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Computer won't boot



 
 
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  #31  
Old March 1st 10, 02:30 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Computer won't boot

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:51:54 -0500, "glee"
wrote:

"Antares 531" wrote in message
.. .

I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the
add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any
noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of
about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting
to run but never actually rotated the fan.

To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS
graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not
using the motherboard's graphics output.

I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470
ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the
drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and
the read/write arms move.

I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
and do a change-out?

Gordon


What happens if you connect your monitor to the onboard video outlet
instead of the video card?

If the CMOS battery was dead, you would still get video, directing you
to BIOS setup to reset everything.

The fact that your drives spin doesn't necessarily mean your PSU is OK.

I haven't tried the on-board video outlet but it does sound like
something worth checking out. If I can get my head on straight later
this morning I'll do this. I'm down with a severe cold and not feeling
up to much in the way of stress.

Gordon
Ads
  #32  
Old March 1st 10, 02:53 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Computer won't boot

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:51:54 -0500, "glee"
wrote:

"Antares 531" wrote in message
.. .

I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the
add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any
noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of
about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting
to run but never actually rotated the fan.

To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS
graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not
using the motherboard's graphics output.

I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470
ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the
drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and
the read/write arms move.

I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
and do a change-out?

Gordon


What happens if you connect your monitor to the onboard video outlet
instead of the video card?

I just checked this out. My monitor has a DVI-I male plug that
connects with the video card. The on-board video output has a
conventional VGA female socket. I will need an adapter before I can
try this out.

I'm down with a cold and don't want to spread it around by going to a
store, so I'll just let this problem wait another day or two.

Gordon
  #33  
Old March 1st 10, 02:53 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Computer won't boot

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:51:54 -0500, "glee"
wrote:

"Antares 531" wrote in message
.. .

I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the
add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any
noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of
about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting
to run but never actually rotated the fan.

To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS
graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not
using the motherboard's graphics output.

I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470
ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the
drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and
the read/write arms move.

I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
and do a change-out?

Gordon


What happens if you connect your monitor to the onboard video outlet
instead of the video card?

I just checked this out. My monitor has a DVI-I male plug that
connects with the video card. The on-board video output has a
conventional VGA female socket. I will need an adapter before I can
try this out.

I'm down with a cold and don't want to spread it around by going to a
store, so I'll just let this problem wait another day or two.

Gordon
  #34  
Old March 1st 10, 03:24 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
glee
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,794
Default Computer won't boot

"Antares 531" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:51:54 -0500, "glee"
wrote:

What happens if you connect your monitor to the onboard video outlet
instead of the video card?

I just checked this out. My monitor has a DVI-I male plug that
connects with the video card. The on-board video output has a
conventional VGA female socket. I will need an adapter before I can
try this out.

I'm down with a cold and don't want to spread it around by going to a
store, so I'll just let this problem wait another day or two.


Most monitors with a DVI connector ALSO have a VGA connector, usually
nearby on the monitor. You would need a VGA cable in order to connect
to it. My monitor came with both types of cable.

Take a look when you feel better....meanwhile, chicken soup!
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
A+
http://dts-l.net/

  #35  
Old March 1st 10, 03:24 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
glee
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,794
Default Computer won't boot

"Antares 531" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:51:54 -0500, "glee"
wrote:

What happens if you connect your monitor to the onboard video outlet
instead of the video card?

I just checked this out. My monitor has a DVI-I male plug that
connects with the video card. The on-board video output has a
conventional VGA female socket. I will need an adapter before I can
try this out.

I'm down with a cold and don't want to spread it around by going to a
store, so I'll just let this problem wait another day or two.


Most monitors with a DVI connector ALSO have a VGA connector, usually
nearby on the monitor. You would need a VGA cable in order to connect
to it. My monitor came with both types of cable.

Take a look when you feel better....meanwhile, chicken soup!
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
A+
http://dts-l.net/

  #36  
Old March 2nd 10, 12:41 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Computer won't boot

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:25:25 -0600, Antares 531
wrote:

I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
checked out and settled in.

Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.

I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.

Any ideas as to what I might try next?

Reporting back to all of you who chipped in and helped me with this.
The problem is resolved. At least it seems to be. I discovered that
five of the capacitors on the e-GeForce 7600 GS video card had
ruptured. These capacitors were on the under side of the video card,
and weren't conspicuous. The ruptures were minimal, but once I got the
video card out in full light they were obvious. These capacitors have
a letter K scratched into the top surface. These letters K had
ruptured along the scratch marks and a tiny bit of brown electrolyte
had oozed out onto the surface of the capacitors. Some of the
capacitors had swollen up quite a bit.

I bought a new ASUS EN9500GT 1GB video card and installed it. This
seems to have fixed all the problems. No more long beep...just the
normal short beep when I boot up. I still need to re-set some values
like screen resolution, but that won't be a problem.

