Desktop will not power up

[Andy[_17_]]

I replaced a video card fan in a Compaq desk system.

Now it will not boot.

Power is getting to the power supply.

And I changed out the switch on the front cover, but still nothing.

What else can I check ?

Thanks,
Andy

[Paul]

Andy wrote:
> I replaced a video card fan in a Compaq desk system.
>
> Now it will not boot.
>
> Power is getting to the power supply.
>
> And I changed out the switch on the front cover, but still nothing.
>
> What else can I check ?
>
> Thanks,
> Andy

Switch off and unplug system.

Then, verify the video card is fully seated.
You don't have to carry out a test at this point,
as the intention is merely to verify that the
card is as low in the slot as it can go. It a card
is sitting high in the slot, it could be shorting
all sorts of stuff. And things could get damaged if
that was the case. Generally, what I do is verify
I can't see the reflection of gold pins, when the
card is inserted. As a means of proving it is
pretty low in the slot.

*******

One of the questions to ask at this point, is whether
the fans spin when you click the front button on the PC.
I assume the switch is on at the back of the PC.

Your video card is low powered, and doesn't have an AUX
power connector. So that's not it.

*******

Actually, if you want to know my very next test,
it would be.

1) Unplug system.
2) Pull video card and place in antistatic bag for protection.
3) Plug in system.
4) Turn on, at the back, then push the front button.
5) Listen for repeating three-beep error pattern.
In other words, that is the BIOS noticing there is
no video card installed.

Such a test proves...

1) System has power
2) Chipset is working.
3) CPU reads BIOS code.
4) CPU writes to the beeper.
5) A lot of motherboard circuits are verified.

It's a quick way to prove you didn't ruin the
computer. It might point at a damaged video card.

So answering the question, do the fans spin,
is pretty important at this point. You can check
the video card is seated properly. And you can
do a beep test, as a means of backtracking and
proving the computer isn't toast.

If you have access to a photo hosting site, you
could post a picture of your brand new fan
installation. I hope the new fan red and black
wires, are going into the same positions as
the old video card fan red and black wires.

Paul

[Bob F[_2_]]

Andy wrote:
> I replaced a video card fan in a Compaq desk system.
>
> Now it will not boot.
>
> Power is getting to the power supply.
>
> And I changed out the switch on the front cover, but still nothing.
>
> What else can I check ?
>

Plug the extra power cable back into the video card.

[Andy[_17_]]

On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 4:45:24 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
> Andy wrote:
> > I replaced a video card fan in a Compaq desk system.
> >
> > Now it will not boot.
> >
> > Power is getting to the power supply.
> >
> > And I changed out the switch on the front cover, but still nothing.
> >
> > What else can I check ?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Andy
>
> Switch off and unplug system.
>
> Then, verify the video card is fully seated.
> You don't have to carry out a test at this point,
> as the intention is merely to verify that the
> card is as low in the slot as it can go. It a card
> is sitting high in the slot, it could be shorting
> all sorts of stuff. And things could get damaged if
> that was the case. Generally, what I do is verify
> I can't see the reflection of gold pins, when the
> card is inserted. As a means of proving it is
> pretty low in the slot.
>
> *******
>
> One of the questions to ask at this point, is whether
> the fans spin when you click the front button on the PC.
> I assume the switch is on at the back of the PC.
>
> Your video card is low powered, and doesn't have an AUX
> power connector. So that's not it.
>
> *******
>
> Actually, if you want to know my very next test,
> it would be.
>
> 1) Unplug system.
> 2) Pull video card and place in antistatic bag for protection.
> 3) Plug in system.
> 4) Turn on, at the back, then push the front button.
> 5) Listen for repeating three-beep error pattern.
> In other words, that is the BIOS noticing there is
> no video card installed.
>
> Such a test proves...
>
> 1) System has power
> 2) Chipset is working.
> 3) CPU reads BIOS code.
> 4) CPU writes to the beeper.
> 5) A lot of motherboard circuits are verified.
>
> It's a quick way to prove you didn't ruin the
> computer. It might point at a damaged video card.
>
> So answering the question, do the fans spin,
> is pretty important at this point. You can check
> the video card is seated properly. And you can
> do a beep test, as a means of backtracking and
> proving the computer isn't toast.
>
> If you have access to a photo hosting site, you
> could post a picture of your brand new fan
> installation. I hope the new fan red and black
> wires, are going into the same positions as
> the old video card fan red and black wires.
>
> Paul

It powers up if the video card is not installed.

