PC died. Please help...

Dude! At least you dont have a dell :)

All electronics are bound to die at some stage. I used to work in the hardware sector and these things just happen (unless you give it a hand).
 
Try unplugging all disk drives and see if you get setup screen. If you do the problem is disk related, it could also be the disk interface on the MB. If not then it's a MB problem.

Suggest you take the machine to a competent workshop.
 
bekdik, I did do that - nothing came up. I basically unplugged EVERYTHING and started it up - nothing.

If it's the motherboard, it's sort of okayish. It was expensive, but my CPU is a P IV Prescott, it cost quite a bit and I'd hate to have to replace that :(

The thing is that the PC isn't even three years old yet... With my luck the warranty expired last month... :(
 
3 years - Not bad.

I normally give MB/s a life span of 2 years on average. I had to replace my Fiancee's one end of last year. It was a cheap MSI Sahara knockoff. I hate that Sahara i bought her - Big mistake. So far i replaced the MB and Case.

Who replaces a case I hear you ask? Why, Me, I response. The thing made such a ratteling noise i couldnt take it anymore.
 
Heheheh. I was really amazed at this Thermaltake box last night. I've always complained that it's not as quiet as they advertise it to be, until I unplugged the two extra fans last night and just let it run on the CPU fan and the PSU fan - WOW! I almost couldn't hear the difference between the machine being on or off! It would've been great, if it weren't for the fact that the machine was dead... -_-

As I mentioned, if it's the motherboard, it's okay, I guess... just as long as it's not the CPU... :(

3 years = not too bad... eish... one would think that a "fancy" motherboard like that would last for longer?
 
Just 1 point to note here, which I don't think anyone seems to have mentioned. If your machine's powering up, but the screen's not coming on, then it could possibly be the graphics card that's died. Or, as mentioned, it might've been the motherboard.
 
Just 1 point to note here, which I don't think anyone seems to have mentioned. If your machine's powering up, but the screen's not coming on, then it could possibly be the graphics card that's died. Or, as mentioned, it might've been the motherboard.

If it was the graphics card I beleive we should have heard some beeps that indicate the graphics card has failed. There were no beeps, which is a sign of MB.
 
I tried another graphics card as well flarkit - still didn't make a difference. That was also my first thought, considering that I've had problems with the graphics card before...

No beeps whatsoever, nope...
 
Have you tried re-seating the CPU and RAM? Won't hurt to do it with any expansion cards. I doubt it will help, but it's worth a shot, since you don't have anything further to lose.
 
I haven't tried the CPU, no. I took the RAM out completely.

First thing I want to do tonight is reset the BIOS... see if that doesn't make a difference...

Then I'll take it from there.

If this does go south for the winter - any suggestions on what to replace it with? I don't have millions to spend... keep that in mind.
 
Hey there.

If you power on the PC, does the red LED (hdd activity) stays on, or is it flashing irregular? I once diagnosed that problem with my own PC. The HDD LED stayed on, everything powered up, but also no display. I tried out a new CPU, and that was the problem.

It could also be your motherboard. Have u checked if the 4-pin power cable for your CPU is also plugged in (yellow and black wires). If you removed the RAM, and the HDD LED stays on, and you don't get any beep codes, I would go for a new CPU. The only thing is, you wouldn't know what popped the CPU. It could be that the mainboard made the CPU pop. What CPU do u use? Intel LGA 775, or PGA 478 or any AMD CPU? Try a friend's CPU in your machine to c if its only the CPU that went out.

You can e-mail me for any further questions!

Good luck!
 
PHTech - yep, that's what's happening: The HDD LED just stays on, no power LED.

The motherboard is a LANParty PRO875B, so I would imagine it's a socket 875? The only other machine I have around is a P IV Celeron - that wouldn't work, hey?
 
If it's a socket 478 CPU then it will...

This is the board:
http://www.dfi.com.tw/Product/xx_product_spec_details_r_us.jsp?PRODUCT_ID=1880
It is a DFI product - not sure who distributes them in SA... where did you purchase it? Most places offer a carry-in warranty, so you may have to return it to the place you bought from...

