Machine Refuses To Boot

quad · Joined: Feb 11, 2009 Posts: 1

Please can any one help?
I had a power cut while the computer was switched on and now it won't boot-up.
All it does is power the fans up. Doesn't show anything on the monitor.

Can any one please advise

danielpa · Joined: Feb 12, 2009 Posts: 1

It seems that the motherboard got fried Confused

and in that case you'll have to change it... have a look at it for any evident sign (even if there aren't any signs, it could be just as dead)...
Alternate things to check: the power supply unit, ie, the output voltages through its cables, but that requires some knowledge and proper tools; ohter option: unplug everything from the motherboard (hard disks, memory, DVD unit,...), then plug everything back in (or try different combinations of things plugged in) and try to boot again.

rovingcowboy · Joined: Jan 26, 2003 Posts: 1278

try looking for a reset button on the monitor.

it might also be a toasted monitor, Confused

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2636

If you don't hear a POST beep, I'm inclined to go with a dead motherboard. Most any other problem will at least give some sort of beep so you can figure out what piece of hardware isn't working.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

Try this:

remove ALL power from your system.

Then remove the CMOS battery and leave it out for 30 minutes or so.
Then replace the battery, restore line power and try to boot up the PC.

I've used that technique many times to revive a PC that appeared to be DEAD.

If the system does boot up, you'll have to reset the time and date.
Your hard drive parameters should be automatically set by the bios.

Doc Cool

eric_s · Joined: Jul 16, 2003 Posts: 25 Location: Western Canada

Or it could be a power supply problem - 12 Volts will run the fans even when the 5 Volts is absent. Open the case and measure on one of the 4 pin Molex connectors - Yellow-Black is ~12 Volts and Red-Black is ~ 5 Volts. If both are good values then it may be time to replace the motherboard. The dificulty is that, depending on the age of your system, you may not find a board that will accomodate your older CPU/Memory.