Does that mean the card went bad ?

Andy

[Dave Doe]

In article >,
, Andy says...
>
> I replaced a video card fan in a Compaq desk system.
>
> Now it will not boot.
>
> Power is getting to the power supply.
>
> And I changed out the switch on the front cover, but still nothing.
>
> What else can I check ?
>
> Thanks,
> Andy

Process of elimination. Ideally, you want to put a suspect part into a
known good system and find it fails.

If that's not possible...
* remove the video card, does it try and boot?
* put the video card back in, not booting? ...
* take some load off the PSU by disconnecting other things (HDD's, DVD's
etc). Does it try and boot? If so, the PSU can't hack the load.
Problem solved.

* If not, you really need to check that vid card out in another known
good PC.

--
Duncan.

[Paul]

Andy wrote:

>
> It powers up if the video card is not installed.
>
> Does that mean the card went bad ?
>
> Andy

So now you have to take a closer look
at what you've done to the video card.

Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
it should have started.

Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.

Paul

[Paul]

Bob F wrote:
> Andy wrote:
>> I replaced a video card fan in a Compaq desk system.
>>
>> Now it will not boot.
>>
>> Power is getting to the power supply.
>>
>> And I changed out the switch on the front cover, but still nothing.
>>
>> What else can I check ?
>>
>
> Plug the extra power cable back into the video card.

I think it's a 7300GS, and those run off slot power.

(Typical example)

http://image.aving.net/img/2006/02/09/7300GS_1.jpg

The slot power is to the left of the keying slot. It's
the short section below the three terminal regulator
in that picture, not the "big toe" just below the
ribbon cable.

The bigger section on the right hand part of the connector,
has the PCI Express lanes.

And the heel on the right hand side, has to slide past
the heel lock, for the card to be fully in place. There are
two styles of heel locks. A button style, where the button
fits in the curved gap. And a slider, which slides along the
same axis as the card slot. The button style is the devil
to work with, because you can't see what you're doing, or
how it works.

Paul

[micky[_2_]]

On Mon, 22 Jun 2015 17:45:20 -0400, Paul > wrote:

>
>Switch off and unplug system.
>
>Then, verify the video card is fully seated.
>You don't have to carry out a test at this point,
>as the intention is merely to verify that the
>card is as low in the slot as it can go. It a card
>is sitting high in the slot, it could be shorting
>all sorts of stuff. And things could get damaged if
>that was the case. Generally, what I do is verify
>I can't see the reflection of gold pins, when the

I use my girlfriend for this step. She can see the reflection of gold
far better than I can.

>card is inserted. As a means of proving it is
>pretty low in the slot.

[Andy[_17_]]

On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 10:16:58 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
> Andy wrote:
>
> >
> > It powers up if the video card is not installed.
> >
> > Does that mean the card went bad ?
> >
> > Andy
>
> So now you have to take a closer look
> at what you've done to the video card.
>
> Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
> it should have started.
>
> Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.
>
> Paul

When I took the fan off, the computer turned on.

I have requested a refund for the fan.

I will look for another PCI Express card.

Andy

[Paul in Houston TX[_2_]]

Andy wrote:
> On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 10:16:58 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
>> Andy wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> It powers up if the video card is not installed.
>>>
>>> Does that mean the card went bad ?
>>>
>>> Andy
>>
>> So now you have to take a closer look
>> at what you've done to the video card.
>>
>> Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
>> it should have started.
>>
>> Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.
>>
>> Paul
>
> When I took the fan off, the computer turned on.
>
> I have requested a refund for the fan.
>
> I will look for another PCI Express card.
>
> Andy

What voltage does your new fan require?
If it's a 12v fan then test by plugging into a 12v fan header on the mainboard
or get a 12v fan splitter cable that runs off a 4 pin Molex.
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/images/3-pin_fan_molex_power_cable.gif

