F***

[Zephik]

My power switch has 4 wires. Two wires are for the switch itself, the other two are LED's. When everything is working, the Power LED is green while the other one shows HDD Activity in rapid blinking orange. Right now, the Power LED is orange and the HDD Activity LED is off. When I turn on my computer, the monitor turns off (hibernate?) and nothing is displayed. There are no funny sounds, over heating, or really any signs that something is F'd. So... IDK. Any guesses?

My guess, is the HDD went bye bye and isn't coming back. But hey, maybe someone will make my day. Like... the motherboard is toast. I mean ****, I've been wanting a new motherboard for so long now, this would be the perfect incentive to finally buy a new one.

Or maybe someone will REALLY make my day and suggest something that is totally fixable and cost free. Like... oh, one of your ram sticks is loose.

Btw, I'm on my dads laptop just in case you were wondering. ^_^

[SgtM]

Check your GPU. Make sure it's seated. Also, put your finger on the HDD and see if you feel any vibrations. That will tell you if it's spinning or not.

[Zephik]

heh, onboard graphics. My "computer geek" girl scout badge should be ripped right off my jacket. ><

The HDD is vibrating. In a good way too! Not like my last one where it was acting like it was about to turn green, grow 10 times its size, and rip my ****ing head off. lol

[slytherock]

Dont panic, check your connections (every componant), then, see if it change something to reset the Bios.

[Aero]

1) Check to make sure everything is tight. All connectors, its very easy to miss just one pin and nothing will work (I did that >_<).

2) Check your jumper settings, maybe something is wrong here.

3) Check your mobo battery

4) Your a girl? Damn, I should really pay more attention around here.

5) Try the HDD in another computer if possible to make sure it works, if it doesn't thats probably fried like chicken.

[progbuddy]

Motherboard. Happened to me.

[Zephik]

Motherboard. Happened to me.

I think your right. Basically, I reseated the CPU and HSF and I got it working. But when I moved my computer over to my desk and turned it on, it wouldn't work again. So I disconnected the Hard Drive and didn't even get an error of any kind. Last time I checked, when you don't have an HDD plugged in it says something about it. Like Hard Disk Read Error or something like that. But nope, nothing, same as before.

*update*

So just out of curiosity, I took my mobo out of my junk ass case thats all beat up and bent and set the mobo on my bed. Nothing. Then I kind of made it to a lil hand stand (set it up vertically while supporting it with my hand) and bingo. But now its saying no boot device found.

Could that be just the mobo or is my HDD dead now too?

Geeze, word of caution, don't have your computer somewhere where it can be easily knocked off. Even if its ONLY 2 FEET OFF THE GROUND. lol

.......
@Aero: I'm a guy, I was just trying to make a funny. lol apparently that went right over your head ;)
.......

*upadate again*

Okay, so I got it working. But I forgot to connect my WLAN card. I turned it off, plugged the card in, turned it back on... and... here we go again. lol So at least now I know its not my hard drive. I think...

[xRyokenx]

...and don't kick it or let it get slammed repeatedly, it'll kill the proc and motherboard, lol.

My first thoughts were: OMGEEEE!!! A girl? What's she doing here? lol :D

Just kidding. ;)

[Zephik]

...and don't kick it or let it get slammed repeatedly, it'll kill the proc and motherboard, lol.

My first thoughts were: OMGEEEE!!! A girl? What's she doing here? lol :D

Just kidding. ;)


Dude... MDCS??

She kicks most of our asses when it comes to modding. I wonder what ever happened to her... ?

[GT40_GearHead]

snow! bosom buddy, life long friend! your girl mate !?!?!?!

+rep to that ! :D

[Omega]

Woah, Snow is a chick?

What?

I mean, I'm not discriminating or anything, but I wouldn'tve guessed it.

[Zephik]

Seriously, you guys need to PUT ON YOUR READING GLASSES.

