Welcome to Tactical Gamer

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 6 of 6
Discussion: General Forums / Hardware & Software Discussion - Computer won't start - Well, I think the unthinkable just happened, my computer refuses to run. We had a
  1. #1

    Bisclaveret's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    997

    Computer won't start

    Well, I think the unthinkable just happened, my computer refuses to run.

    We had a hefty power outage via high winds where I live, and when I bounced downstairs to turn on the computer..... nothing. The computer lights to all my USB toys were on, the fans started and lit up, but no familair POST beep and the monitor didn't come out of sleep mode.

    I'm wondering, is there anything I can check? I have the feeling possibly my motherboard or CPU blew, somehow, despite being on a surge protector.

    The fans, etc light up so the PSU is probably not the issue. It starts POST, but hangs somewhere between initializing the videocard and startup. I tried ripping things out one by one, starting with my NIC and soundcard and booting between each removal, but no dice.
    I removed my old videocard, no POST
    I put in an old videocard, no POST
    i switched monitors between these to see if it was just my monitor screwing up, no visual.

    I stripped it down to everything but memory and it still wouldn't POST, no beepcode, nothing.

    I drug out my old computer, blasted it off, and started slapping the stuff in it, but the winXP harddrive won't recognize on this computer, and the HD light stays on (a bad sign as well)

    I have a few backups of some iffy important things, but nowhere near backing up my 300+ gb hds. luckily, i think my data hd with all my games, etc is intact, but they'l still need to be reinstalled if i need to reformat my OS drive.

    Currently i'm posting on an ancient 1.1ghz celeron computer running my emergency linux hd, but i'm not sure how long it'l last seeing as the cpu fan sounds like the bearings are going. I don't have sound worked out yet, and i just have integrated video atm, so i can't join anyone playing anything.

    <04:11:24> *** You are now talking in channel: "TFP - Task Force Proteus"
    <04:16:25> "|TG-XV| Tralic": this channel is so gay


  2.  
  3. #2

    Hambergler's Avatar

    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    HTX
    Age
    37
    Posts
    1,708

    Re: Computer won't start

    You may already know this, but the hd won't recognize because the hd controller drivers are for that specific mb. I learned the hard way to always use an ups. I don't think surge protectors do much of anything.

  4.  
  5. #3

    Bisclaveret's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    997

    Re: Computer won't start

    But that wouldn't have a difference on the original computer, now would it?

    <04:11:24> *** You are now talking in channel: "TFP - Task Force Proteus"
    <04:16:25> "|TG-XV| Tralic": this channel is so gay


  6.  

     
  7. #4

    Bisclaveret's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    997

    Re: Computer won't start

    OMFG. like, jesus.

    So i had a drink of scotch or two, and decided what the hell. I'd already pruned everything (heatsink and cmos battery included) off the motherboard and started putting it back together. and um... it started working somehow. no idea how, because before, with the memory removed there was no alarm, but there was this time. and.. i dunno. But it's working now (the hdd cables need a little dressing again, though) mysteriosuly.

    Also, I have no idea how but now instead of the BIOS readout when booting up (like normal) there's a fullscreen grayscale lamda symbol like from halflife. no explanation:/ and it's never done that before.

    <04:11:24> *** You are now talking in channel: "TFP - Task Force Proteus"
    <04:16:25> "|TG-XV| Tralic": this channel is so gay


  8.  
  9. #5


    Grunt 70's Avatar

    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Attleboro, MA
    Age
    46
    Posts
    3,668

    Re: Computer won't start

    computers do weird stuff sometimes ...now there's an understatement.
    |TG-1st|Grunt

  10.  
  11. #6

    Bisclaveret's Avatar

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    997

    Re: Computer won't start

    Quote Originally Posted by Grunt 70 View Post
    computers do weird stuff sometimes ...now there's an understatement.
    Indeed. I think it was because I had found a small spider colony in it when I first took it apart. (Hey, its in the basement, yaknow?) One of the babies must have crawled in somewhere and shorted out something on the motherboard, possibly.

    On a side note, while my computer was down i had been scouring the web for a new set. I had found and narrowed down these:
    Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813157091
    CPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819116231

    They would give me some upgrade flexibility and a decent powerered processor. I looked at AMDs but after finding a athlon 64 venice 3800+, i couldn't find a motherboard that had the 1000mhz FSB, didn't have pci-e and didn't have VIA chipsets.

    I didn't want a motherboard that had PCI-E because that would require me spending another 200 on a new videocard to replace the apg one I had, which, after spending 200 on a mobo/cpu combo would be too expensive for my funds.

    <04:11:24> *** You are now talking in channel: "TFP - Task Force Proteus"
    <04:16:25> "|TG-XV| Tralic": this channel is so gay


  12.  

     

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts


  
 

Back to top