Any Computer Guys Help?
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35
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From: Indiana
Any Computer Guys Help?
ok so heres the deal... my old power supply surged and kinda started sparking a couple days ago... as soon as it happened i turned the computer off and left it there because i figured my power supply was done for. went to circuit city and bought a 400w antec power supply... took it home and put the new power supply in and it will turn for about 2 seconds and nothing comes up and the little beeping sound that comes out as you start up your computer goes about 4 or 5 times. what will i need to get to fix this? motherboard, processor, video card(hopefully not cuz i just bought a $200 ati card)? im workin off of the school's computers now....
thanks
thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,007
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From: Oregon
Sounds like you've got a good PS and Video card..
. Do a Google on beep codes. Different brands have differn't codes. Before you get too deep, make sure to seat all the connectors, even the ones you didn't mess with. Might be something simple, like a ribbon cable got bumped, or it could be bad. Knock out the easy stuff first.
. Do a Google on beep codes. Different brands have differn't codes. Before you get too deep, make sure to seat all the connectors, even the ones you didn't mess with. Might be something simple, like a ribbon cable got bumped, or it could be bad. Knock out the easy stuff first.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Count the beeps. Usually 4 to five is a missing memory code. Take everything out of the motherboard, CPU, ram, and all cards. Then try to power it up. It's possible that the old power supply toasted the board.
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Indiana
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haha yea everything in my computer is a p.o.s. besides the video card and now the power supply.. and i guess the ram isnt bad... running a 1.3 duron processor with some crappy non-name brand motherboard... video card is ati radeon 9600xt and the ram is 512 mb of kingston... soon to get a gig if i can get it running again
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Some of the less known name mother boards are better. If it's a gigabyte scrap it and get a Tyan, or shuttle. Asus also used to make a good board, but it's been awhile since I used one. THe most reliable PC I ever built was built with a Tyan board.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Sounds like the power supply took out your MOBO or CPU. Usually when power supplies fail catastrophically they fry too many of the other components to make replacing it worthwhile.
I keep a couple of good used PS’s around just for situation you describe, run tests with them to see if the system is working before dropping any bucks into it. (Side note, I've been given a number of used systems that had power supplies fail, more than a few were perfectly good, a number had been to a computer repair shop. Who handed them back with note saying "the system was not repairable, that'll be 90 bucks please".)
I keep a couple of good used PS’s around just for situation you describe, run tests with them to see if the system is working before dropping any bucks into it. (Side note, I've been given a number of used systems that had power supplies fail, more than a few were perfectly good, a number had been to a computer repair shop. Who handed them back with note saying "the system was not repairable, that'll be 90 bucks please".)
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Indiana
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yea i think actually that i am going to possibly get a new computer and prob. just put my nice stuff in it.... 1 other nice thing i have that i think killed my computer when i put it in cuz it went out about a week after i put it in.... a sound blaster audigy 2 platinum edition... my dad got it free for some safety thing at work and he put it in without me knowing...
but for the new computers... does anyone know a good computer (preferrably for gaming) but also kind of cheap on price?
thanks
oh yea the motherboard i had was an Elite ECS K7S5A Pro and my computer wont stay on long enough to get the beep code from it
i would also like to put my video card and all that stuff back in to this comp. so i would like to have an agp slot instead of the computer having the integrated graphics card
but for the new computers... does anyone know a good computer (preferrably for gaming) but also kind of cheap on price?
thanks
oh yea the motherboard i had was an Elite ECS K7S5A Pro and my computer wont stay on long enough to get the beep code from it
i would also like to put my video card and all that stuff back in to this comp. so i would like to have an agp slot instead of the computer having the integrated graphics card
Last edited by squeals; Oct 27, 2005 at 08:23 AM.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Cullman Alabama
You said a 'Surge' got your PS.
The 5Vdc is regulated. A surge usually dont bother any of that stuff.