I'm a male, I always have been, always will be. lol why does this keep happening?? You guys did this before a few month ago. :think:

Okay, just in case you missed it, I'm a dude. lol plz read through a thread before you post something. It helps avoid confusion. ^_^

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hunt down aero for starting this mess. lol

actually, I need to find a new motherboard. Anyone have any in mind? Just a really cheap replacement would be nice. Just as long as its not another Dell. ><

[Spacehonkey]

Woah, Snow is a chick?

What?

I mean, I'm not discriminating or anything, but I wouldn'tve guessed it.


snow! bosom buddy, life long friend! your girl mate !?!?!?!

I think you guys need to read a little more carefully, unless you guys are just trying to give him a hard time. In that case continue on.:D


.......
@Aero: I'm a guy, I was just trying to make a funny. lol apparently that went right over your head ;)
.......

[Silenced_Coyote]

Geeze, word of caution, don't have your computer somewhere where it can be easily knocked off. Even if its ONLY 2 FEET OFF THE GROUND. lol

.......
@Aero: I'm a guy, I was just trying to make a funny. lol apparently that went right over your head ;)
.......


You knocked over you PC!?!?! I would think that the force of hitting the ground would translate into the CPU heatsink, which would strain/damage the motherboard. Something like that...

Either it went over a few more heads or they just killed the joke.

EDIT:
Dangit, people are posting too fast. Anyways, what kind of motherboard are you looking for?

[GT40_GearHead]

<GT40 hugs Snow> there is now need for denial friend, you can tell us we understand

[Bucko]

If you look at the pic of me in my profile, you'll be able to see that I am a hairy lesbian who loves other women.

[GT40_GearHead]

wha' !


<edit> how did i miss that !

[Zephik]

This is what I need...

LGA775 (Pentium 4 2.8Ghz HT)
240pin DDR2 (at least 2 slots)
SATA HDD (I have a 3GB/s HDD)
At least one PCI Slot
Has to have onboard graphics (I lack a video card)

umm.... I think thats all I need. Everything else is just everything else. Just need it as cheap as possible. I'm trying to save every dollar I get at the moment, but I can't go on living without my computer! lol

[GT40_GearHead]

snow mate!

did you try starting it without the power/led connexions, i had a mobo that would now go if the wires where mixed up

[Zephik]

snow mate!

did you try starting it without the power/led connexions, i had a mobo that would now go if the wires where mixed up

I can't start it without them, all the wires are in one connection. But I know its the mobo for sure, its pretty obvious that something is effed way the heck up when it only works in a certain position and random at that.

...lol and stop calling me snow mate. You know how weird that is? I ain't no ones mate! I'm too young for that!!! rofl

[GT40_GearHead]

loool

alright alright :D

you are probably right the mobo must be shot, but i don't understand why it has the random behavior, could it the power supply wires are discontinued somewhere ?

[.Maleficus.]

Try shorting the on/off pins. Take out all of the variables that may be contributing. If you don't need your CD drive, unplug it. Do that with everything. Try just the RAM, CPU, and mobo first, and work your way up.


Edit: If it helps, I knew you were a dude.

[DaveW]

Haha...Snowfire, you just make the biggest mistake of your life. Now everyone's gonna think yer a chick. :D


Dude... MDCS??

She kicks most of our asses when it comes to modding. I wonder what ever happened to her... ?

I sometimes wonder. She had skill.

-Dave

[GT40_GearHead]

Rofl! =))

[armadilloben]

Dude... MDCS??

She kicks most of our asses when it comes to modding. I wonder what ever happened to her... ?

didnt she make the lambo mod and the diy paint booth i member that i was just coming to hthe forums and she was like one of the firsti saw

[Zephik]

Haha...Snowfire, you just make the biggest mistake of your life. Now everyone's gonna think yer a chick. :D



I sometimes wonder. She had skill.

-Dave


We can add custom fields. But i honestly don't see the point. The only girls we've had around here were pretty reluctant to reveal this, and it's pretty clear why if you look at things like MDCS's and Amberella's threads. Everyone's like "Ooh, a girl modder! Your hot!" etc. etc. etc.

