Hewlett Packard problem

[twistedbrntucker]

Found a Hewlett Packard at a yard sale over the weekend. Appears to be a 900 mhz Athlon.With Windows Me.The previous owner says it only boots every other time.Since it was real cheap, I jumped on it.OK, when it doesn't boot, it says operating system not found.Turn it off and back on and it boots.I haven't looked into the case, or turned it on yet since I would have to use my monitor from here and be off line.I saw him demonstrate so I have got a good idea.Any ideas on what is/may be the issue?
If anyone needs more info, I will provide that later if need be. Thanks in advance, tbt

[John Prophet]

Probably has a dinky little power supply...maybe its on the blink.

JP

[twistedbrntucker]

Yes it is dinky.My first thought was bad RAM.But you might be right about the PSU.

[John Prophet]

yeah, I am replacing one right now..ordering it as we speak, lol.

Dudes HP will boot and stay booted for like 20 seconds..then cutoff.

It was his 124watt power supply. So I think I am going to order this one for him... http://3btech.net/mi230waposur.html

JP

[twistedbrntucker]

I have a couple of ATX PSU's under the bed.I know they don't fit, but can I use one outside the case and see if the problem goes away?Never tested on like that.Any precautions?
I have a SmartPower 350 that I didn't use when I built my lat PC in July.Replaced it with a TruePower430.

[John Prophet]

Nah, no special precautions needed. As a matter of fact that is how I have the guys comp setup right now, lol. I set him up with a loaner psu which is sitting inside his case with the side panel off etc.

It is also possible that one of the pci cards are half shorted which overloads the psu.

Usually its the modem.

Id pull the pci cards and try it before messing with the psu.

JP

JP

[John Prophet]

Nah, no special precautions needed. As a matter of fact that is how I have the guys comp setup right now, lol. I set him up with a loaner psu which is sitting inside his case with the side panel off etc.

It is also possible that one of the pci cards are half shorted which overloads the psu.

Usually its the modem.

Id pull the pci cards and try it before messing with the psu.

JP

[twistedbrntucker]

Originally posted by John Prophet
Nah, no special precautions needed. As a matter of fact that is how I have the guys comp setup right now, lol. I set him up with a loaner psu which is sitting inside his case with the side panel off etc.

It is also possible that one of the pci cards are half shorted which overloads the psu.

Usually its the modem.

Id pull the pci cards and try it before messing with the psu.

JP

Will try. I swapped PSU and RAM ( IDE and Battery for the heck of it) just to rule out and the problem was still there. Will pull all the PCI cards.Thanks tbt

[soulja]

i don't see the trouble of doing all this while u can buy a barebone pc and buy other parts or add the good parts u got wworking now

[twistedbrntucker]

Originally posted by soulja
i don't see the trouble of doing all this while u can buy a barebone pc and buy other parts or add the good parts u got wworking now

I currently have four computers.
Hewlett Packard P4 1.8 ghz
Two homebuilts with 2 MSI K7N2G-ILSR's with XP2200+ and XP2500+
Hewlett Packard Athlon 900 mhz (newest).
I bought this at a yard sale for 50.00. The owner just decided to trash it and buy a new one. I thought I would get it and fiddle around with it.Probably give it to my 10 rear old boy.

BTW the previous owner must be a heavy smoker, the dust inside is like glue.