Computer just died

[MTAX]

I just built a computer for my boss (stupid mistake!). Work fine for a week. He call yesterday, the thing died.

The computer turns on, but there is no video signal. The hard drive spins up, then nothing else. There is no post screen. I swapped out the video card, same thing.

The specs:
Asus p4p800 mb
Pentium 3.2e
1 gig corsair vaule ram
Zalman 400 ps
Ati 9600xt card

I'm thinking motherboard problem, since the video card looks good. The cpu fan looks good so I don't think it's fried. Before I tell him to get a new mb, any thought?

Thanks.

 

[mechBgon]

So you have this system on your hands and can troubleshoot it, right? Start by unplugging the system, removing the CMOS battery, resetting the CMOS with the jumper, replacing the battery and plugging the system in again, if you didn't already. If the system seems to be seeking on the floppy and/or CD-ROM drives, throw the motherboard's own CD into the drive for a while in case it's trying to do a BIOS recovery (recent upper-end Asus boards do this).

If it still won't go, reseat all the drive cables, cards and RAM firmly, unplug all fans from the board except the CPU fan, and try again. If it still does the same thing anyway, next pull it out and benchtest the bare essentials on cardboard with no drives or cards except video cards. BTW, if it's a DVI monitor, try a VGA monitor on the VGA side of the card. Try one memory module at a time, and put it into a blue slot (Asus's recommendation there).

If it won't POST with just the absolute essentials, then you might test the RAM and video card in another system to confirm that they do actually work, and the CPU too if you have another board that can run a 3.2E. Conversely, if you can borrow a different CPU and power supply from a known-working system for the benchtest, that could help determine if the CPU or power supply kicked the bucket on you.

Bigger picture: any lightning storms in the area recently?

Good luck MTAX

 

[MTAX]

Thanks mechBgon,

I tried everything witht he exception of testing the CPU (I don't have another mb). If there is a cpu/memory problem, there should still be a post screen right?

 

[MTAX]

btw, this did happen during a thunderstorm! He turned the computer off as the storm got worse, but it was still plugged in.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: MTAX
Thanks mechBgon,

I tried everything witht he exception of testing the CPU (I don't have another mb). If there is a cpu/memory problem, there should still be a post screen right?

For a POST screen, you do need a working mobo, CPU and memory (and video card of course). If this happened during a thunderstorm, that does make ya wonder. If nothing else, there's always homeowners' insurance for that type of stuff.

 

[Dennis Travis]

If the system was working fine before the Thunderstorm and not working after it, I bet a close Lightning strike killed it. If the lightning hits close just turning it off will not save it. Does your boss have a UPS or at least a good surge protector although if the strike was close a Surge Supressor will not help.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Dennis Travis
If the system was working fine before the Thunderstorm and not working after it, I bet a close Lightning strike killed it. If the lightning hits close just turning it off will not save it. Does your boss have a UPS or at least a good surge protector although if the strike was close a Surge Supressor will not help.

I vote he didn't have anything but a powerstrip on it..

 

[MTAX]

It was hooked up to a small ups. Unfortunately I don't have any other computer to swap the ram/cpu out of, is there any other way? My understanding is that if there is any thing wrong with the cpu or ram, there should still be a video signal. The green light on the mb is on. Does this rule out the motherboard as defective?

 

[mechBgon]

If the CPU is toast, you won't get a video signal from the video card, not that I've ever heard of. The green light on the mobo shows it's got live power, but doesn't guarantee it's healthy.

Is the system still plugged into the UPS now, or is it plugged into something else? If it's still on the UPS, try it on a standard surge supressor instead.

 

[MTAX]

The system is at my house (he dropped it off this morning). I tried it using a standard outlet. Nothing happens. I can rule out the video card. I've moved the memory over one slot, tried one stick at a time. D#$@, why did I volunteer for this!!!

 

[mechBgon]

How about a different power supply, tried that yet? The PSU would be the first item to take the hit, along with the network jack if it has a broadband connection at his place.