[Andy[_17_]]

On Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 6:23:14 PM UTC-5, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
> Andy wrote:
> > On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 10:16:58 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
> >> Andy wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> It powers up if the video card is not installed.
> >>>
> >>> Does that mean the card went bad ?
> >>>
> >>> Andy
> >>
> >> So now you have to take a closer look
> >> at what you've done to the video card.
> >>
> >> Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
> >> it should have started.
> >>
> >> Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.
> >>
> >> Paul
> >
> > When I took the fan off, the computer turned on.
> >
> > I have requested a refund for the fan.
> >
> > I will look for another PCI Express card.
> >
> > Andy
>
> What voltage does your new fan require?
> If it's a 12v fan then test by plugging into a 12v fan header on the mainboard
> or get a 12v fan splitter cable that runs off a 4 pin Molex.
> http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/images/3-pin_fan_molex_power_cable.gif

I found the problem.

I put too much thermal paste on the GPU chip and some went between two pins on the board.

Once I cleaned it off, the computer booted up and the GPU fan ran as well.

Andy

[micky[_2_]]

On Thu, 25 Jun 2015 05:02:08 -0700 (PDT), Andy
> wrote:

>On Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 6:23:14 PM UTC-5, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
>> Andy wrote:
>> > On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 10:16:58 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
>> >> Andy wrote:
>> >>
>> >>>
>> >>> It powers up if the video card is not installed.
>> >>>
>> >>> Does that mean the card went bad ?
>> >>>
>> >>> Andy
>> >>
>> >> So now you have to take a closer look
>> >> at what you've done to the video card.
>> >>
>> >> Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
>> >> it should have started.
>> >>
>> >> Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.
>> >>
>> >> Paul
>> >
>> > When I took the fan off, the computer turned on.
>> >
>> > I have requested a refund for the fan.
>> >
>> > I will look for another PCI Express card.
>> >
>> > Andy
>>
>> What voltage does your new fan require?
>> If it's a 12v fan then test by plugging into a 12v fan header on the mainboard
>> or get a 12v fan splitter cable that runs off a 4 pin Molex.
>> http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/images/3-pin_fan_molex_power_cable.gif
>
>I found the problem.
>
>I put too much thermal paste on the GPU chip and some went between two pins on the board.
>
>Once I cleaned it off, the computer booted up and the GPU fan ran as well.
>
>Andy

That damn paste!

[Paul in Houston TX[_2_]]

Andy wrote:
> On Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 6:23:14 PM UTC-5, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
>> Andy wrote:
>>> On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 10:16:58 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
>>>> Andy wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> It powers up if the video card is not installed.
>>>>>
>>>>> Does that mean the card went bad ?
>>>>>
>>>>> Andy
>>>>
>>>> So now you have to take a closer look
>>>> at what you've done to the video card.
>>>>
>>>> Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
>>>> it should have started.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.
>>>>
>>>> Paul
>>>
>>> When I took the fan off, the computer turned on.
>>>
>>> I have requested a refund for the fan.
>>>
>>> I will look for another PCI Express card.
>>>
>>> Andy
>>
>> What voltage does your new fan require?
>> If it's a 12v fan then test by plugging into a 12v fan header on the mainboard
>> or get a 12v fan splitter cable that runs off a 4 pin Molex.
>> http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/images/3-pin_fan_molex_power_cable.gif
>
> I found the problem.
>
> I put too much thermal paste on the GPU chip and some went between two pins on the board.
>
> Once I cleaned it off, the computer booted up and the GPU fan ran as well.
>
> Andy
>
Excellent!

