No boot, just shuts down before P.O.S.T.

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1D1OT
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1D1OT

My self-built Win XP Pro MCE machine will not boot. The BioStar splash
screen comes on, but then the machine shuts down before the P.O.S.T. data
displays.

Biostar mobo, P-4 3.0 GB dual core, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB Hitachi IDE HDD, one LG
DVD IDE combo drive. multi-slot card reader (no cards inserted), no floppy
drive.

I've unplugged all peripherals, including the LAN cable. The machine is part
of a 6 box LAN. All was fine at last shutdown after an update of MS
Defender.

Advice appreciated! TIA
 
1D1OT said:
My self-built Win XP Pro MCE machine will not boot. The BioStar splash
screen comes on, but then the machine shuts down before the P.O.S.T. data
displays.

Biostar mobo, P-4 3.0 GB dual core, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB Hitachi IDE HDD, one
LG
DVD IDE combo drive. multi-slot card reader (no cards inserted), no floppy
drive.

I've unplugged all peripherals, including the LAN cable. The machine is
part
of a 6 box LAN. All was fine at last shutdown after an update of MS
Defender.

Advice appreciated! TIA

Since the machine shuts down before the POST, this is not a Windows but a
hardware issue. Best to ask the experts in a hardware newsgroup.
 
1D1OT said:
My self-built Win XP Pro MCE machine will not boot. The BioStar splash
screen comes on, but then the machine shuts down before the P.O.S.T. data
displays.

Biostar mobo, P-4 3.0 GB dual core, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB Hitachi IDE HDD, one
LG
DVD IDE combo drive. multi-slot card reader (no cards inserted), no floppy
drive.

I've unplugged all peripherals, including the LAN cable. The machine is
part
of a 6 box LAN. All was fine at last shutdown after an update of MS
Defender.

Advice appreciated! TIA

Check your CPU and/or power supply fans. They're the most common reasons for
immediate shut down before POST.

SC Tom
 
Check your CPU and/or power supply fans. They're the most common reasons
for immediate shut down before POST.

Thanks for the quick reply Tom. I found the problem, but I'm worried about
the ramifications. May have burned out the CPU. See the pic:
http://flickr.com/photos/joearnold/3303889951/sizes/o/

The metal retainer didn't touch any conductors, but the CPU may have
overheated. I don't have another plastic cooler mount to try. Any
suggestions?

Thanks again,
Joe Arnold
 
1D1OT said:
I found the problem, but I'm worried about
the ramifications. May have burned out the CPU. See the pic:
http://flickr.com/photos/joearnold/3303889951/sizes/o/

The metal retainer didn't touch any conductors, but the CPU may have
overheated. I don't have another plastic cooler mount to try. Any
suggestions?

Thanks again,
Joe Arnold

So if I interpret the picture correctly (which shows what looks like a
complete retainer bracker along with perhaps a broken tab from the CPU
socket), the tab broke off the CPU socket so now the retainer bracker
won't hold the heatsink against the CPU (since the socket itself is
probably a zero-force socket with a lever that squeezes the pins on the
CPU to hold it in place).

Are there any other tabs on the CPU socket which the retainer might use?

Otherwise, and off the top of my head, you're going to have to wipe the
old thermal paste off the CPU and heatsink, apply a thin layer of it
back on the heatsink, and then put 4 small dabs of epoxy on the corners
of the CPU so to permanently affix the heatsink to the CPU (i.e., you
put new thermal paste and tiny dabs of epoxy between the CPU and
heatsink). I sincerely doubt that epoxying the tang back onto the CPU
socket is going to work as the bracket would be constantly applying
pressure against that glued-on tang.

Replacing the CPU socket is beyond your abilities along with you not
having the wave-soldering equipement to correctly solder the socket onto
the motherboard. Not even computer shops attempt that. Of course, you
could replace the motherboard.

On one mobo, I managed to use wire-ties across the retaining stand which
was still affixed okay to the mobo. On another, there was an unused
hole in the mobo so I used a small bolt and threaded standoff with fiber
washer for insulation for both against the mobo and a tiny eye-bolt on
the other end of the threaded standoff so I could use a wire tie across
the heatsink to hold it down.

