apologize for not telling you about the other PS but after I replaced it
and my system worked fine for a couple weeks I thought it was just the PS.

Its okay...happens all the time.

If either of you think it will help I will be glad to send a post with all
the changes and events for the last two to three weeks that could have a
bearing on any advice you might give.

Not really necessary at this point.

Here's my synopsis...

You should try to boot into the BIOS with nothing installed on the mb
except the basics...

CPU w/fan
Memory
Video card (with a KNOWN working monitor attached)

If you start the computer with just this...and it won't boot...one or
more of the above is the culprit.

Good luck.


Have a nice week...

Trent

If the cheese isn't yours...its Nacho cheese, man!

 

[Your Name]

OK Trent. First I removed everything but CPU w/fan ,Memory,
Video card. Same old thing. Then I removed everything but CPU w/fan. Same,
no beep no nothing. As I was removing these things I did notice a bulging
capacitor close to the CPU. All the rest are flat. Can just one capacitor
cause all my trouble?
William

 

[kony]

OK Trent. First I removed everything but CPU w/fan ,Memory,
Video card. Same old thing. Then I removed everything but CPU w/fan. Same,
no beep no nothing. As I was removing these things I did notice a bulging
capacitor close to the CPU. All the rest are flat. Can just one capacitor
cause all my trouble?

Yes it can, but if one is bad there could easily be others with
problems too, even if they aren't visually deformed.

 

[Your Name]

So I would be better off to get another mother board and upgrade to a faster
CPU?
William

 

[kony]

So I would be better off to get another mother board and upgrade to a faster
CPU?
William

You never told us about the motherboard make/model, CPU, etc, nor the
more demanding uses of the system... or did I overlook it?

If you were already thinking of upgrade in the (relatively) short
term, if the CPU is slower than needed, it might make sense. Still
there are too many varables to advise one way or the other.


Dave

 

[Trent©]

OK Trent. First I removed everything but CPU w/fan ,Memory,
Video card. Same old thing. Then I removed everything but CPU w/fan. Same,
no beep no nothing. As I was removing these things I did notice a bulging
capacitor close to the CPU. All the rest are flat. Can just one capacitor
cause all my trouble?
William

Yup!!


Have a nice week...

Trent

If the cheese isn't yours...its Nacho cheese, man!

 

[Your Name]

Kony

I may have but I can't remember so here it is. Mother board is an AZ11with a
1GHz cpu, 256mb memory ( go up to 1.5 gb DRAM ), AMD bus data trnnsfer rate
of 100MHz possible 200MGz, Audio on board in/out, 2 USB ports, serial port,
parallel port, one AGP and 5 PCI expansion slots. Does most everything I
want but thought if cost of repair close to cost of new mother board might
as well go for faster. Mainly use is making CD Roms, Internet and Finance.
What do you think?

William

 

[kony]

Kony

I may have but I can't remember so here it is. Mother board is an AZ11with a
1GHz cpu, 256mb memory ( go up to 1.5 gb DRAM ), AMD bus data trnnsfer rate
of 100MHz possible 200MGz, Audio on board in/out, 2 USB ports, serial port,
parallel port, one AGP and 5 PCI expansion slots. Does most everything I
want but thought if cost of repair close to cost of new mother board might
as well go for faster. Mainly use is making CD Roms, Internet and Finance.
What do you think?

William

Well the cost of repair, if you are able to solder new capacitors on
youself, is less than $15. The cost of an equivalent motherboard
might be around $40 online... just depends on what can be found, a
lot of surplus/closeout/etc type websites would be clearing out boards
of that age, if they still have any. If I remember correctly that's
a mATX board, so if your case is only mATX it's a consideration for a
replacement board. Any newer board should accept the CPU but another
limitation is one supporting the PC100/133 memory.

A new board supporting significant numbers of new features would be
roughly $60+, and require replacing the memory to DDR, so rounded off
it's closer to $100. Then adding the CPU, possibly another $50-150
depending on speed. There's a possibility you'd need a new heatsink
too, would come with the retail CPU or a better, quiter, aftermarket
'sink might be another $25. If you have a relatively old video card
that's AGP v1, it's not compatible with a new(er) model motherboard's
AGP slot. We or the video card manufacturer should be able to
determien that if you're not able to.

We can't make the call, how much you're wanting to spend. A 1GHz CPU
based system is enough to do the tasks you mention. Since you already
have the memory and CPU, if it were me I'd repair or replace the
motherboard... even if you want a faster system that makes a nice 2nd,
backup system. Then consider that with each performance upgrade,
you're facing the potential that the case and power supply are nearer
their max capacity, for power or heat removal... generally the
ballpark for faster parts is 300W PSU in a name-brand unit, and a case
with reasonable front air intake vents and a mostly unobstructed rear
exhaust fan under the power supply (or in some equivalent location if
your power supply isn't in the very top of the system, considering
it's a mATX board).

So looking at the numbers, the cost of upgrade quickly adds up, but it
may easily be the best long-term value, if you were already thinking
you'd like more performance, it would be a noticable performance
increase to realatively modern parts, though if the hard drive is same
age as rest of system you'd benefit from a new(er) hard drive too.

 

[w_tom]

Replace the capacitor and any others of equivalent value
that might be from same defective batch. If nothing else, you
have learned something.

Repairing items is rarely done to save money - a change from
decades previous. But the experience is both useful and
educational. It provides a new perspective on how things
work. Try it. What do you have to lose? Some time? Worse
case downside is the motherboard is still defective - as it is
now.

 

[Your Name]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I agree with both of you. I think I will try yo
replace the capacitors. Like you said what have I got to loose. If I did
later on or if I can't get my old mother board to work I went with a new
mother board or system what is the best way to get my data and programs off
my now hard drive?
William

 

[Paul L]

that board is prob. 5-7 layers, good luck soldering a cap

 

[Trent©]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I agree with both of you. I think I will try yo
replace the capacitors.

If you want practice in soldering caps, go to Radio Shack and buy an
electronics kit. That way, you'll know when you've done it right.

Your chance of getting that mb running by replacing parts is slim to
none!

Like you said what have I got to loose.

What do you have to GAIN!? If you get it running, at best you'll have
a weak mb that you can't depend on.

At the very least, I'd first verify that the problem IS the mb. You
can do this by checking all the other parts in another machine...maybe
the one yer posting from.

If I did
later on or if I can't get my old mother board to work I went with a new
mother board or system what is the best way to get my data and programs off
my now hard drive?

If you go with a new mb...just use that drive.

If you go with a new system, clone it over...with Ghost, etc.


Have a nice week...

Trent

If the cheese isn't yours...its Nacho cheese, man!

 

[bearman]

When you remove the old capacitors, leave their leads sticking out of the
board then you can solder the new caps to them. I think.

Bearman