PC death- help please!

[hj2k_x]

Hello all. Hopefully someone still remembers me on here and can help me fix my ailing PC. My excuse for no longer being active on here is that i am now a busy working man. What can ya do?

Anyway, back to my PC.

She is an AMD Athlon X2 5200+
Gigabyte GA M55 plus-S3G mobo
6GB DDR2 800 generic ram
ATI HD2400 128MB graphics
2 x Samsung T260 monitors
Dvd writer
Various hdds

So on one of the hottest days last week (must have been nearly 40) PC froze. So i turned it off. Then it would boot to the desktop which would still be frozen.

Then it stopped turning on at all. The power light would come on when you turn the on button on. All the fans would spin for a fraction of a second. And that would be that.

Took all the components out and reloaded them one by one to try to locate the problem.

When the boot hard drive (an 80gb WD Sata) was attached, the pc would not switch on. So i went out and bought a 1gb drive to replace it. This seemed to help....

Got all the way to the second screen of the windows xp install sequence and then it just froze.

Upon next restart was a CMOS checksum error after POST.

Now POST does not identify any hdds- nor does the xp setup.

The last time i turned it on, the colours of the POST screen were all discoloured and off just like when my last graphics card failed.

Now i am at a loss.

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

 

[dawaster]

have you checked the PSU

 

[hj2k_x]

I have taken it out and poked it. It looks the same as it did when i got the PC...

 

[hj2k_x]

have you checked the PSU

Forgot to mention that it is an IOMEGA 600W PSU. Which is three years old. Along with most of the rest of the components.

 

[SouthBit]

HDDs not detected - graphics not displaying properly - PC not booting - there's one common link here, the m/board. That would be my guess. Can you see any swollen caps on the board?

 

[LazyLion]

Howzit, long time no see.

First try another PSU.

 

[hj2k_x]

HDDs not detected - graphics not displaying properly - PC not booting - there's one common link here, the m/board. That would be my guess. Can you see any swollen caps on the board?

That seems a sensible suggestion. No swollen caps are visible. Mobo still looks as good as new...

 

[hj2k_x]

Howzit, long time no see.

First try another PSU.

Hey man. How goes?

Chances that incredible corruption have a reasonably priced PSU? There is one right by my building and i dont get out of work when anywhere else is still open...

 

[LazyLion]

Hey man. How goes?

Chances that incredible corruption have a reasonably priced PSU? There is one right by my building and i dont get out of work when anywhere else is still open...

Hmmm, I have not been into an IC in ages. But you can try their repairs division. A good 600 watt can knock you about R600. But maybe they have an old one laying around that you can at least test with?

 

[MickeyD]

Have a look at Esquire - they have a special on PSU's and have just received some new stocks.
Check MyBB hardware dealers sub-forum for Esquire's link to their specials.

EDIT:
http://specials.esquire.co.za/2011_01_06_AerocoolPSUSpecial.html

 

[hj2k_x]

Hmmm, I have not been into an IC in ages. But you can try their repairs division. A good 600 watt can knock you about R600. But maybe they have an old one laying around that you can at least test with?

I shall give it a go. At one stage the dvd drive was also working erratically. Not opening fully. As if not receving enough power...

 

[hj2k_x]

Have a look at Esquire - they have a special on PSU's and have just received some new stocks.
Check MyBB hardware dealers sub-forum for Esquire's link to their specials.

EDIT:
http://specials.esquire.co.za/2011_01_06_AerocoolPSUSpecial.html

They do look good. My only problem is that i wont get there during the day and they are not open after office hours...

 

[MickeyD]

They do look good. My only problem is that i wont get there during the day and they are not open after office hours...

Eish! I have a spare 500w PSU that I keep for emergencies... if I was in CPT you could have used it!

 

[hj2k_x]

Eish! I have a spare 500w PSU that I keep for emergencies... if I was in CPT you could have used it!

Thanks

I have no issue buying a replacement though. And IC seem to have become less ridiculous with both their stock levels and pricing so maybe i'll find something tomorrow. ..

 

[SouthBit]

Why not try Cafe Viva? They stay open quite late and on weekends, and their prices are good. Get yourself a shiny new CM PSU or something.

 

[Wimhotep]

motherboard / CPU overheated , check temp if you can get into CMOS.

 

[hj2k_x]

Why not try Cafe Viva? They stay open quite late and on weekends, and their prices are good. Get yourself a shiny new CM PSU or something.

Indeed. I have always found their prices good. Service not so much. If i dont come right at IC i'll see if i can head out there.

 

[MickeyD]

I finished fixing my main home PC and my best buddy's wife's PC at 3h33 this morning. Am dead tired but must now run off to work!

Good luck!!

 

[hj2k_x]

motherboard / CPU overheated , check temp if you can get into CMOS.

It does allow me into CMOS. Right now on first turn on after leaving it off overnight it says CPU and system temp 34. CPU fan speed 1630rpm...

I shall leave it on a bit to see if it climbs more than it should. The machine sounds quiet. As if it is on a go-slow. There is a 25cm fan on the side of my case ( which i have disconnected for now) which normally sounds like a small aeroplane about to take off- even that has got a lot quieter. So maybe it is the CPU.

CPU temp now up to 40. Fan speed 2000rpm...

 

[hj2k_x]

I finished fixing my main home PC and my best buddy's wife's PC at 3h33 this morning. Am dead tired but must now run off to work!

Good luck!!

Thanls, man. I shall report back with an update on my progress.