PC is down :(

[Peter Lykkegaard]

Hi

I really need som good advice for a serious problem I have with a recently
homebuild PC

By accident the powerswitch on the wall has been switch off and then on
again immediately
This caused the PC to restart without the need to push the powerbutton on
the case
(I know and I'll change this before plugging in the PC again)

The monitor shows only a blue screen (this is also the case when I turn of
the PC)
Another monitor does not display anything (black screen)
Fans, disk etc spins but the PC does not appear on the network (probably
stopping before boot is finished

Obviously something is seriously broken
But how should I approach this problem?

If eg change the motherboard and use exiting components would I risk the new
mobo - maybe due to failures in the PSU?
Or the other way around

Components used:
Chill Innovation PSU 520W ATX2.2
MSI K8N-NEO4-FI kr
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (Venice)
Kingston KVR400X64C3AK2/1G (512MB x 2) PC3200
Sapphiretech Radeon X1900GT 256M PCI-E

The PC has been running extremly well - imho

I am about the rebuild the kidz 3 year old machineries with almost the same
components
Being able to to test one component at a time is not the biggest issue

Your advice will be highly appreciated

Thanks/Peter

 

[JAD]

Hi

I really need som good advice for a serious problem I have with a recently
homebuild PC

By accident the powerswitch on the wall has been switch off and then on
again immediately
This caused the PC to restart without the need to push the powerbutton on
the case
(I know and I'll change this before plugging in the PC again)

The monitor shows only a blue screen (this is also the case when I turn of
the PC)
Another monitor does not display anything (black screen)

well the rig has lost its video signal it seems. First just try reseating
the video card. Integrated graphics? try resetting the cmos/ or check the
setup for your video being disabled.

 

[Peter Lykkegaard]

well the rig has lost its video signal it seems. First just try
reseating the video card. Integrated graphics? try resetting the
cmos/ or check the setup for your video being disabled.

Yep trying to reset the cmos would probably be a place to start
Could the cmos have been fried by a possible powersurge from the accident

rgds/Peter

 

[Mike T.]

Hi

I really need som good advice for a serious problem I have with a recently
homebuild PC

By accident the powerswitch on the wall has been switch off and then on
again immediately
This caused the PC to restart without the need to push the powerbutton on
the case
(I know and I'll change this before plugging in the PC again)

The monitor shows only a blue screen (this is also the case when I turn of
the PC)
Another monitor does not display anything (black screen)
Fans, disk etc spins but the PC does not appear on the network (probably
stopping before boot is finished

Obviously something is seriously broken
But how should I approach this problem?

If eg change the motherboard and use exiting components would I risk the
new mobo - maybe due to failures in the PSU?
Or the other way around

Components used:
Chill Innovation PSU 520W ATX2.2
MSI K8N-NEO4-FI kr
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (Venice)
Kingston KVR400X64C3AK2/1G (512MB x 2) PC3200
Sapphiretech Radeon X1900GT 256M PCI-E

The PC has been running extremly well - imho

I am about the rebuild the kidz 3 year old machineries with almost the
same components
Being able to to test one component at a time is not the biggest issue

Your advice will be highly appreciated

Thanks/Peter

There are many things that can go wrong in a modern PC that will affect
video output. Unfortunately, this means that people who don't know PCs very
well tend to check video equipment first, when that is rarely the problem.

There is not enough information in your post to even start to troubleshoot
this. However, a GOOD power supply might have shut itself down to prevent
damaging connected components in what was an accidental line voltage loss
situation. A bad power supply would have passed along funky DC voltage,
possibly damaging the mainboard or other components.

The only weak component I see in your listed specs. is the off-brand power
supply. That's good and bad. It means that the power supply is more likely
to be damaged by the situation described (thus it's a likely suspect). On
the other hand, it means that if the power supply dies, it's more likely to
take other components down with it. In other words, you could have more
than one bad component.

Start by replacing the power supply. You can check it with a voltmeter, but
that won't tell you anything you don't already know. The power supply isn't
totally dead, but that doesn't mean that it is going to flag the CPU to run
POST. Before the power supply sends power_OK to the mainboard, nothing at
all will happen. (well, fans and disks might start spinning up)

I'm thinking optimistically here and hoping that your weak power supply was
killed by the line voltage problem. Start by swapping the power supply.
Get something fortron or seasonic or enermax brand. If that doesn't help,
you can use it to build your next system anyway. -Dave

 

[Peter Lykkegaard]

I'm thinking optimistically here and hoping that your weak power
supply was killed by the line voltage problem. Start by swapping the
power supply. Get something fortron or seasonic or enermax brand.

Thanks for the advice

I have used Seasonic Super Tornadoes (400w) in previously builds
But this comes with a 20 pin connector and the K8N-NEO4-FI requires a 24 pin
connector + 6 pins for the gfx

I could go for the Seasonic S12-500 or maybe the M12-500?

Thanks/Peter

 

[DaveW]

The FIRST place to start is to try replacing the power supply unit. That is
the most likely component to have failed. And it happens to be the easiest
to replace. The second most likely component to have suffered is the
motherboard.

