My desktop PC (its a MESH something or other) is broken.
I switch it on, and it fires up for about 3 seconds, the hard drive starts clicking, then it dies. Nothing on the screen.
Any ideas on this limited information?
Full Version: Pc Knackered, Any Help?
Not 100% sure about this but my PC 2 years ago had a problem whereby it would start up, the on board help voice thing on the motherboard started saying there was something wrong and the PC died.
Turned out there had been a power surge and the power supply had melted the motherboard inside the PC and this, of course, screwed the whole thing up.
Maybe worth having a look inside?
Turned out there had been a power surge and the power supply had melted the motherboard inside the PC and this, of course, screwed the whole thing up.
Maybe worth having a look inside?
QUOTE(cbhaf @ Sep 16 2006, 10:23) [snapback]1194834[/snapback]
My desktop PC (its a MESH something or other) is broken.
I switch it on, and it fires up for about 3 seconds, the hard drive starts clicking, then it dies. Nothing on the screen.
Any ideas on this limited information?
The same thing happened to mine a while ago, and it was as simple as the power supply was fucked. £20 for a new one and it was sorted. (the box inside I mean, not the cable.)
Could be that.
Thanks, hope its the £20 problem and not the 'melted motherboard' one...
My computer was fecked the same way.
Dell replaced the power supply and brought it back; it worked for about a day then the problem returned.
Dell then replaced the motherboard and some cabling and it's been fine since.
if you don't have surge-protected plug sockets for your computer you should go and get some from Argos.
Dell replaced the power supply and brought it back; it worked for about a day then the problem returned.
Dell then replaced the motherboard and some cabling and it's been fine since.
if you don't have surge-protected plug sockets for your computer you should go and get some from Argos.
QUOTE(cbhaf @ Sep 16 2006, 18:26) [snapback]1195163[/snapback]
Thanks, hope its the £20 problem and not the 'melted motherboard' one...
If its powering on, its unlikely to be the motherboard. If its beeping, then its most likely memory or graphics card, if you have the manual for the motherboard it will tell you what the beep codes mean (two beeps memory, three beeps graphics, 4 beeps cpu for example).
If your not getting any beeps at all, then its more than likely the cpu or the motherboard.
QUOTE(MarreZ @ Sep 16 2006, 18:43) [snapback]1195192[/snapback]
If its powering on, its unlikely to be the motherboard. If its beeping, then its most likely memory or graphics card, if you have the manual for the motherboard it will tell you what the beep codes mean (two beeps memory, three beeps graphics, 4 beeps cpu for example).
If your not getting any beeps at all, then its more than likely the cpu or the motherboard.
Mine wasn't beeping and it was the Power supply. Thankfully!
QUOTE(MarreZ @ Sep 16 2006, 18:43) [snapback]1195192[/snapback]
If its powering on, its unlikely to be the motherboard. If its beeping, then its most likely memory or graphics card, if you have the manual for the motherboard it will tell you what the beep codes mean (two beeps memory, three beeps graphics, 4 beeps cpu for example).
If your not getting any beeps at all, then its more than likely the cpu or the motherboard.
Mine turned on and it was a motherboard/power supply issue.
When the voice kicked in I thought it was the girl I was seeing at the time putting on a daft voice then I realised the PC was speaking.
No beeping, no voices (only the usual ones in my head 
) so seems like a power thing.
I took the case off but obviously had no idea what its all meant to look like so not much help there.
I'll take it to a repair shop on Monday and see what they say.
) so seems like a power thing.I took the case off but obviously had no idea what its all meant to look like so not much help there.
I'll take it to a repair shop on Monday and see what they say.
QUOTE(cbhaf @ Sep 16 2006, 21:19) [snapback]1195471[/snapback]
No beeping, no voices (only the usual ones in my head
) so seems like a power thing.I took the case off but obviously had no idea what its all meant to look like so not much help there.
I'll take it to a repair shop on Monday and see what they say.
If you have power though, its usually not a power issue, as i said, id be prepared to bet money that its your cpu or your motherboard, probably the cpu though.
If it is your power supply though, dont skimp on it, ask for a good make like an antec (who do reasonably priced models), hiper, tagan or seasonic, they would range from £30-150 depending on what you want to spend.
