Power Supply/CPU Fan 1

[FCCC]

Hi,

When I boot my computer nothing comes out of the screen, totally blank. I suspect that my power supply is dead. but when I opened the CPU, I found out that the CPU fan and the power supply fan are running. I am not sure if I have to replace my power supply.

Will the fans still run even the power supply is dead? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, FCCC

 

[TyrantSSV]

The power supply have the protection circuit switching it off if something wrong - overload occurs or one or more output voltage disappears. If PSU's and CPU's fans are running, your power supply is OK.
To solve problem deinstall from your system all except motherboard, processor and memory. Turn it on and see what's happend. Be sure the speaker is connected to motherboard correctly. If you will hear one long and three short beeps - you power supply, motherboard, processor and memory are alive. Switch off the system and install videocard with monitor connected. Turn on and see...
And so on until the rest of equipment is installed back and all OK or wrong device found.

 

[FCCC]

hello,
Thanks for the reply. I will do what you suggested. One thing though, before this happened, there were 3 beeps and then it died. What causes the beeps?

 

[TyrantSSV]

Beeps are the diagnostic messages produced by POST (Power-On Self Test) routine and let to know about problem if no possibility to display error message onto screen. One long and three short beeps - "there is no videocard installed" message but 3 beeps - possible memory problems (I don't recall exactly; these beep codes may be printed in the motherboard's manual or found here in forum..). If it so, try to replace the memory with tested one..

 

[FCCC]

Tried to disconnect all cables, but still won't read anything. I think my motherboard is dead.

Thanks for taking time to respond to my thread.

 

[edfair]

If you have ATX, there are 2 low voltage supplies, and one can go out while the other is still running.
It can be the M/B, but you can't rule out power yet.
And it is quite possible that the memory is the cause. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[FCCC]

Hi Ed,

Yes I have ATX. I have installed a different memory and video card and unpluged the modem, but still won't come on. Before this happened, I was getting Windows Protection Error and re-setting all stuff connected to it didn't work lately so I had to reformat the drive thinking that the error will go away. I was in the middle of installing windows when I heard 3 beeps and the screen went blank.

 

[edfair]

If the beeps were in the middle of the installation it is likely that the CPU or M/B fried. The POST beeps are another issue.
This is one of the fun diagnostic problems. You don't know what is good and what is bad.
It would help if you had diagnostic tools. Particularly a VOM to test the PS outputs and a logic probe to see if the processor is clocking. But wiahes and haves are different things.
With the history of BSODs I think it more likely the CPU, but that is SWAG. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[ANFPS26]

"SWAG"! Haven't heard that one in awhile. That brings back memories. I've used SWAGs a lot in my day!! "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing....."

 

[shakur]

yo that motherboard is fired to the ground the best thing to do is buy otther and try this time to update drivers or anything that need update because they also can cause a problem

 

[Jborth]

This is usually a sign that something has shorted out.
Here is my typical...but thorough...trouble shooting
Take everything out of the chassis including the motherboard. Place the motherboard on a static mad or bag and and try to power up with memory and video only. Then start plugging in floppy, HD, CD-roms etc. If it boots up fine then you problem was a loose connecion or the motherboard is shorting against the chassis. Try nudging the board around a bit. I normally just put some non-conducting material under the motherboard when I run into this.

 

[m130]

I am in agreement with most of you but I have a simular but a rather diffucult problem. I have a 1.4 Gig processor (AMD Ath). The other day I left with it running and when I came home nothing. I could not reset, changed power supplies, took out the cards, RAM, everythng. Nothing would crank this puppy. I took out the processor to see if the fan would turn. Notta. I then decided it must be the mother board. I got a new one. Building a server out of this one. Got all my stuff in it and plugged it up and NOTHING. Same way as before. The fan will turn just maybe a couple or three rounds and then will not start again unless you unplug the machine, reset button, and then does the same thing. I would not think it is the processor since the fan would not turn with the processor out but could it be the processor even with the fan out. The board is not grounded to the case either. Nothing was changed. I left with it running like a charm with no one home. Came home and dead as a door nail...Please someone help me if you can.

Marty

 

[edfair]

Dead short will generally give maybe a single turn of the fan before the PS crowbars.
Several turns may be an indication of problems in the temperature detection , or can be an overcurrent problem.
Sounds like the processor may have gone away. Or the M/B.

I think you'll have more help with a new thread. Lots of people ignore the long threads.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.