A hardware newsgroup, like alt.comp.hardware[.*], might have some other
tricks to try. It would probably help if you actually identified the
exact brand and model of motherboard so other users could see what was
around the CPU socket that might be tried as a fix to hold down the
heatsink against the CPU. You described the mobo. You didn't identify
it. Since you uploaded a picture of the parts (retainer bracket and
broken tang), you could also probably upload a photo of the CPU socket
to show what it looks like along its sides (where were/are the tabs) and
another photo showing what is around the CPU socket.
 
1D1OT said:
Thanks for the quick reply Tom. I found the problem, but I'm worried about
the ramifications. May have burned out the CPU. See the pic:
http://flickr.com/photos/joearnold/3303889951/sizes/o/

The metal retainer didn't touch any conductors, but the CPU may have
overheated. I don't have another plastic cooler mount to try. Any
suggestions?

Thanks again,
Joe Arnold
If the heat sink was off the CPU, but the fan was running, the CPU very well
may be fried. It's also possible that the BIOS detected the overheating and
shut down in time for self-preservation.
It looks like you may be hosed as far as mounting the heat sink again. The
piece is part of the CPU socket, if I'm not mistaken; I haven't seen one
quite like that for a long time. Mine have a wider bar on each end with 3
square holes that line up with the studs on the edges of the socket. Might
be time for a new MB :-(

SC Tom
 
If the heat sink was off the CPU, but the fan was running, the CPU very
well may be fried.

The fan does run.

It's also possible that the BIOS detected the overheating and
shut down in time for self-preservation.

With MY luck?
It looks like you may be hosed as far as mounting the heat sink again. The
piece is part of the CPU socket, if I'm not mistaken; I haven't seen one
quite like that for a long time. Mine have a wider bar on each end with 3
square holes that line up with the studs on the edges of the socket. Might
be time for a new MB :-(

Geez, I hope not. It's a socket 478 board, not available anymore AFAIK.
Mebbe time to upgrade to a more current mobo and processor.
Joe
 
1D1OT said:
The fan does run.

It's also possible that the BIOS detected the overheating and

With MY luck?


Geez, I hope not. It's a socket 478 board, not available anymore AFAIK.
Mebbe time to upgrade to a more current mobo and processor.
Joe

They're still available (somewhat). Here's one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138079

But for a few more dollars (and believe me, I know how tight they are right
now), you could get a MB, CPU, and compatible RAM. It all depends on what
you want or can spend. Of course, it then depends on if the new MB would
accept the video card you're using now (although most new MB's have built-on
video), and what you use the video for- high-speed stuff like movies and
gaming, or mostly non- or low-graphic stuff. Usually you can catch a whole
new PC on sale at Best Buy, etc., for what all the parts would cost.

Good Luck!
SC Tom
 
Strange. Someone who builds up a PC by himself and who doesn't seem to know
the difference between hardware and software. Sounds like the man who broke
a leg, then asked a shrink to fix him up . . .
 
SC Tom said:
They're still available (somewhat). Here's one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138079

But for a few more dollars (and believe me, I know how tight they are
right now), you could get a MB, CPU, and compatible RAM. It all depends on
what you want or can spend. Of course, it then depends on if the new MB
would accept the video card you're using now (although most new MB's have
built-on video), and what you use the video for- high-speed stuff like
movies and gaming, or mostly non- or low-graphic stuff.
Usually you can catch a whole new PC on sale at Best Buy, etc., for what
all the parts would cost.

That's the hell of it. BUT - the satisfaction of speccing out and having ALL
the features I want will be more rewarding in the long run. I have a good
stock of HDDs, GPUs, RAM, etc. on hand. I've done stupider things :-)
Basically, I'm just pissed, and that has cost me in the past.

Thanks again, Tom
Joe
 
Monitor said:
Strange. Someone who builds up a PC by himself and who doesn't seem to
know
the difference between hardware and software. Sounds like the man who
broke
a leg, then asked a shrink to fix him up . . .

Best advice I've seen. You're a big help.
 
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