Computer troubles after a power surge

Hey guys, haven't been around the community here in a while. I may have a serious issue though. Following what seems to have been a series of power surges, my computer shut itself off, and now I'm having issues with starting it back up again.

Last night there was a brief, yet powerful, thunderstorm. I think at one point lightning may have even hit the house, due to the power flickering, my tv going slightly staticy, the bright flash of light outside, and the giant boom shaking the house all at once. At some point after that, there was a power surge that managed to shut off a few items in my home, including my computer. Earlier there was just a brief moment when the lights dimmed and only the TV shut off. But this time, the main culprit was my computer.


I've essentially tried troubleshooting ever piece of hardwear......except for the processor. And that is what my biggest concern is. I now fear that my cpu may have died.

Everything else on the computer seems to start up just fine. The fan on the video card spins up, of course the one on the power supply does as well, and that seems to work since it still provides power to everything, all the case fans turn on, the cpu heatsink fan turns on, the light on the motherboard is on, and the hard drives seem to spin up as well.

I have tried removing every part so far, and troubleshooting everything I can. I've even tried it with just the hard drive, and even just the power supply plugged into the motherboard and nothing else. The strangest thing to me though, is that the motherboard makes no sort of beeps at all. I don't even mean the POST beep that it usually makes. I mean the serious of warning beeps it would usually give to inform me that something is wrong, just doesn't happen. No beeps to tell me the video card is missing, no beeps to tell me if the hard drive is missing. However the light on the motherboard remains on, and everything else seems to start up just fine.

So that remains one big piece of hardware I have not tried troubleshooting yet, my processor. I have a spare computer nearby which I believe may have the same CPU socket as the trouble computer (LGA 775, and I think it may have a pentium 4 in it). A few details about the problem computer; the motherboard is an Asus P5W DH Deluxe, and the processor is an intel er700.

So I may or may not have a spare processor to test it out with, and see if it'll start up. The reasons I haven't done it yet, is because I'm not fully sure if I actually have spare processor to troubleshoot with, and I also really hate having to take off the heatsink, mostly because I have no idea where my thermal paste is, and I'd want to re-apply it afterward.


So before I do any of that, I want the opinion of you guys here. What do you think the problem may be? Do you think my processor may have died?

Did you pull the RAM and test with just one stick yet?

Edit: Welcome back, stranger!

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Originally Posted by Drum Thumper

Did you pull the RAM and test with just one stick yet?

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I pulled it out and tested it with two sticks (have 4 total). Think I should go back and try one at a time?

Edit: Hehe, thanks : P

Did you try to reseat the CPU?

Also, welcome back! Been a long time!

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Originally Posted by Luke122

Did you try to reseat the CPU?

Also, welcome back! Been a long time!

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I have not tried anything with the cpu yet. It's pretty much the one piece of hardware I have not touched yet. I wanted to get the opinion of some people on here before I went and messed with it. But I guess I'll probably have to anyway.


Also, another thanks to you ^.^

Slightly off topic, I seem to keep having things that come up that make me disappear from this place for months at a time. In 2008 I went off to Yellowstone for 3 months with not much internet, and then last summer I was busy with a road trip across the country. And now that I'm having computer problems I return once more : P

Yeah, try it with (preferably) a known good stick, each slot.

I just tried cycling all 4 ram sticks through all four slots, one at a time. And it seems to have done nothing. Still stuck with the same problem. The one thing that just catches my attention is that the motherboard makes no noise at all. Yet everything still powers up, everything lights up, all the fans turn on, but the computer just does not start up. the cpu is still the one thing remaining that I haven't touched now it seems. I really hope it isn't broken.

have you tried removing the cmos battery

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Originally Posted by pcclan

have you tried removing the cmos battery

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Nope, thought about it though. Guess it wouldn't hurt to go try that now.


Edit: Just did that, and still nothing. Looks like the last thing remaining is the processor still. Or perhaps I should leave the battery out for longer.

Pull the battery as well as the power cord and then attempt to start the computer a few times, that should purge all electricity out of the system.

And is anything appearing on your screen or is it just black? Bios, etc?

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Originally Posted by Luke122

Did you try to reseat the CPU?

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That's what i'd try....then if you could try all your current RAM, CPU, VGA in a different mobo.

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Originally Posted by Diamon

Pull the battery as well as the power cord and then attempt to start the computer a few times, that should purge all electricity out of the system.

And is anything appearing on your screen or is it just black? Bios, etc?

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Did all that, currently have the battery out, leaving it out for a bit for now. The screen is just black. The monitor says "no signal" on just a black screen. No bios loading up, no beeping from the motherboard from POST, nothing.

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Originally Posted by Locum51

That's what i'd try....then if you could try all your current RAM, CPU, VGA in a different mobo.

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I guess I might as well try out the cpu now. I currently do not have a spare motherboard that would support my video card or RAM, (though it might support my cpu). I think I do have a spare processor though that might work on my current motherboard. Like I said, the one thing I haven't touched yet is the processor, but at this point as might as well try reseating it, and if that doesn't work see if I can swap it out with a different one, and see the the cpu really is the problem.

