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*uck! Dead computer
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:00 pm
by Humboldt
Talk about bad timing!
Flying across country Sunday morning, trying to load some movies onto my tablet before I go, pay bills, finish crunching a work unit that expires before I get back...and my PC has crapped out.
It won't post and shows nothing on the monitor. The monitor is fine and shows "no input"...the computer powers on but shows nothing on the monitor at all. The first time it happened I reseated the video card and blew the dust out and it fired up fine but the same thing happened about an hour later. Never got it working again.
Spare video card next, worked fine but died again a few hours later. Have blown out all the dust so I don'think the mb is shorting. Have tried different RAM combinations. Thinking now the mb took a dive.
Any suggestions? Will try a new power supply next week but really hoping to get it going again before I leave.
Thanks
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:08 pm
by Easto
Maye an overheating problem. The time you took to replace the vid card may have given the thing some time to cool down(?)
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:19 pm
by Humboldt
Easto wrote:Maye an overheating problem. The time you took to replace the vid card may have given the thing some time to cool down(?)
That's what I thought too, the video card is pretty beefy and the fan wasn't spinning. But it still didn't work the next day, or the next night. The side of the case hasn't even been on for months. Just wasted an hour trying an old psu, no luck. Reseated the processor heatsink, all the RAM, 3 video card, won't post at all. No beeps.
That damn f@h unit is 95% done and it took about 5 weeks. ****
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:51 pm
by Humboldt
I think the mb Asus p4p800 is toast. The power seems way too low, the fans sound like a motorcycle shifting gears, even with a spare psu...the case fan and the video card fan spin at a medium speed, then fast for a second, then really slow, then medium speed.
Again, any suggestions appreciated, otherwise looks like I'll be building a new computer next month.
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:39 am
by Humboldt
Mad_Haggis wrote:Updates used to be easy...point and click.
South Park(c) the TV show used to joke about quotes...anyway...here is my quote of a Java update I might, or,
might not need?
Alsways big on the dirty five bit broweser.
"Quote"
PLEASE READ THE AGREEMENT CAREFULLY.
Oracle Binary Code
"Software" means the software identified above in binary form
Supplemental License Terms
intellectual property
decompile
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS"
INCURRED BY YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY
Upon termination, you must destroy all copies of Software.
without limitation, nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons proliferation.
http://www.oracle.com/us/legal/third-pa ... index.html
This agreement is governed by the substantive and procedural laws of California.
I like "F"
F. JAVA TECHNOLOGY RESTRICTIONS. You may not create, modify, or change the behavior of, or authorize your
licensees to create, modify, or change the behavior of, classes, interfaces, or subpackages that are in any way
identified as "java", "javax", "sun", “oracle” or similar convention as specified by Oracle in any naming
convention designation.
"End Quote"
Not sure whose time you're wasting more of Haggis, mine or yours. It got old years ago.
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:10 am
by Humboldt
Mad_Haggis wrote:Sorry.
Was not trying to trigger friction. I just came home tonight, turned on the PC, plugged in the internet, went SG, and, saw a question. The same possible question was popping up on my task bar, a java update. Time is relevant. Thought it could help.
I'm just stressed and pissed right now, didn't mean to snap.
About to travel, several medical issues, lots of pain, about to visit my slowly and painfully fading mother, and now my computer died.
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:14 am
by The Dude
Older motherboard? Check for bulging and or burst capacitors. Unplug everything not needed for a post, leave only CPU with heat sink, 1 stick of RAM and video card if it doesn't have onboard video. You may even want to remove the CMOS battery, sometimes they short out when they finally die and prevent the motherboard from posting. I'd probably unplug any headers for case sound jacks, USB ports etc. Worst case scenario, take the motherboard out of the case and try powering it up un a non conductive surface. Thats usually the last step before you junk it.
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:35 am
by YeOldeStonecat
The Dude wrote:Older motherboard? Check for bulging and or burst capacitors.
That's the first thing that came to my mind also as I read his symptoms, and then saw the age of the motherboard. Take a good thorough look at all of them Humby...look for bulging, leaks, etc. You can type "bulging capacitors" into images.google.com to get a good idea of what to look for. Sometimes you get can get to boot up after a long period of cooling off...other times she won't budge. A few days later it may work again..and then not...cycle repeats. I had that motherboard also...actually still have it in the case at my office. Got it from Burke. If you want it...gimme a PM and I'll get her shipped to you. It was a P4P800 deluxe.
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:36 pm
by 24giovanni
Humboldt wrote:I'm just stressed and pissed right now, didn't mean to snap.
About to travel, several medical issues, lots of pain, about to visit my slowly and painfully fading mother, and now my computer died.
Humby, In time, I hope you and your mom are feeling better. Take care.
Cheers
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:16 am
by Humboldt
Thanks for the advice guys
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 1:08 pm
by YeOldeStonecat
Hey....it's a P4C800-E ...basically a similar motherboard, based on the 875 chipset, instead of the 865 chipset.
You should be able to mount a hard drive with a Windows install that was on the older motherboard...boot up..and update the drivers, should be similar enough to that it'll settle in after a reboot or two.
P4P800 specs
http://www.asus.com/999/html/events/mb/ ... erview.htm
P4C800 specs
http://www.asus.com/999/html/events/mb/ ... erview.htm
Has an Intel 3.0 H/T in her, Skythe heat sink/fan, and a pair of G-Skill 2 gig sticks of RAM for 4 gigs total.
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:07 pm
by CableDude
24giovanni wrote:Humby, In time, I hope you and your mom are feeling better. Take care.
Cheers

