mystery - pc won't power up

[apaus]

Hi all,

Having a problem with my pc. Gigabyte K7 m/b running AMD Athlon 2400.

A while ago it started not powering up sometimes and required me to
pull the cord out from the power supply and replace before it would
power up.

Now it has degenerated to the point where I have to leave it on all day
every day for fear it will not power up because it now takes endless
hours of continually unplugging the cord and pressing the power button.

The weird thing is it does start up but doesn't often post. Sometimes
it will give a series of beeps (like sirens - two different tones over
and over) but other times just a regular ticking type sound before
simply dying. The monitor never comes on (unless it is going to post
and boot correctly).
I find it weird that I can then leave it running for weeks on end
without a problem but have so much problem jsut trying to power it up.

I have tried replacing RAM without any results. The only thing I
noticed is that if I unplugged the HDD from power it boots up fine but
as soon as i plug the HDD back in it starts the problems again. Not
sure if it is the hard drive itself or if the PS is just not able ot
handle the HDD power requirements.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Aaron

 

[philo]

<snip>

but have so much problem jsut trying to power it up.

I have tried replacing RAM without any results. The only thing I
noticed is that if I unplugged the HDD from power it boots up fine but
as soon as i plug the HDD back in it starts the problems again. Not
sure if it is the hard drive itself or if the PS is just not able ot
handle the HDD power requirements.

Looks like the powersupply is bad.

Before you replace it...unplug the power cable assemby from the motherboard
and replug it.
If that does not help...try a different power supply

 

[Andy]

Hi all,

Having a problem with my pc. Gigabyte K7 m/b running AMD Athlon 2400.

A while ago it started not powering up sometimes and required me to
pull the cord out from the power supply and replace before it would
power up.

Now it has degenerated to the point where I have to leave it on all day
every day for fear it will not power up because it now takes endless
hours of continually unplugging the cord and pressing the power button.

The weird thing is it does start up but doesn't often post. Sometimes
it will give a series of beeps (like sirens - two different tones over
and over) but other times just a regular ticking type sound before
simply dying. The monitor never comes on (unless it is going to post
and boot correctly).
I find it weird that I can then leave it running for weeks on end
without a problem but have so much problem jsut trying to power it up.

I have tried replacing RAM without any results. The only thing I
noticed is that if I unplugged the HDD from power it boots up fine but
as soon as i plug the HDD back in it starts the problems again. Not
sure if it is the hard drive itself or if the PS is just not able ot
handle the HDD power requirements.

Leave the power connector plugged in, and just disconnect the ribbon
cable from the hard drive.

 

[apaus]

Thanks guys,
So Andy you're saying to take out the bus but leave the power
connected?

Thanks
Aaron

 

[Andy]

Thanks guys,
So Andy you're saying to take out the bus but leave the power
connected?

Thanks
Aaron

Yes. My suggestion is in response to your wondering whether the power
supply can handle the incremental load from the hard drive.
Disconnecting just the ribbon cable removes the drive from the
motherboard, but not the power supply.

 

[apaus]

Ok, thanks Andy I'll try that.
Just one more thing... If it powers up fine, that means the power
supply is the problem? Therefore if it doesn't the HDD could be faulty?

thanks again
Aaron

 

[Andy]

Ok, thanks Andy I'll try that.
Just one more thing... If it powers up fine, that means the power
supply is the problem? Therefore if it doesn't the HDD could be faulty?

thanks again
Aaron

It's the opposite.