So i was putzing on 14, comp froze up a few times (this is normal for me) then it crashed and shut down. This is a normal event for me, so i was not worried by this.
So i waited for everything to load up again, maybe 30 mins, and i popped back on 14. Well this time, it just crashed, no lock up or anything. And instead of the normal reboot it went into a cycle of attempting to Boot up, the fans would go for about 2-3 seconds and everything would shut off.
I unplugged, tried diff plugs, all work fine with a clock, so none of them are bad, and i switched on and off the power switch on the back of the power supply. ( i looked in other forums a bit first to look for help) Anyway, after waiting about 10 mins, the computer "started" but when i say started, i mean all the fans turned on. The screen is blank as if the comp is off, and the green power light on the front of the cpu is out.
If i can't do anything to recover data, i'll deal, it sucks, but i have nothing valuable on there. But i guess i was just looking for suggestions. Sadly, i don't really have spare parts anywhere to experiment with switching things out. Also, the vid card fan is working, but there is a red light on the card thats on (i don;t know if its usually on or not). Now, we had a power out this past week, and the comp did the whole rev engine thing to start up, and took about 20 attempts before it finally came up. I don;t know if that fried anything, i mean i am sure it didn't help anything.
Anyway, i wanna know if anyone has suggestions on how to get it back up and running. I am guessing its not the power supply since the fans are running ( if i am wrong here, just let me know) So i am thinking it could be the processor or the motherboard i guess since the power light is out.
Again, and help is really appreciated.
Donny
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Computer crashed, need help/suggestionsFollow
I just reied taking the vid card out, and put it back in, also there were 2 monitor hookups, i switched to the other one, and Now the power button comes on, but the processing light does nothing. Is there a way to test if its the processor that died? And if thats the case, is there any way to retrieve anything off of my computer?
Sigh, i hate my luck XD
Sigh, i hate my luck XD
What kind of computer do you have ?
When you turn on the computer do you hear the POST beep ?
When you turn on the computer do you hear the POST beep ?
First off, computer freezing isn't normal. Every time it happens there is a chance your operaing system is damaged in some manner, and a smaller but still significant chance of hardware damage under certain situations. If your computer is crashing, you should be worried, and should investigate.
At this point, the fact that you can't even get to the POST screen could be several potential hardware issues. If you are lucky, and if your computer is new enough, the Bios may just be stuck in a non booting configuration, if the board has automatic memory timing adjustment capability. Most newer than 4 years old computers have that as a potential feature. If thats the case, unplug your computer from all cables (network and USB can provide power under certain configurations) and then locate the bios battery inside your case and gently remove it for approximatly 1 minute. This will wipe all your bios settings, including the system date and time, drive boot order, and any other customizations, so only do that if you know enough to reset them correctly After 1 minute, put the battery back in, try boot. If you are very very lucky your computer will boot.
if it doesn't boot at that stage, chances are it's one or more of your ram sticks, or potentially the video card. It could also be the motherboard itself or even the processor, but that would be rare. Pull all of your ram except one stick from slot one, and attempt to boot. If that doesn't work, try stick 2, then stick 3, etc.
If it still won't boot, it might be video. see if you can find an old video card someone else might have to let you test with.
if that doesn't work, its probably your motherboard, and if so, you are probably looking at a major upgrade. Or at least upgradeing might be more cost effective than chasing bad hardware.
Even if you are able to boot, chances are your operating system is completely screwed and will at a minimum require a reload. You'll probably be able to retrieve your hard drive files using a second computer with some effort though if you need anything off of it short of reloading though. Or with something like a bootable knoppix disk and a USB flash drive to transfer the files to, etc.
Do you have a good surge protector (or even better, a UPS battery backup) between your computer and the wall? Also, what are the temperatures looking like in your computer room on average? any chance the fans and or motherboard are covered in dust and not working correctly and overheating, causing melting?