Personally, I don't think that gender really matters. If it's that important to you, put it in your sig. :)

-Dave

Viola, your answer Dave. We scared her off. lol

But hey, I might be building a computer for a girl here pretty soon. And guess what? She loves the whole windows, lights, and anything out of the ordinary thing.

Maybe I'll try and convert her. She's already a geek so she has potential. ;)

rofl, maybe this is why we scare off chicks... I'LL CONVERT HER AND MAKE HER ONE OF US!! MUAHAHAHAHA!

...................................
Back to my motherboard situation. So today I got it working FOR A WHOLE 20 MINUTES! Then my monitor just shut off... everything else was still green and looking like it was working perfectly. I didn't touch it either... so I don't know what caused the short. It does that with both of my monitors btw.

[Zephik]

rofl

OH YEA! We have a winner!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138043

>< :dead:

I guess its not too bad for the price... and it would give me the option of upgrading to a core 2 duo which is nice. heh, maybe its not that bad after all...

what do you guys think?

[Zephik]

Hey I just thought of something. I have a external case for an HDD, if I were to put my hard drive in there, could I plug that into a laptop or another computer and get it running? Obviously the specs on my computer and other computers are different, but would the bios or whatever detect that and make changes accordingly or would it just screw up my hard drive?

All I really want to do is access my data on that hard drive, but because it has an OS on it... is that going to make it not possible?

[Eclecticos]

Reset the bios with the appropriate jumper. I mean clear cmos.
That works for me 90% of the time.

If that doesn't work change your monitor cable.

Or Turn the monitor off intil you hear it boot up and turn it on then.
Fix your drivers before rebooting.

Or Make sure all your cards are seated and nothing is half unplugged.

If all else fails try a different monitor.
Or you could reconfigure the bios without the video, not an easy task I have fixed computers like that before though.

[Zephik]

Well I'm almost 100% sure that its not the monitor. I've tried two different monitors with two different cables and the same effect occurred after around 10 to 20 minutes.

How do I reset the bios?

Also, I noticed the HSF (TT Blue Orb II) was slightly ajar. So I took that completely off, wiped up some of the thermal grease that was pushed out and around the edges of the processor and used that to somewhat reapply the thermal grease to make sure I had enough in between the CPU and HSF (which I do) and screwed it back in good and tight. But the same thing keeps happening. Can thermal grease cause electrical shorts?

[Eclecticos]

I mean clear the cmos. Lookslike this:
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/4920/cmosbt6.jpg

You move it onto the other pin, start the computer it wont boot that means the cmos is clear. Then move it back to where it was.

And you've cleared the cmos now boot the computer and check the video.

Look in your manual.. Differs on different Mobo's


Oha.. your cpu cooler is not aligned right turn that thing off A.S.A.P Dont turn it on without the CPU heatsink.
and fix it back. Make sure its snug.

So the video cuts out while your windows is loaded? Turn off the monitor suspend mode. Under Screen Saver Power management. Adjust the Sleep to Never.

[Luke122]

I could see a *potential* short with thermal paste; silver is a conductor, and if you slopped enough of it to overflow onto the mobo, then *MAYBE*. But I doubt it.

Anyways, I have a potential answer for you. Power supply. My wife's Dell started to flake out one day, and then I put it into standby, and it would not resume.. power supply died.

Do as Maleficus suggested, and remove all the components, cards, etc, leaving only the mobo, ram, cpu, and video. If it still isnt working, try another PS. Cheaper than a mobo..

[Zephik]

Well there isn't any thermal paste over flowing onto any circuits or anything. There is a bit on that metal flap that locks down the CPU, but I highly doubt that is whats causing the short out.

Like I said before, I completely removed my HSF and reconnected it properly. Also, its not over heating AT ALL. Its actually cool to the touch, but its always been that way, even when my computer was working.

Well I was reading another forum a few minutes ago with a guy who was having a problem with his PC turning completely off without warning. Someone actually did suggest that the power supply could be the problem. But, its not my entire computer thats shutting off, its just the monitor. Well... not really the monitor, the screen just goes black. Like in hibernate mode.