Now, the question is, what made these capacitors rupture? There must
have been some very serious surge or power fluctuation, but both my
computers are powered through IBM UPS power supplies. I would think
this would have protected the video card. Also, I wonder why nothing
else was damaged. This may have just been a fluke on that specific
motherboard, but it has been in service since November 2007 and I
haven't made any recent hardware or software changes. Nothing that I
can think of should have overloaded this video card.

Thanks to all of you for your information inputs. This was really a
stumper for me.

Oh, and by the way, my cold seems MUCH better and I will probably be
back in the harness by tomorrow morning.

Thanks, Gordon
  #37  
Old March 2nd 10, 12:41 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Computer won't boot

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:25:25 -0600, Antares 531
wrote:

I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
checked out and settled in.

Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.

I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.

Any ideas as to what I might try next?

Reporting back to all of you who chipped in and helped me with this.
The problem is resolved. At least it seems to be. I discovered that
five of the capacitors on the e-GeForce 7600 GS video card had
ruptured. These capacitors were on the under side of the video card,
and weren't conspicuous. The ruptures were minimal, but once I got the
video card out in full light they were obvious. These capacitors have
a letter K scratched into the top surface. These letters K had
ruptured along the scratch marks and a tiny bit of brown electrolyte
had oozed out onto the surface of the capacitors. Some of the
capacitors had swollen up quite a bit.

I bought a new ASUS EN9500GT 1GB video card and installed it. This
seems to have fixed all the problems. No more long beep...just the
normal short beep when I boot up. I still need to re-set some values
like screen resolution, but that won't be a problem.

Now, the question is, what made these capacitors rupture? There must
have been some very serious surge or power fluctuation, but both my
computers are powered through IBM UPS power supplies. I would think
this would have protected the video card. Also, I wonder why nothing
else was damaged. This may have just been a fluke on that specific
motherboard, but it has been in service since November 2007 and I
haven't made any recent hardware or software changes. Nothing that I
can think of should have overloaded this video card.

Thanks to all of you for your information inputs. This was really a
stumper for me.

Oh, and by the way, my cold seems MUCH better and I will probably be
back in the harness by tomorrow morning.

Thanks, Gordon
  #38  
Old March 2nd 10, 04:16 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Don Phillipson[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,185
Default Computer won't boot

"Antares 531" wrote in message
...

I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
and do a change-out?


This is worth the price. My experience has been (1) CR2032 batteries
last anything from 3 months to 6 years, (2) those from general hardware
stores last longer than those from specialist PC shops. (This may be
an indicator of turnover. Modern hardware stores restock by Just in
Time methods so what you buy left the factory only last week. If the
neighbourhood PC store got a good bargain on CMOS batteries five
years ago (and is still in business) they may still be using the same batch
.. . . )

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)


  #39  
Old March 2nd 10, 04:16 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Don Phillipson[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,185
Default Computer won't boot


"Antares 531" wrote in message
...

I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
and do a change-out?


This is worth the price. My experience has been (1) CR2032 batteries
last anything from 3 months to 6 years, (2) those from general hardware
stores last longer than those from specialist PC shops. (This may be
an indicator of turnover. Modern hardware stores restock by Just in
Time methods so what you buy left the factory only last week. If the
neighbourhood PC store got a good bargain on CMOS batteries five
years ago (and is still in business) they may still be using the same batch
.. . . )

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)


  #40  
Old March 2nd 10, 05:48 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Computer won't boot

On Tue, 2 Mar 2010 10:16:40 -0500, "Don Phillipson"
wrote:


"Antares 531" wrote in message
.. .

I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
and do a change-out?


This is worth the price. My experience has been (1) CR2032 batteries
last anything from 3 months to 6 years, (2) those from general hardware
stores last longer than those from specialist PC shops. (This may be
an indicator of turnover. Modern hardware stores restock by Just in
Time methods so what you buy left the factory only last week. If the
neighbourhood PC store got a good bargain on CMOS batteries five
years ago (and is still in business) they may still be using the same batch
. . . )

Thanks, Don, this is pretty much the way I've found this to be. Too
bad there isn't some means for tracking the history of perishable
products such as this. I thought at first my motherboard may have lain
in stock somewhere for two or three years before I bought it but the
design of this kind of merchandise changes too rapidly for that, I
would think.

I did replace the CR2032 CMOS battery yesterday and tried re-booting
but it didn't help. The old battery still showed a 3.23 Volts reading
when I tested it after I removed it from the motherboard. I'm sure it
was not the source of the problem, but I shouldn't have to worry about
this for a couple more years, now that I replaced the battery.

After looking at the video card more carefully, I'm convinced that the
root of the problem was a failure of the fan on the video card. This
is a radial turbine type fan. When I try to rotate the fan it doesn't
move smoothly. Also, it wobbles a lot more than it should. It feels
like the bearing may have failed, or maybe there is some dust bunny
junk interfering with the rotation. I can't see any dust bunny
accumulations, but there may be some under the fan turbine.

