Strange PC Problem

chewyuk

chewyuk

chewyuk

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Joined
29 Jun 2004
Posts
277
Location
Wirral
Hi all

I have been given a pc to fix which has a bit of an issue I haven't come across before.

The problem is when I try to power up the machine. Everything is plugged in, press the power switch, then you have time to make a cup of tea before the machine decides to actually power up!

The pc is an Athlon 1900+ xp, 512mb of generic ram (2 x 256mb sticks) and has two hard drives (an 8gb & 40gb). I am not sure of the make and model of the motherboard but I know that it is on a Via chipset (possibly kt400?). It also has Windows xp sp2 installed on it.

I suspect that the motherboard is at fault but I was just seeing if anyone else has had this kind of issue before I go hunting for a new mobo!

Cheers

:)
 
Possibly the BIOS is trying to talk to a device that doesn't exist, or is faulty.

I'm assuming it's on PATA not SATA. Try removing all drives but the boot drive, and all IDE cables but the one connecting the boot drive.
 
So just to clarify... you press the power button and there's no activity at all? No fans, no nothing?

In that case, I'd say the mobo's going home.
 
That's right. You press the power button and there is nothing. Then it just springs into life with no warning. Windows loads up fine and all is well.

There is an orange light on the motherboard (It's an Abit KR7A) but the drives/fans etc are dead.
 
Now that is bizarre. Ignore what I said, I was thinking it just wasn't posting.

It's either the PSU or the motherboard, I'd go with Mattus and say the motherboard.
 
Ok, a quick update. I have disconnected the hard drives, fans (not the cpu fan though) and the cd drive and it still doesn't boot. It does look like the motherboard or the even the psu.

I will have to have a look around and see if I have a spare psu anywhere that I can use to test it before I go out and get a new motherboard.

Cheers for the replies so far :)
 
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