Make sure both power supply connectors are nicely seated and reseat if necessary (One is right next to the CPU - 4 pins, other is at the bottom right of the board (see this pic)
http://www.dfi.com.tw/Upload/Product_Picture/LP PRO875B b.jpg

Here for CPU support for the board:
http://i7.tinypic.com/25tuxdk.jpg
 
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Ok.

The LANParty PRO875B is an Intel-based motherboard. It uses an Intel 875B Chipset. The LGA775 chipsets starts from around the Intel D915xxx chipset.

The Board have the following physical characteristics (short summary)

--> Intel 875P Canterwood Chipset
--> Socket 478 (PGA [Pin Grid Array] 478)
--> CPU Support speed - 400/533/800MHz FSB w. HyperThreading(Front Side Bus)
--> Memory - 266/333/400MHz DDR

The Intel Celeron CPU that u have will work with that Motherboard. You wont have the performance of the Pentium, but you can use that to Fault-find your PC.

Just make sure when u insert the Celeron CPU make sure u dont force the CPU into the socket. It should slide in easily. Before u insert the CPU, make sure u have unplugged ur PC from the mains, and no LEDs inside box should be on. (When the power is out from the mains, press the Power Button to discharge you M/board until all the LEDs are off)

Try this and let me know if there is any success!

Good LUCK!
 
Yakkie, I went to your infamous thread, and saw you have a 478 socket motherboard and processor.

If its the motherboard, a new one will be R560 (Asus P4V8XMX , all-in-one ; s478 , 800fsb prescott supported , via p4m800 + via8237R chipset , 2x ddr400 , 2 x parallel ata133 , 2x S-ata with raid 0/1 , on-board VGA + 5.1 audio + 10/100 lan ; 1 x agp , 3x pci , micro atx), only socket 478 motherboard I can get, and very very average compared to what you have.

If its the processor, only new socket 478 processors around are Celeron-Ds in the 2 to 2,6 GHz range, ranging from R550 to R720.

Holding thumbs that BIOS reset works...
 
It may be static. Power ur pc on. Then remove the power cable from the PSU. Press your Power Button in for 10 seconds, ur machine might even start and then stop until the PSU is drained. Then release the power button and keep pressing and releasing maybe 5 or so times. This generals removes all power stored in ur PSU. Plug everything back in and try that. I work in the industry and have had several cases of Static or PSU issues which i have overcome with the above mentioned technique. I have had to do the same to my pc on several occasions...
 
Ok.

The LANParty PRO875B is an Intel-based motherboard. It uses an Intel 875B Chipset. The LGA775 chipsets starts from around the Intel D915xxx chipset.

The Board have the following physical characteristics (short summary)

--> Intel 875P Canterwood Chipset
--> Socket 478 (PGA [Pin Grid Array] 478)
--> CPU Support speed - 400/533/800MHz FSB w. HyperThreading(Front Side Bus)
--> Memory - 266/333/400MHz DDR

The Intel Celeron CPU that u have will work with that Motherboard. You wont have the performance of the Pentium, but you can use that to Fault-find your PC.

Just make sure when u insert the Celeron CPU make sure u dont force the CPU into the socket. It should slide in easily. Before u insert the CPU, make sure u have unplugged ur PC from the mains, and no LEDs inside box should be on. (When the power is out from the mains, press the Power Button to discharge you M/board until all the LEDs are off)

Try this and let me know if there is any success!

Good LUCK!
 
This is the board

Yep! That's it. It's so purrdy... *sigh*

The Intel Celeron CPU that u have will work with that Motherboard. You wont have the performance of the Pentium, but you can use that to Fault-find your PC.

I'll try that, thanks man. If all else fails, I can use that CPU until I can get my mits on another one.

only socket 478 motherboard I can get, and very very average compared to what you have.

What does "average" entail? Will my machine be much slower?

I work in the industry and have had several cases of Static or PSU issues which i have overcome with the above mentioned technique. I have had to do the same to my pc on several occasions...

I'll give that a shot. Thanks man.

Thanks for all the help so far guys. I really appreciate it.
 
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