 

[Slackeyed]

I recently built a PC and the motherboard was bad..i.e. the CMOS was
fried. The PC would not "post" and I got absolutely no video on my
monitor.

At least this gentleman got a blue screen.

 

[Mike T.]

I recently built a PC and the motherboard was bad..i.e. the CMOS was
fried. The PC would not "post" and I got absolutely no video on my
monitor.

At least this gentleman got a blue screen.

I believe the blue screen he's talking about is an internally generated
image coming from the monitor itself. Some monitors will display a black or
blue screen when they see no video input. -Dave

 

[Peter Lykkegaard]

I believe the blue screen he's talking about is an internally
generated image coming from the monitor itself.

Correct (also what I think)

- Peter

 

[SAMF2000]

Hi

I really need som good advice for a serious problem I have with a recently
homebuild PC

By accident the powerswitch on the wall has been switch off and then on
again immediately
This caused the PC to restart without the need to push the powerbutton on
the case
(I know and I'll change this before plugging in the PC again)

The hard drive could have been damaged...thats why you must use
start button to shut down. Starting and shutting could have damaged
important start up files... this can be a tricky thing to track down
and if not very comfortable , I would take it to be looked at .
I doubt its the power supply unless you smell some burning coming
from back fan.

 

[Peter Lykkegaard]

The hard drive could have been damaged...thats why you must use
start button to shut down. Starting and shutting could have damaged
important start up files... this can be a tricky thing to track down

Not really if I could access the bios and configure to boot on eg my CD
drive
Reinstall on top could kickstart the drive
But I'll check if the drive is due for replacement - thanks

and if not very comfortable , I would take it to be looked at .
I doubt its the power supply unless you smell some burning coming
from back fan.

None really bad smelling anywhere near the PC
That's why I am bit puzlled

My left arm/hand is recovering from a crash on my bicycle some weeks ago
Hopefully I can starting using the hand later next week - and I will start
replaing PSU and maybe the mobo if needed

I need two new mobos anyway and this MSI board seems to be running fairly
well (or at least have been)

rgds/Peter

 

[Peter Lykkegaard]

I really need som good advice for a serious problem I have with a
recently homebuild PC

I am a bit puzzled atm - I need a few hints about a new problem I had today
It is solved and everything is fine again - but the problem is not clear to
me

The monitor shows only a blue screen (this is also the case when I
turn of the PC)
Another monitor does not display anything (black screen)

Components used:
Chill Innovation PSU 520W ATX2.2
MSI K8N-NEO4-FI kr
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (Venice)
Kingston KVR400X64C3AK2/1G (512MB x 2) PC3200
Sapphiretech Radeon X1900GT 256M PCI-E

I am about the rebuild the kidz 3 year old machineries with almost
the same components

Hmm I received the stuff from a local internet reseller and started to
change the PSU (SeaSonic S12)
No luck
Changed gfx (Sapphire X1950Pro)
No luck
Changed mobo and cpu (also the new psu and gfx)
No luck - still donæt want to start properly

Hmm now a got very nervous - who wouldn't
Tried switching the memory with similar modules from another rig
No luck - ouch

Hmm unplugged the sata cable from the hd (cd etc was unplugged)
No luck

Unplugged the powercable to the HD
Booted nicely - ....

Added hd -> boot
Changed to old gfx and cpu -> boot
Added the rest of the devices -> boot

Question:
Why did it help to unplug the powercable from the HD?
I am totally lost - this was the only thing I did between the faulty attempt
and the correct boot

Next thing I'll do is to check whether the old mobo runs in another rig ...

Thanks in advance
- Peter

 

[dMn]

I am a bit puzzled atm - I need a few hints about a new problem I had today
It is solved and everything is fine again - but the problem is not clear to
me


Hmm I received the stuff from a local internet reseller and started to
change the PSU (SeaSonic S12)
No luck
Changed gfx (Sapphire X1950Pro)
No luck
Changed mobo and cpu (also the new psu and gfx)
No luck - still donæt want to start properly

Hmm now a got very nervous - who wouldn't
Tried switching the memory with similar modules from another rig
No luck - ouch

Hmm unplugged the sata cable from the hd (cd etc was unplugged)
No luck

Unplugged the powercable to the HD
Booted nicely - ....

Added hd -> boot
Changed to old gfx and cpu -> boot
Added the rest of the devices -> boot

Question:
Why did it help to unplug the powercable from the HD?
I am totally lost - this was the only thing I did between the faulty attempt
and the correct boot

Next thing I'll do is to check whether the old mobo runs in another rig ...

Thanks in advance
- Peter

I can't nail it down explicitly, but I've had many power issues over the
years that have behaved similarly. My guess, the PSU or motherboard had
a short or fault and the protective components were kicked in to prevent
real damage. When you unplugged the drive, something you did cleared
the fault. Could be a grounding issue and you bumped the right thing
the right way or you just finally had enough time with everything
unplugged for the protection gear to clear the fault. Run with it for
now, but if it happens again I would test a new motherboard. In my
experience when a PSU faults, no power gets to the board at all, that
means no CPU fans, and you said the fans were on.

dMn