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Help with PC

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by dlivernois

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Hi,

I have a PC about 4 to 5 years old. The hard drive crashed so I bought anouther one. I know the bios needs upgrading which is fine. My problem is that it was working three days ago and then tonight I start to work on it and it won't start. IfI unplug the power supply from the motherboard anf then turn the switch on, the fan on the power supply works. Once I turn it off and reconnect the power supply connectors to the motherboard and try turning it on I get nothing.

I have tried disconnectting everything and just have the power supply connected and it won't turn on. As soon as I disconnect the power supply from the motherboard and turn it back on, the fan on the power supply and the cooling fan on the processor work. I can't figure it out. Any help would be appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!!!

Dana

4 replies

by thechas

There are many possabilities.

First of all, ALL PC power supplies need a minimum load to start up.
It is common for the power supply to not turn on with nothing connected to it.

Now, since the system does not startup with the motherboard connected, it is very possible that something on your motherboard has failed.

Look near the CPU for large capacitors, and transistors.
Are there any signs of bulges or singeing on the parts.
If so, the voltage regulator circuit is dammaged.

If the parts near the CPU look okay, then remove your modem, and see if the PC will now start.
If it now starts, then you need a new modem.

You can try this with other plug-in cards as well.

If no plug-in cards seam to be the problem, then
try a different power supply.
If the power supply is not the problem, you are left with the memory, CPU, or the motherboard itself.

At 4-5 years old, it is worthwile to replace everything, and have a new system.

Chas

by jballar5611

Would u mind answering these two questions please
1.Which of the following are ways to optimize conventional memory in DOS?

A)Delete COMMAND.COM
B)Remove the swap file
C)Add the memory TSR
D)Remove unused TSR programs

2.Which of thefollowing is not a function of EMM386.EXE?
A)Memory managment
B)UMB gateway
C)Enable access to the IDE
D)Excludes UMBs

Thank you

Truly Ricardo

by thechas

1 D
you need command.com to run DOS.
virtual memory does not detract from the first 640K of ram that DOS uses.
TSRs, detract from all memory

2 C
EMM386 is the MSDOS program to allow DOS (and Win 3.X) to a use memory beyond the original 640K DOS limit.
UMB (upper memory block) needs EMM386 for access.

Chas

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