A
\ AA Smith\
I'm working to resolve a strange problem.
The initial problem with this computer several weeks ago was a defective 250 watt power supply. I replaced that and everything seemed ok. The users had no further trouble with the system until last week when the screen went blank while the user was online. From then on, the user could not get the computer to boot up.
I'm not referring to a BSOD situation; that would actually represent an improvement over the computer's current situation. The computer simply won't boot even though the Power light and the red disk activity light turn on when we press the power button. That is, the computer does not issue the usual beep after we press the power button, and it displays absolutely nothing on the monitor. The red disk activity light remains on solid along with the green power light until I unplug the computer. It will not even power down when we press and hold the Power button for a looooong time; much longer than the few seconds it should take to power the computer down.
I tried replacing the Pentium III 450 MHz processor with another one, but that made no difference whatsoever. I reseated all of the connectors as well as the two SDRAM sticks. That made no difference either. So, I finally REPLACED the MOTHERBOARD. However, the computer STILL refuses to boot up. It continues to do exactly the same thing that I've described above. And, I've ruled out the possibility of anything being caught between the motherboard and metal cabinet.
Is it possible that a defective hard disk could actually keep a motherboard from performing its initial startup process? If not, I'd very much appreciate your help in determining what's wrong with this system. I've built and repaired several dozen computers, but I haven't run into anything like this until now.
This computer is an ATX clone with an ASUS P3B-F motherboard, with a Pentium III 450 MHz processor, 128mb SDRAM, a 40gb Western Digital hard drive, 3-1/2" floppy, and CD-ROM drive.
The initial problem with this computer several weeks ago was a defective 250 watt power supply. I replaced that and everything seemed ok. The users had no further trouble with the system until last week when the screen went blank while the user was online. From then on, the user could not get the computer to boot up.
I'm not referring to a BSOD situation; that would actually represent an improvement over the computer's current situation. The computer simply won't boot even though the Power light and the red disk activity light turn on when we press the power button. That is, the computer does not issue the usual beep after we press the power button, and it displays absolutely nothing on the monitor. The red disk activity light remains on solid along with the green power light until I unplug the computer. It will not even power down when we press and hold the Power button for a looooong time; much longer than the few seconds it should take to power the computer down.
I tried replacing the Pentium III 450 MHz processor with another one, but that made no difference whatsoever. I reseated all of the connectors as well as the two SDRAM sticks. That made no difference either. So, I finally REPLACED the MOTHERBOARD. However, the computer STILL refuses to boot up. It continues to do exactly the same thing that I've described above. And, I've ruled out the possibility of anything being caught between the motherboard and metal cabinet.
Is it possible that a defective hard disk could actually keep a motherboard from performing its initial startup process? If not, I'd very much appreciate your help in determining what's wrong with this system. I've built and repaired several dozen computers, but I haven't run into anything like this until now.
This computer is an ATX clone with an ASUS P3B-F motherboard, with a Pentium III 450 MHz processor, 128mb SDRAM, a 40gb Western Digital hard drive, 3-1/2" floppy, and CD-ROM drive.