Gordon
  #41  
Old March 2nd 10, 05:48 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Computer won't boot

On Tue, 2 Mar 2010 10:16:40 -0500, "Don Phillipson"
wrote:


"Antares 531" wrote in message
.. .

I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
and do a change-out?


This is worth the price. My experience has been (1) CR2032 batteries
last anything from 3 months to 6 years, (2) those from general hardware
stores last longer than those from specialist PC shops. (This may be
an indicator of turnover. Modern hardware stores restock by Just in
Time methods so what you buy left the factory only last week. If the
neighbourhood PC store got a good bargain on CMOS batteries five
years ago (and is still in business) they may still be using the same batch
. . . )

Thanks, Don, this is pretty much the way I've found this to be. Too
bad there isn't some means for tracking the history of perishable
products such as this. I thought at first my motherboard may have lain
in stock somewhere for two or three years before I bought it but the
design of this kind of merchandise changes too rapidly for that, I
would think.

I did replace the CR2032 CMOS battery yesterday and tried re-booting
but it didn't help. The old battery still showed a 3.23 Volts reading
when I tested it after I removed it from the motherboard. I'm sure it
was not the source of the problem, but I shouldn't have to worry about
this for a couple more years, now that I replaced the battery.

After looking at the video card more carefully, I'm convinced that the
root of the problem was a failure of the fan on the video card. This
is a radial turbine type fan. When I try to rotate the fan it doesn't
move smoothly. Also, it wobbles a lot more than it should. It feels
like the bearing may have failed, or maybe there is some dust bunny
junk interfering with the rotation. I can't see any dust bunny
accumulations, but there may be some under the fan turbine.

Gordon
  #42  
Old March 2nd 10, 10:00 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Ken Blake, MVP
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,402
Default Computer won't boot

On Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:27:45 -0600, Antares 531
wrote:

How long should the CMOS battery last.



There's no answer to that question. Some last longer and some last
less time.


This one was installed in the
motherboard when I bought it in November 2007. It may have been
installed quite a while before I bought the motherboard, if this item
laid on the shelf somewhere.



Exactly! And that's one of the reasons you can not predict how long it
will last.



I'm thinking it would be prudent to start with the small things like
the CMOS battery and if that doesn't produce any improvement, move on
to something else.



Your systems don't at all sound to me like the battery needs
replacing, but on the other hand a new battery is inexpensive and easy
to replace. So there's almost no downside to trying it.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
  #43  
Old March 2nd 10, 10:00 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Ken Blake, MVP
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,402
Default Computer won't boot

On Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:27:45 -0600, Antares 531
wrote:

How long should the CMOS battery last.



There's no answer to that question. Some last longer and some last
less time.


This one was installed in the
motherboard when I bought it in November 2007. It may have been
installed quite a while before I bought the motherboard, if this item
laid on the shelf somewhere.



Exactly! And that's one of the reasons you can not predict how long it
will last.



I'm thinking it would be prudent to start with the small things like
the CMOS battery and if that doesn't produce any improvement, move on
to something else.



Your systems don't at all sound to me like the battery needs
replacing, but on the other hand a new battery is inexpensive and easy
to replace. So there's almost no downside to trying it.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup
  #44  
Old March 3rd 10, 04:28 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Same computer, new problem

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:25:25 -0600, Antares 531
wrote:

I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
checked out and settled in.

Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.

I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.

Any ideas as to what I might try next?

Thanks, Gordon

I finally got the above problem resolved and for a day or so this old
computer worked very well. But, this morning when I turned it on after
being shut down overnight I got a continuous beep. Everything seemed
to be working okay but the beep didn't stop.

I opened the case and noticed the CPU fan was running in short bursts
of about 2 seconds then stopping for about the same length of time.
This continued until I shut the computer down and re-booted...cold
boot. After this, the fan ran constantly and there was no more
beeping.

This computer has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor E6750, LGA 775 Pkg
2.66 GHZ, 4MB L2 Cache, 1333 MHz FSB.

Is this an indication of something in the process of failing or was it
just a fluke of some sort?

Thanks for your insights, Gordon
  #45  
Old March 3rd 10, 04:28 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics
Antares 531[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default Same computer, new problem

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:25:25 -0600, Antares 531
wrote:

I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
checked out and settled in.

Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.

I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.

Any ideas as to what I might try next?

Thanks, Gordon

I finally got the above problem resolved and for a day or so this old
computer worked very well. But, this morning when I turned it on after
being shut down overnight I got a continuous beep. Everything seemed
to be working okay but the beep didn't stop.

I opened the case and noticed the CPU fan was running in short bursts
of about 2 seconds then stopping for about the same length of time.
This continued until I shut the computer down and re-booted...cold
boot. After this, the fan ran constantly and there was no more
beeping.

This computer has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor E6750, LGA 775 Pkg
2.66 GHZ, 4MB L2 Cache, 1333 MHz FSB.

Is this an indication of something in the process of failing or was it
just a fluke of some sort?

Thanks for your insights, Gordon
 




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