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 12:21 pm
by Humboldt
YeOldeStonecat wrote:Hey....it's a P4C800-E ...basically a similar motherboard, based on the 875 chipset, instead of the 865 chipset.
You should be able to mount a hard drive with a Windows install that was on the older motherboard...boot up..and update the drivers, should be similar enough to that it'll settle in after a reboot or two.
P4P800 specs
http://www.asus.com/999/html/events/mb/ ... erview.htm
P4C800 specs
http://www.asus.com/999/html/events/mb/ ... erview.htm
Has an Intel 3.0 H/T in her, Skythe heat sink/fan, and a pair of G-Skill 2 gig sticks of RAM for 4 gigs total.
If you have a chance to send it, that'd be awesome.
Can send you money before if you want, (in NC right now so it'd be a few days), or when you know what it'd cost.
Thanks
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 1:43 pm
by YeOldeStonecat
Humboldt wrote:If you have a chance to send it, that'd be awesome.
Can send you money before if you want, (in NC right now so it'd be a few days), or when you know what it'd cost.
Thanks
No rush needed....I'm out of office a lot this week...it's on my desk at the office, I'll get it mailed out by early next week.
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:24 pm
by Humboldt
YeOldeStonecat wrote:No rush needed....I'm out of office a lot this week...it's on my desk at the office, I'll get it mailed out by early next week.
Sounds good, let me know.
Thanks

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:05 am
by YeOldeStonecat
Office manager is going to ship it out this afternoon UPS ground. Got it boxed up for you, I took off the heat sink for shipping..so it's on the side of the box. Also note there is a little syringe in there of thermal grease. Processor and RAM in the motherboard.
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 3:44 pm
by Humboldt
YeOldeStonecat wrote:Office manager is going to ship it out this afternoon UPS ground. Got it boxed up for you, I took off the heat sink for shipping..so it's on the side of the box. Also note there is a little syringe in there of thermal grease. Processor and RAM in the motherboard.
That's awesome man, thanks a lot.
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 10:36 pm
by Humboldt
YeOldeStonecat wrote:Office manager is going to ship it out this afternoon UPS ground. Got it boxed up for you, I took off the heat sink for shipping..so it's on the side of the box. Also note there is a little syringe in there of thermal grease. Processor and RAM in the motherboard.
Just got off work and the package was waiting for me on the doorstep. Awesome man! Let me know what I owe you. Thanks again

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:05 pm
by RaisinCain
That was very cool of you Stonecat!
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 5:17 pm
by Humboldt
RaisinCain wrote:That was very cool of you Stonecat!
No doubt
