Computer Wont Bootup! No Screen, No Power

Sounds like your motherboard is fried. I had the same thing happen to an old pc of mine. If the problem was just the processor, the mbd would give you a post beep indicating that there was a problem with the processor. The processor may also be bad though. Usually if something shorts in the mbd, the processor goes kaput also. Wish I had better news. Hope this helps.

Although arrichter is probably right, you could try a few things before you crap the pc:

Reseat proccessor and HS/Fan (reapply thermal paste)

Take the mobo out of it's case and try to start it (some metal thingie could have fallen inside the PC and it's shorted/shorting the mobo)

Disconect the Power Button cable from mobo and temporarly short those 2 pins with a metal screw driver.

Try to boot with only minimum components, it's posible your PSU isn't capable anymore of powering all your devices.

Hope this helps a little more ;)

Check capacitors on mobo for bulging and/or leakage. Tops should be flat.

Your motherboard was likely manufactured during the "bad cap" period.

If caps are deformed or leaking, only realistic option is to replace mobo. The caps can be replaced, but unless you do it yourself it's cheaper to replace mobo.

Dalton

Thank you for your helpful advice. I took the motherboard out the case and put everything back together with only minimal components. Only hard drive, 256mb stick of ddr ram , pci video card. I removed the fan and heatsink. But I didnt remove the cpu because I didnt know how. You said something about thermal paste. Well I put back the heatsink without any thermal paste, Is that okay?

Anyways, now the first time turn it on the cpu fan will whirl for a second, but thats it. Nothing turns on. It sounds like my motherboard fried... Ive never had a hardware problem with this computer til now.

By the way, how can i troublshoot a bad cpu and how to remove and install the right way.

Much thanks

" Well I put back the heatsink without any thermal paste, Is that okay?"

NO, that's verry bad.

Here is a verry usefull link : http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_cpu.htm

As mentioned above, check for bulged electrolitic capacitators.

You'll laugh but you probably got the board torqued a little by over tightening the mobo screws grounding the board out. I had the same problem with my first pc build. I bought a completely new power supply and nothing. I removed the jumpers, nothing. I went to a local shop and had them test the board and they thought it was DOA. When I got home I got so mad that I started to yank the ATX connector off the board slightly harshly. At the same time I hit the power button screaming obscenities and I saw the led light go green and whammo it powered up. Stupified I loosened the screws slightly and all is better now. So far three other people called me when they built theirs when the same thing was happening to them and each time that was the trick. If it isnt that then the board could be DOA. If you have an another processor lying around you might want to try.

At this point you have to choose which one is the culprit,if you have not overclocked the pc or the pc has run hot ,it could be narrowed down to the cpu,the processor is not providing instruction to the motherboard.
If you have another board that you can check the cpu then do so.

Well the obvious thing is a fault with the M'Board as it sends a signal back to the ATX power supply to keep running and when you press the on switch it should run for a short time and then shut down if the signal is not received by the Power Supply.

However there are a few other options which generally only occur with a new case but are worth checking none the less the Power or Reset button can be badly molded and prevent the unit from turning on or running so if you can pull the front off remove the switches and check the plastic buttons for ridges that could be holding them in the on position.

But if the Power LED and HDD LED are not coming on it has to be the M'Board particularly if you didn't disconnect the front pannel leads. As you said you've had the M'Board out I take it you checked the header pins for something shorting across any unconnected pins?

Anyway you should also check the capacitors around the CPU they look like little tin cans soldered onto the M'Board and if they are leaking or bulging at the top the M'Board is shot. If it is UG get in contact with the supplier and make arraignments to return it for repair/replacement. If not these M'Boards are really cheap and you'll have to buy another one but it may require a different type of RAM to what you currently have.

Col

Hmmm...It sounds like it is your mobo, but make sure your powersupply is pushing enough juice. If you aren't getting at least 250watts out of it, your PC will have some problems powering on.

You don't want to run a cpu/fan without thermal paste. Make sure to get some...you don't have to slather it on, but a nice sized drop will do ya.

About the only way to trouble shoot the cpu is with another socket A (socket 462) mother board.

you can inspect the pins to make sure they aren't bent and crushed and, of course, reseat the cpu.

look at the side of the socket and you will see a lever on the side. use your thumb nail to move the lever out just enough to raise it straight up, then just pick up the processor. NOTE THE ORRIENTATION so you don't accidently put it in sideways or backward. Look at the pins and make sure they are all straight and not mangled. then place it back in the socket (Ziff=Zero Insertion Force) i.e. don't force it. Line the pins up and then lower the lever until it clicks. then try it again. IF you found bent pins, you may be able to Carefully straighten them. IF the socket was not orriented correctly in the first place, that was your problem. Pay particular attention to the corner pins (there are only two, two corners don't have pins)

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