Computer troubleshooting

Discussion in 'General Hardware' started by D0c1021, Jan 11, 2003.

  1. D0c1021

    D0c1021 Geek Trainee

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    Hey,
    My computer is not booting up.It just powers up with no display for 5 seconds and shuts off.Is this fixable?
     
  2. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Please provide all specs, age of system, who built it, etc.
     
  3. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    Yup. Like cars, every computer is not the same. I can't begin to acurrately diagnose the problem without knowing whats in the system.
     
  4. D0c1021

    D0c1021 Geek Trainee

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    Specs

    Ok well it's a new custom built computer by aicmicro.
    Basic Specs:

    Athlon Xp 2200
    Gigagbyte KT400 GA-7VAXP Rev 1.0
    256M 2700 DDR
    thermaltake volcano 9 heatsink
    Copper protector
    Thermaltake Xaser 6000A case
    LG DVD/CDRW combo
    logitech Wireless mouse and key board

    Ok..
    since the last posting i've been tinkering with it and managed to get it to power up for much longer...however there is still no monitor activity...not even the PC speaker beeps.

    History:
    when the shipped box arrived ..the heat sink was dislodged from the CPU and bouncing around inside the case. It had thermal paste on the underside of it also . Needless to say that inside was sort of messy :(.Oh i later found the copper protector up in the corner of the case wedged between the chassi frame and the cdrom.

    OK...
    enough gory details....what do you guys think?
    do i need another motherboard and chip?
     
  5. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Are you sure you remounted the heatsink correctly?
     
  6. D0c1021

    D0c1021 Geek Trainee

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    yep ..i remounted it correctly
     
  7. archcommus

    archcommus Big Geek

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    Are Power SW, Reset SW, Power LED, HDD LED, and speaker all hooked up to the motherboard correctly? Is the video card plugged into its socket correctly? Is the monitor plugged into the video card correctly?
     
  8. RZA

    RZA l337 CounterStriker

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    Specs

    w00t r u saying that when U got it, the heatsink was off the cpu and free to move ?!
    you should return the thing and ask for a new one
     
  9. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    Yup. Something as large as heatsink bouncing around could've crushed or otherwise damanged some surface mount components, which can cause major problems.
    If you have a choice, have the components shipped in their respective boxes, not pre-assembled. Heatsinks are quite hefty these days, and you don't want them rolling around on your motherboard or any other component.
    Also, if you've smelled anything burning, it's probably due to that cooler coming off the processor.
     
  10. D0c1021

    D0c1021 Geek Trainee

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    well..

    I'm e-mailing the techsupport and discussing some troubleshooting.
    But, quick question..The thermal compound is all over the top of the chip..even on those little transister looking things...i have not cleaned it off as yet...i need some advice on that..but could the messy thermal compound cause the computer not to boot?...
    i dunno, maybe shorted the chip of something?
    And if it is the problem can i recover from it without replacing?
     

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