Things just fell apart at the weekend. Heeeeeellllpppppp!

[Michael Chiew]

Hi, everybody!




I've got a long, love-hate relationship with the machine. Last weekend, it broke down. Strange rebellion.

First the machine itself:

Motherboard: Epox EP8KTA3+
CPU: Anthlon Thunderbird 900Mhz
Ram: 256MB (128MB TwinMos, 128 Hitachi)
PSU: 350 Watts
Hard drive: Maxtor 7,200 r.p.m.
Floppy drive
CD-ROM drive

Operating system: Windows 98

It's not a whole big deal with the machine. Plain system mainly used for my "medical" experiments you might say. I love it, though. Would like to resurrect it.

Here's what happened?

It went dead, just like that. Symptoms: Nothing, no sound, no beeps, no nothing, just a black screen. The electricity is running, though. Lights are registered on the hard drive, on the floppy drive, on the CD-ROM drive. The lights just light up, no flickering. The hard drive isn't making any noise at all. Dead quiet. Quiet like the dead of night.

Here's what I did.

Having concluded that the breakdown had to do with either the motherboard or CPU, I changed it with a new, unused Athlon Thunderbird 900MHz. This one had been in the box for more than 2 years, never used.

Same thing happened. Black screen, dead quiet, lights on the hard drive, floppy drive and CD-ROM drive.

So what do I do next.

I changed the motherboard. I replaced the Epox EP8KTA3" with an old unused motherboard, Epox EP8KTA2. Same consequences. Black screeen, dead quiet, lights on the hard drive, floppy drive and CD-ROM drive.

What's going on?

Is it possible that I've got two bad motherboards and two bad CPUs working against.

Am I that unlucky.

Could it be ram. Could one of the two sticks of ram be bad. Well, I took one out, tested the machine with just the TwinMos ram. Same result. I took out the TwinMos and used the Hitachi ram. Same result.

Tell me people. Where have I gone wrong?

What's up?

Your advice, please. I need to get this one out of the way. Another weekend is approaching.

Thanks.

Michael Chiew

Howdy Michael.

Nice to hear from you, wish it was better circumstances.

Although you have some power, might be the power supply isn't up to scratch anymore. I'd change it and see if it helps.

To me that's the most obvious likely culprit if you changed mobos and CPU, with this type of error.

The other possibility is the monitor; but as the HDD doesn't seem to be spinning, and no beeps, I'd wager power supply is more likely.

Hope that helps. and let us know what happens! You know we love a happy ending around here.

Cheers
Mick

[Michael Chiew]

mickwish

It's all about happy endings, isn't it.

Never thought it could be the power supply.

You're great, pal.

Will be back soon.

Michael Chiew

[Xeroid]

I was thinking the same thing as Mick. When you say the machine is "dead quiet", do you mean that none of your fans are spinning as well? If so you may have lost your 12 volts dc. You don't have access to a multimeter do you?

If you go to www.formfactors.org and download the ATX12v Power Supply Design Guide Rev. 1.3 (small download) and look on page 29 you will see the power supply pinouts. Then its a simple matter of checking the voltages.

Mike

[Nighthawk]

The hard drive would still spin up if it was getting power, and you would be able to hear it.

It definitely sounds like a power supply problem. I'd try to get another power supply, 300w at least.

[cowboybooter]

Likewise! I'd wager it's the power unit!

CBB

[Redwolf]

Another vote for the power unit. I'd get a multimeter (or at least a voltmeter) and check the voltages. It's also possible the 5 Volt leads are out, but not as likely. The way to tell what is 5 Volts and what is 12 is by the lead colors on the Drive power cables. The red and the black right beside it is 5 Volt, and the Yellow and the black beside that is the 12 Volt.

[Michael Chiew]

Wow, people.

I'm overwhelmed by the fast input.

Yes, the fans are spinning: those on the Video Display Card and the CPU. The hard drive isn't moving at all. The lights just stay there: the floppy drive, the CD-ROM drive, the hard drive all light up and stay there period.

I don't have a problem checking with the multimeter. Have got one. Would try a new power supply.

But I have a nagging suspicion it's the motherboard. I keep coming back to the motherboard. Can't figure out why. Just a gut feeling.

Before all this happened. The computer broke down. There was a long beep. With an Award BIOS, I took the long beep as an indication that the video display card was toast. Changed to a new one and everything was working again.

A week later, this happened.

It's fun, though. Nothing like a spot of bother to keep that old grey matter going.

Thank you all. Your input's cool.

Michael Chiew

Malfunctioning power supply could possibly have toasted your video card as well.

I'm still fixed on the power supply. Be real interested in what readings it gives, especially for 12V lines.

Since you changed the mobo for another one, and odds of having 2 crook mobos at once is pretty slim (unless you keep dead mobos lying around ), I'm still wagering power supply problem.

Cheers
Mick

[Michael Chiew]

Mickwish

The motherboards are good ones, i.e., two years ago they were good. I'm not sure what condition they're in right now.

I've got 3 or 4 PSUs hidden somewhere in my store room, unused, new when bought. In any case, I buy these stuff on and off for my work. I'll try a new power supply unit first. That's a cinch.

The thing is I'm looking at fixing up a new machine. Already earmarked an Epox motherboard, Athlon XP 2000 CPU plus Corsair DDR ram, etc., etc., for it.

I want to resurrect this machine because it's the one that gave me a whole lot of trouble some years back. I learned a lot from this little guy. I don't want to lose it. So I'll try a new power supply unit. I've actually picked out a motherboard for it as well. Only thing left to do is go back to the shop and get it.

What do you guys recommend? I want to build a new machine, strictly for my experiments with Windows XP. What motherboard, CPU, ram do you think I should get. And don't leave out my requirements for gaming. My son's into it and wants one that's cool for gaming.

Michael Chiew