Also, I should mention that a few minutes ago I smelt electrical burn. I turned it off immediately, and then waited a few minutes. Nothing as far as I can see is burned or different looking. So I don't know what that was all about, but everything still works. Just for 10-20 minutes at a time like before.

If I had to take a guess, I would say the smell came from my power supply. I was messing around with the mobo at the time that it happened, but like I said, it seems to work just fine. If it didn't, I don't see why it would only affect my monitor and not the entire motherboard.

I'm going to try and clear the CMOS now. Hopefully that works.

[Luke122]

OH! Just the monitor is a totally different thing!

If you are playing music or something, and the monitor goes off, do you still have sound output from the PC? If so...

Something to consider.. the LED on the front of most monitors draws it's power from the VGA connector to the PC, not from the power cord. If the power cord is loose or unplugged, the monitor will still show the orange "standby mode" LED. Check the power cord on the monitor to ensure a solid connection.

I've seen stranger things happen. :)

[Eclecticos]

Also, I should mention that a few minutes ago I smelt electrical burn.

It more than likely thermal paste setting on the cpu.

If it was the power supply there would be no 10-20min.

If its not just you monitor going on suspend mode. Which is what I think.

Or if you have another Video Card install it in a empty slot, sometimes devices integrated onto the motherboard go out, thats why I dont like the Integrated Video. Thats beside the fact that if you move the computer around alot you could damage the chords and/or the connection on the motherbaord.

Or follow the Instructions I gave before.

[onelegout]

Check that nothing is shorting anything on your motherboard. This could be anything from a bent heatsink fan to a screw. The fact that it's not even posting bios suggests to me that the motherboard is screwed.
H

[Redundant]

Geeze, word of caution, don't have your computer somewhere where it can be easily knocked off. Even if its ONLY 2 FEET OFF THE GROUND. lol


Did you dump you PC off of the stand/desk??! You might have a hairline fracture in the motherboard and, when it flexes, connections break/are made.

[Zephik]

So guess what I noticed on the back of my motherboard? You know how I was talking about that funny smell... tah dah. Sure enough, there was a burn mark on the back of my motherboard. There was also a nice lil scratch near by too, which must of been what was causing me trouble to begin with.

I think... I am going to go throw it off of my dock. If it floats, I'll make sure to sink it with a couple BOULDERS. Well, maybe just a few big rocks. I don't think I can lift a boulder. lol

...do you know what this means? Well yes, that I am out like a 100 bucks, but it also means that I no longer have a dell! YAY! As soon as I get enough cash to buy a new mobo, that will be it. Not one last part will be Dell.

It has been a long, painstaking and horrid journey with my Dell Dimension 4700. But If there is anything at all that I can take from this unforgetful experience, is it simply this.

Dell is Hell spelt with a D.

[Eclecticos]

You forgot to install the motherbaord spacers:
http://www.fkusa.com/premaparts/251015.jpg

[Zephik]

Nope, I had those. It's just that I only had them in some areas. Thanks to dell, not all of the holes in my motherboard lined up with the ones in my case. Also... not that it's relevant to this situation or anything, but my motherboard is LGA775. It even says so ON the motherboard. Guess which brackets for my Blue Orb II worked and which ones didn't? Yea, I had to use the AM2 brackets. The LGA775 ones weren't even close. Very... lame.

I would like to hear their explanation for that...

Unless TT labeled them wrong. Then I'm going to have to ask why they only nickel plated the LGA775 brackets and not the AM2 ones... lol thats kind of... brandist isnt it?

[Eclecticos]

You think thats bad. .I bought a antazone cpu cooler for a 775. Took me 45mins to an hour to get it on there has cappy little X brackets with tons of holes in them. So by the time I got the holes aligned the cpu grease was everywhere but the processor. . My forehead. . the chair i was sitting in. LoL

And after all the sob wouldn't tighten down enough to were it wasn't sliding around on the processor.