At this point, the fact that you can't even get to the POST screen could be several potential hardware issues. If you are lucky, and if your computer is new enough, the Bios may just be stuck in a non booting configuration, if the board has automatic memory timing adjustment capability. Most newer than 4 years old computers have that as a potential feature. If thats the case, unplug your computer from all cables (network and USB can provide power under certain configurations) and then locate the bios battery inside your case and gently remove it for approximatly 1 minute. This will wipe all your bios settings, including the system date and time, drive boot order, and any other customizations, so only do that if you know enough to reset them correctly After 1 minute, put the battery back in, try boot. If you are very very lucky your computer will boot.
if it doesn't boot at that stage, chances are it's one or more of your ram sticks, or potentially the video card. It could also be the motherboard itself or even the processor, but that would be rare. Pull all of your ram except one stick from slot one, and attempt to boot. If that doesn't work, try stick 2, then stick 3, etc.
If it still won't boot, it might be video. see if you can find an old video card someone else might have to let you test with.
if that doesn't work, its probably your motherboard, and if so, you are probably looking at a major upgrade. Or at least upgradeing might be more cost effective than chasing bad hardware.
Even if you are able to boot, chances are your operating system is completely screwed and will at a minimum require a reload. You'll probably be able to retrieve your hard drive files using a second computer with some effort though if you need anything off of it short of reloading though. Or with something like a bootable knoppix disk and a USB flash drive to transfer the files to, etc.
Do you have a good surge protector (or even better, a UPS battery backup) between your computer and the wall? Also, what are the temperatures looking like in your computer room on average? any chance the fans and or motherboard are covered in dust and not working correctly and overheating, causing melting?
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Ok, first off, ive been having issues for a while. Ive posted here with issues like comp crashing when i play final, comp freezing while i go online etc. SO i know comps crashing is not good or normal, but for my comp, its what i'd call "normal"
The comp is about 4 years old, but ive been having issues since day 1 basically. I know i was stupid not to return it day 1, but thats hindsight now.
Anyway, i think its the vid card, and sadly the vid cards from my old comp are not compatible, there is no way that will line up with the slot for the current vid card, ive tried them all.
I head no beep when i try to start the comp. It is now at the point where the power button comes on, but the red process button never really comes on. Also there is a red light on the vid card that goes on and off in sync with the "engine reving" of the fan for the vid card, which is why i think thats where the issue is. I already had a new comp on order since the power outage since its been really bad since then.
I have just a normal surge protector for this comp (for the one i just ordered, i got a battery backup with it)
The comp for the most part is clean, there is a bit of dust, but the amount that if you blow on it slightly its all gone, so i highly doubt its a melting issue. The room is a bit higher than it should be, but does not go over 75.
And since i am getting a new comp, i am not too worried about the old comp itsself, i just wanted to try to retrieve some things off it, like 4 years of Pics from 11, and the pics from 14, some vids and assorted things like that. If i can't i can't, its not the end of the world. I'll try seeing if my wifes comps vid card will work in mine, and i am hoping thats the issue.
Again, i appreciate the advice and suggestions, it just really sucks because i am computerless for a few days XD
I'll post back if i get it working again enough to get my stuff off of it.
The comp is about 4 years old, but ive been having issues since day 1 basically. I know i was stupid not to return it day 1, but thats hindsight now.
Anyway, i think its the vid card, and sadly the vid cards from my old comp are not compatible, there is no way that will line up with the slot for the current vid card, ive tried them all.
I head no beep when i try to start the comp. It is now at the point where the power button comes on, but the red process button never really comes on. Also there is a red light on the vid card that goes on and off in sync with the "engine reving" of the fan for the vid card, which is why i think thats where the issue is. I already had a new comp on order since the power outage since its been really bad since then.
I have just a normal surge protector for this comp (for the one i just ordered, i got a battery backup with it)
The comp for the most part is clean, there is a bit of dust, but the amount that if you blow on it slightly its all gone, so i highly doubt its a melting issue. The room is a bit higher than it should be, but does not go over 75.
And since i am getting a new comp, i am not too worried about the old comp itsself, i just wanted to try to retrieve some things off it, like 4 years of Pics from 11, and the pics from 14, some vids and assorted things like that. If i can't i can't, its not the end of the world. I'll try seeing if my wifes comps vid card will work in mine, and i am hoping thats the issue.
Again, i appreciate the advice and suggestions, it just really sucks because i am computerless for a few days XD
I'll post back if i get it working again enough to get my stuff off of it.
Or i'll try taking out a stick of ram and it will magically work fine XD. Either way, going to transfer what i need over to a portable HD and wait on new comp. Thanks again for the help.
Donny
Donny
Those pesky ram sticks! Glad you got it working.
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