good old-fashioned hardware problem

[Robert Socrates]

So is this your Motherboard????

http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=1&prod_no=568

http://www.msi.com/uploads/prod_5f7bd3d241425aa4501ffbfb1acd3cb8.jpg

no, this is:

http://www.blackmetal.enterpol.pl/msi.jpg

 

[GMAN]

no, this is:

http://www.blackmetal.enterpol.pl/msi.jpg

check to see if any of the capacitors (The barrel looking things) have bulged
or leaked. Those green colored capacitors look awfully familiar to the ones
that have had so much trouble in the past. Seeing as that you hadnt booted
the computer in years, they may have drie out and were damaged when powered
on.


See here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=195

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/120329818_0e20370795_m.jpg

http://www.electronicrepairguide.com/slightbulged.jpg

 

[Robert Socrates]

check to see if any of the capacitors (The barrel looking things) have
bulged or leaked. Those green colored capacitors look awfully familiar
to the ones that have had so much trouble in the past. Seeing as that
you hadnt booted the computer in years, they may have drie out and were
damaged when powered on.


See here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=195

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/120329818_0e20370795_m.jpg

http://www.electronicrepairguide.com/slightbulged.jpg

actually, I did boot it every few months. I just had it standing at my
parents' place ( you know, cheap storage...) and only used it on visits.
It was definitely working fine just last week.
But i'll check anyway.