[Bob F[_2_]]

Andy wrote:
> On Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 6:23:14 PM UTC-5, Paul in Houston TX
> wrote:
>> Andy wrote:
>>> On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 10:16:58 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
>>>> Andy wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> It powers up if the video card is not installed.
>>>>>
>>>>> Does that mean the card went bad ?
>>>>>
>>>>> Andy
>>>>
>>>> So now you have to take a closer look
>>>> at what you've done to the video card.
>>>>
>>>> Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
>>>> it should have started.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.
>>>>
>>>> Paul
>>>
>>> When I took the fan off, the computer turned on.
>>>
>>> I have requested a refund for the fan.
>>>
>>> I will look for another PCI Express card.
>>>
>>> Andy
>>
>> What voltage does your new fan require?
>> If it's a 12v fan then test by plugging into a 12v fan header on the
>> mainboard or get a 12v fan splitter cable that runs off a 4 pin
>> Molex.
>> http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/images/3-pin_fan_molex_power_cable.gif
>
> I found the problem.
>
> I put too much thermal paste on the GPU chip and some went between
> two pins on the board.
>
> Once I cleaned it off, the computer booted up and the GPU fan ran as
> well.

That was my next guess.

NOT!

[[email protected]]

On Thu, 25 Jun 2015 05:02:08 -0700 (PDT), Andy
> wrote:

>
>I found the problem.
>
>I put too much thermal paste on the GPU chip and some went between two pins on the board.
>
>Once I cleaned it off, the computer booted up and the GPU fan ran as well.
>
>Andy

Why would that have any effect? Is that paste electrically conductive?
Otherwise it should not have any effect.

[Andy[_17_]]

On Friday, June 26, 2015 at 2:56:43 AM UTC-5, wrote:
> On Thu, 25 Jun 2015 05:02:08 -0700 (PDT), Andy
> > wrote:
>
> >
> >I found the problem.
> >
> >I put too much thermal paste on the GPU chip and some went between two pins on the board.
> >
> >Once I cleaned it off, the computer booted up and the GPU fan ran as well.
> >
> >Andy
>
> Why would that have any effect? Is that paste electrically conductive?
> Otherwise it should not have any effect.

It must be electrically conductive.

Andy

[Andy[_17_]]

On Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 6:24:44 PM UTC-5, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
> Andy wrote:
> > On Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 6:23:14 PM UTC-5, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
> >> Andy wrote:
> >>> On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 10:16:58 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
> >>>> Andy wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> It powers up if the video card is not installed.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Does that mean the card went bad ?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Andy
> >>>>
> >>>> So now you have to take a closer look
> >>>> at what you've done to the video card.
> >>>>
> >>>> Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
> >>>> it should have started.
> >>>>
> >>>> Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.
> >>>>
> >>>> Paul
> >>>
> >>> When I took the fan off, the computer turned on.
> >>>
> >>> I have requested a refund for the fan.
> >>>
> >>> I will look for another PCI Express card.
> >>>
> >>> Andy
> >>
> >> What voltage does your new fan require?
> >> If it's a 12v fan then test by plugging into a 12v fan header on the mainboard
> >> or get a 12v fan splitter cable that runs off a 4 pin Molex.
> >> http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/images/3-pin_fan_molex_power_cable.gif
> >
> > I found the problem.
> >
> > I put too much thermal paste on the GPU chip and some went between two pins on the board.
> >
> > Once I cleaned it off, the computer booted up and the GPU fan ran as well.
> >
> > Andy
> >
> Excellent!

They claim my paste was non-conductive.

It seems obvious it is based on my experience.

Andy

Gold thermal compound (Thermal Grease) for CPU use
*Easy apply syringe for 7-10 small or 3 -4 large CPU's - when used properly
*Helps the heat dissipation from a CPU to a heatsink
*Gold silicone thermal compound
*Electrically Non-conductive

[Paul]

