sometimes boots to BIOS, sometimes not even that

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ablang
  • Start date Start date
A

Ablang

I inherited a computer that sometimes boots up all the way to
Windows 98, but sometimes it doesn't even bring up the BIOS. In other
words, sometimes I see nothing on the screen. The power supply works,
because it makes noise regardless of what the system does.

Assuming I have no other computers or parts laying around, how
can I find out what the problem is? Do you use any special software
for that?

I think it might be the CPU, motherboard, RAM, or video.

===
"An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused
way, in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own
fault."
-- William B. Castle (scientist)
 
Ablang said:
I inherited a computer that sometimes boots up all the way to
Windows 98, but sometimes it doesn't even bring up the BIOS. In
other words, sometimes I see nothing on the screen. The power
supply works, because it makes noise regardless of what the system
does.
Click to expand...

You mean because the power supply fan turns. I don't think anything
else in a power supply is supposed to make audible noise.
Assuming I have no other computers or parts laying around, how
can I find out what the problem is? Do you use any special software
for that?
Click to expand...

I don't think so, especially if the screen doesn't show anything at
all. I would remove everything that isn't necessary. These probably
are necessary.
.... case
.... power supply
.... mainboard
.... CPU
.... one stick of memory
.... video card
.... keyboard
.... monitor

Try that and see if it always boots.

I think the choice is this. You either don't use the system, or you
troubleshoot it using spare hardware.
 
Ablang said:
I inherited a computer that sometimes boots up all the way to
Windows 98, but sometimes it doesn't even bring up the BIOS. In other
words, sometimes I see nothing on the screen. The power supply works,
because it makes noise regardless of what the system does.

Assuming I have no other computers or parts laying around, how
can I find out what the problem is? Do you use any special software
for that?

I think it might be the CPU, motherboard, RAM, or video.

===
"An expert is a man who tells you a simple thing in a confused
way, in such a fashion as to make you think the confusion is your own
fault."
-- William B. Castle (scientist)
Click to expand...
Could still be PSU! If you take out RAM it should beep. When you see
nothing, does it still load OS? If so, is probably display adapter.
MIke.
 
Ablang said:
I inherited a computer that sometimes boots up all the way to
Windows 98, but sometimes it doesn't even bring up the BIOS. In other
words, sometimes I see nothing on the screen. The power supply works,
because it makes noise regardless of what the system does.

Assuming I have no other computers or parts laying around, how
can I find out what the problem is? Do you use any special software
for that?

I think it might be the CPU, motherboard, RAM, or video.
Click to expand...

I had a board with that problem, eventually it wouldn't boot at all. Turned
out to be bad capacitors on the mainboard.

Open your case up and look at the mainboard capacitors to see if they are
bulging or leaking. THis page has some examples:
http://home.earthlink.net/~doniteli/index27.htm

Jon
 
I had a board with that problem, eventually it wouldn't boot at all. Turned
out to be bad capacitors on the mainboard.

Open your case up and look at the mainboard capacitors to see if they are
bulging or leaking. THis page has some examples:
http://home.earthlink.net/~doniteli/index27.htm

Jon
Click to expand...

Come to think of it the Turbo (1) was known (at least one
revision) to have problems with a cap or two right above the
AGP slot.
 
I inherited a computer that sometimes boots up all the way to
Windows 98, but sometimes it doesn't even bring up the BIOS. In other
words, sometimes I see nothing on the screen. The power supply works,
because it makes noise regardless of what the system does.

Assuming I have no other computers or parts laying around, how
can I find out what the problem is? Do you use any special software
for that?

I think it might be the CPU, motherboard, RAM, or video.
Click to expand...

I would try and a get a FULL REFUND!!! :-P
 
Back
Top