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Not booting

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by suldenct

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My machine was working fine when I packed it up 3 months ago. (We have moved) and I personally transported it (no movers) It has been in the box for that entire time and today I set it up. When I power it on, the green power light comes on as well as the HDD indicator. They both stay on and no signal is sent to the monitor. It doesn't get into the BIOS. I tried pulling the memory sticks out and reseating them and still nothing. I have never encounterd anything of the like. Any suggestions? Please!!!

10 replies

by dugadugdug

When you power it on do you hear any beep codes via the POST, (if so how many do you hear)? Is the video card onboard (on the motherboard) or a seperate card, if seperate reseat that as well and also try a different slot if reseating it doesn't correct it. Have you verified cables have been plugged back in to proper sockets, etc? Reseat all cables. You mentioned HDD indicator comes on, if it is on constantly it could mean cable is somewhat dislodged (from the HDD or the MB) or is backwards. Can you hear the HDD spinning?

by dugadugdug

Okay so with the HDD cable removed, will the system go through its POST (which means Power On Self Test..should have mentioned that in my first message) and can you get into the BIOS? This will help determine whether it's a possible cable and/or controller/MB problem.

by dugadugdug

Hmm...well not all computers have beep codes, some of the newer computers have LED's that light up that indicate the error. What is the model of your computer or motherboard (assuming it's a clone). Are the internal fans spinning when it is powered, e.g. cpu fan (if it has one) or computer fans and power supply fan? Have you checked to see if anything could be shorting out the system, e.g. a screw got dislodged during the move and is underneath the MB? Depending on your level of expertise, I would take the computer apart and rebuild it (e.g. wearing a groundstrap place the computer on a workbench and remove the side panels, remove the HDD, floppy/cd/dvd drives, powersupply, all cables, RAM, cpu video card, motherboard, etc and then put it all back together and try it again. Take notes of what goes where if you are unfamiliar with building computers and at the same time, perfect opportunity for cleaning the system, e.g. removing dust and other junk).

by mjd420nova

After an extended down time, it would be wise to replace the CMOS battery and refresh the BIOS. If the unit still won't boot, that is no display, no beeps, the video card(if a plug in type) or the memory for the video(if integrated, part of the motherboard) has failed. Reseating the memory and plug in cards could help. Good luck

by xt john

Check the power supply, if it has a voltage switch, that can be set from 230 to 115. The IBM's we service at our sites were notorious for coming shipped with the switch in the wrong setting. It may have gotten changed during the move. But the symptoms you describe sound exactly like what would happen.

by suldenct

Thanks to you all.
I have pulled out every card. Reseated the video..nothing. Changed the video....nothing.
An odd thing though, the hard drives do not spin up when the IDE cable is attached to the primary controller. (Both are set to cable select and connected properly as they were before the move) When I pull the cable off either drive they spin up. When I pull the cable from the controller they spin up.

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