Andy wrote:
> On Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 6:24:44 PM UTC-5, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
>> Andy wrote:
>>> On Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 6:23:14 PM UTC-5, Paul in Houston TX wrote:
>>>> Andy wrote:
>>>>> On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 10:16:58 PM UTC-5, Paul wrote:
>>>>>> Andy wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It powers up if the video card is not installed.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Does that mean the card went bad ?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Andy
>>>>>> So now you have to take a closer look
>>>>>> at what you've done to the video card.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Even if the fan connector went on backwards,
>>>>>> it should have started.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Maybe it wasn't seated properly in the slot.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Paul
>>>>> When I took the fan off, the computer turned on.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have requested a refund for the fan.
>>>>>
>>>>> I will look for another PCI Express card.
>>>>>
>>>>> Andy
>>>> What voltage does your new fan require?
>>>> If it's a 12v fan then test by plugging into a 12v fan header on the mainboard
>>>> or get a 12v fan splitter cable that runs off a 4 pin Molex.
>>>> http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/images/3-pin_fan_molex_power_cable.gif
>>> I found the problem.
>>>
>>> I put too much thermal paste on the GPU chip and some went between two pins on the board.
>>>
>>> Once I cleaned it off, the computer booted up and the GPU fan ran as well.
>>>
>>> Andy
>>>
>> Excellent!
>
> They claim my paste was non-conductive.
>
> It seems obvious it is based on my experience.
>
> Andy
>
> Gold thermal compound (Thermal Grease) for CPU use
> *Easy apply syringe for 7-10 small or 3 -4 large CPU's - when used properly
> *Helps the heat dissipation from a CPU to a heatsink
> *Gold silicone thermal compound
> *Electrically Non-conductive

Specification
Items HY610 Unit
Color Gold No
Thermal Conductivity ＞3.05 W/m-K
Thermal Impedance ＜0.073 0C-in²/W
Specific Gravity ＞2.48 g/cm³
Viscosity 1000 No
Thixotropic Index 380±10 1/10mm
Moment Bore Temperature -50~280 0C
Operation Temperature -30~240 0C

Ingredients
Silicone Compounds 30 %
Carbon Compounds 20 %
Metal Oxide Compounds 50 %

There's some precise chemistry there for you. Spells
it out in no uncertain terms.

Now, they also sell brake pad grease (antiseize?)

http://www.halnziye.net/products_detail/&productId=59.html

And, oh look, it has the same quoted thermal conductivity :-)

http://www.halnziye.net/products_detail/&productId=206.html

I'm just a little annoyed, because I can't get an MSDS,
and get the goods on that stuff, whatever it is.

Now, this is the ingredient list of a brake antiseize
compound from a North American company. It has a copper
color, because, it's 50% copper.

COPPER 7440-50-8 40 - 50%
HYDROTREATED RESIDUAL OIL (PETROLEUM) 64742-57-0 30 - 45%
BENTONITE 1302-78-9 [cat litter] 5 - 15%
GRAPHITE 7782-42-5 5 - 15%
POLYISOBUTYLENE 9003-27-4 1 - 10%
ZINC OXIDE 1314-13-2 1 - 5%

So there is a metal oxide in there, but only in minor amount.

Zinc Oxide was an ingredient in Radio Shack heatsink compound.

*******

Of course, it could all be a coincidence, and I'm hallucinating.
Copper is an expensive material to work with, and who would
waste that much copper ? Based on the stated ingredient list
of the HY610, where does the gold color come from ? Zinc oxide
is white.

*******

In this thread, some overclockers use brake antiseize on purpose.
And one of the comments is, unlike other compounds, it is conductive.
Something you could check with your ohmmeter.

http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/showthread.php?p=3334401

Paul

[Andy[_17_]]

On Monday, June 22, 2015 at 4:07:32 PM UTC-5, Andy wrote:
> I replaced a video card fan in a Compaq desk system.
>
> Now it will not boot.
>
> Power is getting to the power supply.
>
> And I changed out the switch on the front cover, but still nothing.
>
> What else can I check ?
>
> Thanks,
> Andy

Speaking of Radio Shack.

They used to be a good source of electronic components.

Not any more.

Andy

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message >, Andy
> writes:
[]
>Speaking of Radio Shack.
>
>They used to be a good source of electronic components.
>
>Not any more.
>
>Andy

Do they still exist? In the UK, they were Tandy - that isn't the whole
story as they weren't _quite_ the same company, but their product range
included a higher proportion of Radio Shack* components that would seem
plausible if they weren't related somehow. (Their assembled electronic
products - e. g. radios and the like - used the brand name Realistic.)

AFAIK they're long gone here: Maplin seem to have filled that niche, in
that they're about the only place you can buy components as such, but
they have far fewer stores than Tandy did (or at least it feels they
do).

* I was going to say RS, but then remembered that would normally in the
UK to mean RS Components (a company whose name originally, for those
with really long memories, was Radiospares).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Illinc fui et illud feci, habe tunicam?