A Super Thank You

[rsteve]

Just wanted to post a thank you for those of you who are kind enough to share your knowledge and help others with problems.

I have just had a severe problem and was able to muddle through it by reading your helpful comments. Since I did not post the problem, I just wanted you to know you probably help many without even realizing it. In somewhat the same spirit, I am posting my problem and solution on the chance it might help someone else.

Last summer I put a computer together (my second one) for a young nephew. He lives 100 miles from me and recently had problems with it, with it finally refusing to even boot. I had him send it to me and the following is my tale:

It would not boot or even post - nothing on the monitor. So, as some of you have recommended, I took the mb out of the case and disconnected the drives. It posted and looked for a boot source. I then connected the hard drive and it booted into Windows. I did this a couple of times to be sure it was not a fluke. It wasn't. I then very carefully looked for loose screws or anything else that might cause a short. Saw nothing, so put the mb back in the case and turned it on. No Post. So, I took it back out and this time it would not post even outside the case. At this point, I suspected a mb that was failing, but sometimes still working.

I then tried the memory, graphics card and cpu (individually) in another computer. All worked fine. I felt this narrowed it down to the power supply or mb. I connected the ps from my computer to his mb, which was now outside the case. It posted. Again, I connected the hard drive and it booted into Windows. Again, I stupidly put the mb into the case, thinking all was well. It wasn't. It would not post. So again, I pulled the mb out of the case and disconnected drives. And again, it would not post, even outside the case.

I tinkered with it, including clearing cmos with the clear cmos jumper. Nothing worked. Finally, I removed the memory and graphcs card and turned it on. Obviously, that did not work. However, when I reinstalled the memory and graphics card and turned on the computer, it posted. Once more, I connected the hard drive and it booted to Windows.

This time, before putting the mb back in the case, I did what some of you recommended and put electrical tape on the standoffs (?). Then I put the mb back in the case and tried it. It worked. I have now reconnected everything, restored the Bios to the proper setting, powered it up and down several times and have let it run for about 3 hours .

Again, a big thank you to those providing help and I hope this might be useful to others.

[davidamarkley]

Awesome!

Great to hear that we (collectively the TIMO members) were able to help you with your PC problems!

That's the great thing about this place, people helping people out of a 'want to' to help them. Not for some sort of compensation other than helping them out and knowing that you did something good.

I'm sure others can relate to your tale, and what you went through to find out that it was improper grounding. Thanks for posting this for others!

I just wish I had time to be around here more often, and help people out more,

David

[John Prophet]

helping others is a good way to learn also.

[Sixpac_XP]

Glad to see the feed back... nice work to...

[willy_ph]

It's great to hear some feedback regarding the generosity and helpfulness of the members, but this ought to be in the Community Forum next time.

[teengeek88]

Originally posted by John Prophet
helping others is a good way to learn also.

i agree with JP 100%....its how i learned alot of things

[Gait_Keeper]

Agreed also................

I ve learned alot my self just from reading the threads, and have helped directly or indirectly

I also thank everyone for your help

[ArcticFox]

Yeah I've learned a lot from the copious amounts of time spent spreading my propaganda around this place. Helping others is one of my joys, but destruction is fun too..... bwahahaha

[Bill in SD, CA]

Congrats on your success!

A lot of the help I've been able to offer has come from learning here at TechIMO.

Bill

[DanGrease]

Originally posted by John Prophet
helping others is a good way to learn also.

Ditto to that!
I've learned so much with TechIMO
Just reading threads has helped me alot, and helping others has been both a pleasure and helpful even for me. I thank eveyone for you help and for helping others.

dan