pc won't start up - quick question

wedgie · 18 Dec 2007 at 15:25

Since last night my computer has not started up properly, it get's as far as reading the drives and then just hangs.

So basically, instead of (pretty much the sequence as I remeber it working):

-Switch on
-Fans kick in
-Reads DVD drives
-Beeps (here I think)
-Processor kicks in
-Monitor comes on and away you go

It now gets as far as:

-Switch on
-Fans kick in
-Then hangs at the stage of reading the drives. The led's on the DVD drives just flash and it goes no further.

Really just wanted to know, does this seem like the kind of problem that could be one of a couple of things (and if so what are they?), or is it one of those problems that could be any number of different things?

Any advice is appreciated.

Admiral Huddy · 18 Dec 2007 at 15:50

So do you get any POSt beeps now?

Grab a copy of UBCD which comes with HDD checking utilities and memtest.

Run these diagnostics just to elmininate these..

wedgie · 18 Dec 2007 at 16:00

Nope, no beeps at all.

Admiral Huddy · 18 Dec 2007 at 16:08

If it's not even getting as far as POST, it could be the motherboard or PSU..

You need to eliminate the PSU first even thought it appears you have power. Just check the rails.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17757782&highlight=huddy's+psu+guide

I still think you need to check the HDD too. See if you can get UBCD and see if you can boot to that. Once in there, run the HDD diagnostic that matches your HDD.

wedgie · 18 Dec 2007 at 16:14

Mobo and PSU are the newest parts in the computer. :eek:

Is it possible that the PSU has a dodgy wire somewhere? Just trying to get hold of ubcd now.

dokko · 18 Dec 2007 at 16:18

Have you tried taken out the drives?

wedgie · 18 Dec 2007 at 17:18

Update:

It's not the PSU - Had another PSU and when swapping them over, exactly the same thing happened.

Not the DVD drives - Removed the drives and same thing happens, just without the led's flashing this time.

What are now the most likely causes, Mobo? Processor?

fobose · 18 Dec 2007 at 17:27

Take everything out bar the bare essentials. So unplug everything so you only have CPU/mobo/graphics/1 stick of ram and try that. Also what do you mean in your first post "Processor kicks in"?

wedgie · 18 Dec 2007 at 17:51

Didn't think it was a technical term.

By that I just meant that was the point where things start up (not just from an electrical point of view). Basically the point where the led on the front of the unit starts to flash like when it's doing something. It doesn't get to this point at the moment.

Admiral Huddy · 19 Dec 2007 at 09:21

Wedgie, I have already made some recomendations.

Grab a copy of UBCD and boot from the CD.

If you can boot from UBCD, then find out what HDD you have and run the diagnostic tool for that drive. For example, if you have a Seagate drive, run the Seagate HDD diagnostic tool. This will tell you if you have any HDD errors.

UBCD also has memory and CPU testing utilites so you can eliminate then from the same suite.

If you can't boot from the CD or from the Windows disk, then it would most likely be the mobo if you have already swapped out the PSU. Not knowing anything about your techinal abilities, you did fix the mobo on to risers?