But the +12 and 28 volt supplys are not regulated. Those two supplies will pass anything they get from the wall, right into your PC.
Get your meter out, look on the Mother board and printer cable ports, and see what you have in those supplies.
Did you (on power up) get the flashing led's on your keyboard? If not, your Voltage's are not complete, or the Boot program is not running.
Take a good look, and a good sniff on the Mother board. Krispy critters are usually a good sign of a Newer Mother board and maybe some more stuff are in your near future.
If you find Krispy Critters, dont waste any more time with any of it.
The 5Vdc is regulated. A surge usually dont bother any of that stuff.
But the +12 and 28 volt supplys are not regulated. Those two supplies will pass anything they get from the wall, right into your PC.
Get your meter out, look on the Mother board and printer cable ports, and see what you have in those supplies.
Did you (on power up) get the flashing led's on your keyboard? If not, your Voltage's are not complete, or the Boot program is not running.
Take a good look, and a good sniff on the Mother board. Krispy critters are usually a good sign of a Newer Mother board and maybe some more stuff are in your near future.
If you find Krispy Critters, dont waste any more time with any of it.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
How cheap, is cheap on price? I know you can check ebay out for some barebone systems that look pretty good, then just add the decent stuff off of your computer to it, for not a bad price you would have a pretty kick *** system!
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Indiana
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not really sure on price but id say somewhere like 600 or lower
last computer i had i got for like 200 and ill be takin this computer to college so might as well get 1 that will last....
1 other thing i have is an 80 gig western digital with 8 mb cache so im hopin its still alive
last computer i had i got for like 200 and ill be takin this computer to college so might as well get 1 that will last....
1 other thing i have is an 80 gig western digital with 8 mb cache so im hopin its still alive
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,899
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From: Cullman Alabama
preppy I would be absolutly against buying (electronics/PC stuff) anything used on Ebay.
Just my opinion, and I know other guys have done OK off Ebay, but with what I know about how things get 'stressed' and still work long enough for the seller to say "well it was working when I sent it to you", I'll stick with the local re-sellers or the mail order houses.
Just my opinion, and I know other guys have done OK off Ebay, but with what I know about how things get 'stressed' and still work long enough for the seller to say "well it was working when I sent it to you", I'll stick with the local re-sellers or the mail order houses.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 3
From: Durham, NC
Originally Posted by Thudpucker
You said a 'Surge' got your PS.
The 5Vdc is regulated. A surge usually dont bother any of that stuff.
But the +12 and 28 volt supplys are not regulated. Those two supplies will pass anything they get from the wall, right into your PC.
Get your meter out, look on the Mother board and printer cable ports, and see what you have in those supplies.
The 5Vdc is regulated. A surge usually dont bother any of that stuff.
But the +12 and 28 volt supplys are not regulated. Those two supplies will pass anything they get from the wall, right into your PC.
Get your meter out, look on the Mother board and printer cable ports, and see what you have in those supplies.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 2
From: Southern MD
Originally Posted by squeals
yea i think actually that i am going to possibly get a new computer and prob. just put my nice stuff in it.... 1 other nice thing i have that i think killed my computer when i put it in cuz it went out about a week after i put it in.... a sound blaster audigy 2 platinum edition... my dad got it free for some safety thing at work and he put it in without me knowing...
but for the new computers... does anyone know a good computer (preferrably for gaming) but also kind of cheap on price?
thanks
oh yea the motherboard i had was an Elite ECS K7S5A Pro and my computer wont stay on long enough to get the beep code from it
i would also like to put my video card and all that stuff back in to this comp. so i would like to have an agp slot instead of the computer having the integrated graphics card
but for the new computers... does anyone know a good computer (preferrably for gaming) but also kind of cheap on price?
thanks
oh yea the motherboard i had was an Elite ECS K7S5A Pro and my computer wont stay on long enough to get the beep code from it
i would also like to put my video card and all that stuff back in to this comp. so i would like to have an agp slot instead of the computer having the integrated graphics card
Time out. (Please.)