[Zephik]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186103

I'm thinking I like this board, but whats with the 8 pin thinger on the motherboard? It isn't a problem since my power supply has 8 pin on it too, but why are they using 8 pin instead of 4 pin? Is 8 pin better at all?

[Zephik]

oh come on, SOMEONE has to know. lol

It's not important or anything, because I can accommodate without buying a new power supply, but I"m just curious as why it's using 8pin instead of the more common 4pin. Whats the reason for that?

[Airbozo]

The 8 pin power plug seems to be on all the new mobo's that support the pentium "D" and higher. I _think_ it has to do with the higher power requirements the cpu is drawing.

[Zephik]

I'm only going to be running a P4 2.8ghz for now. How will having an 8pin instead of 4pin affect me? if at all?

Maybe, I could get a more stable overclock or something?

[XcOM]

.........
Also, I noticed the HSF (TT Blue Orb II) was slightly ajar........

I had this problem with my HSF on my intel, You will notice the FAN power connector has 4pins on the mobo, and you HSF only has 3, this is because your HSF creates a circuit, if it is slightly ahar, or not creating a perfect connection to the CPU it causes your PC to turn off randomly,

BTW the Intel heatsink mount bracket is crap. Try finding a new HSF that has a 4pin connector
http://www.endpcnoise.com/e/images/intel_775_fan.jpg
Notice the pic above, it has a 4pin connector, this is to complete the circuit.
Pic from endpcnoise

Hope this helps.
Correct me if im wrong, this is just from personal experience using 5 diff fans.

[Airbozo]

Doesn't a C2D run at a lower voltage than the others? would you still need the 8-pinner in that case? I think I must look this up!

-Jeremy
I thought so, but it looks like most mobo's that support pentium "D" and higher have this connector. Now I am confused on this too. Why would the core2duo need more power?


I'm only going to be running a P4 2.8ghz for now. How will having an 8pin instead of 4pin affect me? if at all?

Maybe, I could get a more stable overclock or something?

This I am unsure about. Now I must go get schooled by one of my engineers on this 8 pin power plug...

[Silenced_Coyote]

I think you can get away with using only the 4-pin if you are running a Core 2 Duo. Because motherboards support a range of CPUs, like the Pentium and Core 2 Duo, the 8-pin is necessary incase you are running the Pentium. Of course, this is all just speculation on my part and is based on my observation/guess after looking at this picture:
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/13-131-074-11.jpg
Note how Asus covered up 4 of the pin holes.

I guess we'll just have to wait for Airbozo to come back and tell use the real reason.

[progbuddy]

The 8 pin power plug seems to be on all the new mobo's that support the pentium "D" and higher. I _think_ it has to do with the higher power requirements the cpu is drawing.

My Pentium D runs on a 4 pin 12 volt. Its the:

Pentium D Presler 2.8 GHz

It's the motherboard size and the no. of slots. More slots need more power running to the CPU to send signals to them. I run a MicroATX motherboard (ASUS P5L-MX) with one PCIe x16, one PCIe x1, and two PCI slots.

[Exley]

I pretty sure the 8 pin connector just distributes the power more evenly. because some motherboards don't have it and you can run on an 8 pin mobo with only 4 pins

[Eclecticos]

I sent hours trying to fix my computer today. . I tried everything it just wouldn't boot the OS . . guess what was keeping it from starting. . .

The USB Cable from my camera. Lol.. I feel Dumb. I took the drives out switched all my cables. . was pissed off for a while :D and I accidently pulled the camera lose from the computer and it continued to load windows.

[GT40_GearHead]

"I always wondered why when walking in the park, frisbies looked like they got bigger as they came towards you.. Then it hit me..."


now that made my day !

+rep

[XcOM]

i made the mistake of starting to install XP onto my camara (Had 2gb card and forgot to inplug)
damm unattended installs

[xRyokenx]

i made the mistake of starting to install XP onto my camara (Had 2gb card and forgot to inplug)
damm unattended installs


Dare I ask how that happened? lol