QUOTE(MarreZ @ Sep 16 2006, 21:41) [snapback]1195544[/snapback]
If you have power though, its usually not a power issue, as i said, id be prepared to bet money that its your cpu or your motherboard, probably the cpu though.
If it is your power supply though, dont skimp on it, ask for a good make like an antec (who do reasonably priced models), hiper, tagan or seasonic, they would range from £30-150 depending on what you want to spend.
Cheers for the advice. The computer is a couple of years old and I might replace it before too long, maybe won't spend too much.
I'm amazed at the timing to be honest, if it happened a couple weeks ago this could have f'ked me right over - I keep back ups but it would have been a right pain. As it is I sent off the final final draft of my last ever piece of uni work, and it broke the next day.
Update as I'm sure you're all desperate to know what happened next
Apparently it was the motherboard - the shop is trying to get hold of a replacement that will fit in the case (?) and I should be up and running again.
The guy on the phone didn't seem too sure my Windows restore disk would work with a new motherboard - is that right?
Apparently it was the motherboard - the shop is trying to get hold of a replacement that will fit in the case (?) and I should be up and running again.
The guy on the phone didn't seem too sure my Windows restore disk would work with a new motherboard - is that right?
you shouldnt need a restore disk - when the mobo's in all your files will still be on your hard drive! They might need to fiddle with the bios a little, but thats it
QUOTE(rosscountyrule @ Sep 24 2006, 17:25) [snapback]1204510[/snapback]
you shouldnt need a restore disk - when the mobo's in all your files will still be on your hard drive! They might need to fiddle with the bios a little, but thats it
Thats what I thought, cheers - I knew all my documents and photos etc would still be there but the guy was going on about Windows. I'll see what happens whenever I get it back
QUOTE(cbhaf @ Sep 24 2006, 20:08) [snapback]1204631[/snapback]
Thats what I thought, cheers - I knew all my documents and photos etc would still be there but the guy was going on about Windows. I'll see what happens whenever I get it back
If they fit a motherboard with a different chipset, you might have to reinstall, if they use the same chipset, then you should be okay.
Dont let them rip you off though, an older style motherboard shouldnt cost more than £50-60.
My pc has a problem which cant be fixed.
It continues to Freeze and the keyboard locks which means I need to Restart my PC all the time. Its murder when your playing Footy Manager and I cant save it.
It continues to Freeze and the keyboard locks which means I need to Restart my PC all the time. Its murder when your playing Footy Manager and I cant save it.
QUOTE(MarreZ @ Sep 24 2006, 20:51) [snapback]1204696[/snapback]
If they fit a motherboard with a different chipset, you might have to reinstall, if they use the same chipset, then you should be okay.
Dont let them rip you off though, an older style motherboard shouldnt cost more than £50-60.
Sounds about right, they said £45 plus fitting it
Restore discs only like working with all the original gubbins in my experience. Had problems with Hard Drives, swapped them out, used disc and it goes 'This ain't the right machine, get lost'.
Bloody comp sci geek!
QUOTE(Peterhead Dave @ Sep 25 2006, 23:26) [snapback]1206313[/snapback]
Bloody comp sci geek!
Just cos it was too hard for ya
QUOTE(XaaronPrimus @ Sep 25 2006, 22:45) [snapback]1206182[/snapback]
Restore discs only like working with all the original gubbins in my experience. Had problems with Hard Drives, swapped them out, used disc and it goes 'This ain't the right machine, get lost'.
Oh yes - windows xp...
You can switch up to 3 components before it gets angry I think
buy a new one
Final update (hopefully)
Got it back today with new motherboard in, everything going fine except the keyboard doesn't work, seems to be the socket in the new board thats broken. "Bring it back in" says the guy in the shop.
He spends half an hour poking about at it, and tells me the socket in the board is broken. I can get a free replacement board (taking weeks agai probably), or buy a USB keyboard instead. I suggest that a free keyboard would be the best solution all round 
Sorted. Hope nothing else is wrong with the board
Got it back today with new motherboard in, everything going fine except the keyboard doesn't work, seems to be the socket in the new board thats broken. "Bring it back in" says the guy in the shop.
He spends half an hour poking about at it, and tells me the socket in the board is broken.
I can get a free replacement board (taking weeks agai probably), or buy a USB keyboard instead. I suggest that a free keyboard would be the best solution all round Sorted. Hope nothing else is wrong with the board This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.