Did the PC work correctly when you put the new video card in?
You say it's an Elite ECS K7S5A (Pro) board. That is the same board I have on the PC that I am using, right now.
Try this. . . Shut down the PC. Unplug the PC from the wall. Open the case. Remove the video card. Re-install video card. Leave cover off of case and try to re-boot.
(Be sure to fully seat the card into the AGP slot and insert the screw into the card and lock it in place in the slot, on the case.)
HINT: On my PC, IF the video card is not fully installed, or, if the video card has been 'nudged' it will do the same thing.
Next item: On SOME PCs, I've noticed that there are conflicts with ATI cards and the chipset(s).
Does your board have a VIA chipset, or SiS chipset?
The most common problem is between the ATI card and the VIA chipset.
For this reason alone. . . . I only use NVidia cards, since discovering the conflict(s).
4 Beeps: Your computer's complaining about it's memory. Make sure the chips (RAM) are seated firmly in their sockets. If that doesn't fix the problem, you probably need to pull out the chips and have them tested. If the chips are good, you may need a new MBoard.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 1
From: Cullman Alabama
Thanks Bob. I was used to the Corperate stuff I worked with.
We used +5Vdc for the logic.
Also a (+ n' -) 12 for writing, and an unregulated 28 Vdc that had a +12 tap for printer and some Communications stuff.
I retired in 96 and put it all away then.
We used +5Vdc for the logic.
Also a (+ n' -) 12 for writing, and an unregulated 28 Vdc that had a +12 tap for printer and some Communications stuff.
I retired in 96 and put it all away then.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 3
From: Durham, NC
Originally Posted by 00BlueOvalRanger
Time out. (Please.)
Did the PC work correctly when you put the new video card in?
You say it's an Elite ECS K7S5A (Pro) board. That is the same board I have on the PC that I am using, right now.
Try this. . . Shut down the PC. Unplug the PC from the wall. Open the case. Remove the video card. Re-install video card. Leave cover off of case and try to re-boot.
(Be sure to fully seat the card into the AGP slot and insert the screw into the card and lock it in place in the slot, on the case.)
HINT: On my PC, IF the video card is not fully installed, or, if the video card has been 'nudged' it will do the same thing.
Next item: On SOME PCs, I've noticed that there are conflicts with ATI cards and the chipset(s).
Does your board have a VIA chipset, or SiS chipset?
The most common problem is between the ATI card and the VIA chipset.
For this reason alone. . . . I only use NVidia cards, since discovering the conflict(s).
4 Beeps: Your computer's complaining about it's memory. Make sure the chips (RAM) are seated firmly in their sockets. If that doesn't fix the problem, you probably need to pull out the chips and have them tested. If the chips are good, you may need a new MBoard.
Did the PC work correctly when you put the new video card in?
You say it's an Elite ECS K7S5A (Pro) board. That is the same board I have on the PC that I am using, right now.
Try this. . . Shut down the PC. Unplug the PC from the wall. Open the case. Remove the video card. Re-install video card. Leave cover off of case and try to re-boot.
(Be sure to fully seat the card into the AGP slot and insert the screw into the card and lock it in place in the slot, on the case.)
HINT: On my PC, IF the video card is not fully installed, or, if the video card has been 'nudged' it will do the same thing.
Next item: On SOME PCs, I've noticed that there are conflicts with ATI cards and the chipset(s).
Does your board have a VIA chipset, or SiS chipset?
The most common problem is between the ATI card and the VIA chipset.
For this reason alone. . . . I only use NVidia cards, since discovering the conflict(s).
4 Beeps: Your computer's complaining about it's memory. Make sure the chips (RAM) are seated firmly in their sockets. If that doesn't fix the problem, you probably need to pull out the chips and have them tested. If the chips are good, you may need a new MBoard.