OK, then get a huge surge protector ^^

Tried switching out the processor with another one from an older computer, it's a Pentium 4, and it should be compatible with this motherboard. Still, nothing. So it might not be the processor after all. I'm starting to think maybe something with the motherboard is wrong. And like I said said, no BIOS screen is displayed, no beep comes from the motherboard signifying that POST has run successfully, and also no error beeps occur to tell me that the hard drive isn't there. So something with the motherboard seems to not be working correctly. The LED on the motherboard does light up, signifying that it's getting power, and everything hooked up seems to get power as well, even the video card.

Maybe something is wrong with the BIOS?

Could be with the board itself. How are the caps looking--any leaking?

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Originally Posted by Drum Thumper

Could be with the board itself.

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That's what i'm startin' to think. :think:

Could be. Physically it looks fine to me. I can't see what looks like any damage done to it. Unfortunately I don't have a spare board to swap it with to see if that's the problem. So now I'm a bit stuck on what to do.

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Originally Posted by DaJe

So now I'm a bit stuck on what to do.

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This is a pretty good excuse to upgrade if you ask me!:)

Not having money is a pretty good excuse not to upgrade though :(

(though assuming I ever do have to buy a new board, everyone feel free to post suggestions)

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Originally Posted by DaJe

Not having money is a pretty good excuse not to upgrade though :(

(though assuming I ever do have to buy a new board, everyone feel free to post suggestions)

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Trust me, I feel your pain. But you don't have to spend much to outperform a P4.;) You'd only need a new motherboard, cpu and possibly ram. Everything else can stay.

But if only the motherboard is the problem (and assuming I can't fix it), then why get a new processor and RAM? The spare processor is a pentium 4. The actual processor I use in my main computer (the one having issues) is a core 2 duo e6700.

For now though, I have my laptop. Though this is no good as a long term solution for me, and it sucks not being able to use anything on my other computer right now.

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Originally Posted by DaJe

The actual processor I use in my main computer (the one having issues) is a core 2 duo e6700.

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Ah, my bad. I thought your main machine was on the P4. Based on that I was assuming older, outdated hardware was running rampant in your rig. I had a P4 3.6Ghz chip like 7 years ago and it was the last P4 model made before the Ds took over. I couldn't imagine trying to run today's software on a 7-10 year old box...thus the recommendation to upgrade. I probably should have just looked at your system information or reread your posts...:facepalm:

But since there are no error beeps I'd say it was the mobo based on personal experience. When my Dell XPS died 5 or 6 years ago it was due to bad caps. The board still got power and everything, but it literally didn't do anything with it. I took it to a professional to have it recapped as all my school work on my RAID 0 drives depended on getting that board working again...it never worked out. (I know, I know, should have backed it up...but I was in denial and had never felt the pain of losing very important data.) Check all of your capacitors with a flashlight. If any of them have even a slightly bulging top it's a sign that they likely are malfunctioning. It could be an easy fix if that's the problem. And if you can solder new caps on, you wouldn't have to spend much money at all.:up:

I'm going with dead mobo too. Even if the fans spin up, LEDs light, etc. If there are no error beeps with no ram and no cpu installed, mobo is toast.

You do have a speaker connected, right? Just making sure.. :)

Looking at everything so far, I don't see any capacitors in particular that seem to have any issues. No bulging or leaking that I've noticed anywhere, though I could also be overlooking something. And yes, I do have a speaker connected to the mother board : P. No speaking connected to the audio jack, but there is certainly one on the motherboard to give me the warning beeps. Maybe I'm just better off at this point with buying a new motherboard.

Have removed the cpu and tried to power the mobo to see if it reports error beeps? If not, do that! That's the final test.. no beeps means the board is toast. If it does, drop the cpu and ram back in and try to power it up again.

I've seen systems the were doing exactly what you described, and removing the cpu and trying to power the board seems to "reset" something. After getting an error code, I'd reseat everything, and the board would work fine. In the cases where it didnt, we replaced the board. :)

This quick test might save you the cost of buying a new board... and you'll have to remove/reinstall the cpu to the new board anyways..

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Originally Posted by Luke122

Have removed the cpu and tried to power the mobo to see if it reports error beeps? If not, do that! That's the final test.. no beeps means the board is toast. If it does, drop the cpu and ram back in and try to power it up again.

I've seen systems the were doing exactly what you described, and removing the cpu and trying to power the board seems to "reset" something. After getting an error code, I'd reseat everything, and the board would work fine. In the cases where it didnt, we replaced the board. :)

This quick test might save you the cost of buying a new board... and you'll have to remove/reinstall the cpu to the new board anyways..

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^Diddo:up:

Alright, just tried powering it on with nothing but the power supply plugged straight into the motherboard, and nothing else in it, no cpu or anything. Started up, power went to the motherboard, and still nothing, no beeps or anything. Strangely enough though, I managed to turn it on for a minute or so before I turned it off. However after I turned it back on again, after a few seconds it shut itself off. It's similar to the way it shuts down when the processor overheats. Such as if the processor isn't getting enough cooling, it'll overheat and automatically shut itself down to prevent damage, and if you try to turn it on again right away, it's still hot and shuts down after only a few seconds. That's how this is acting.

Soooo, guess I need a new motherboard now then?

Another problem, is now my heatsink. The damn thing always gave me trouble whenever I tried to put it back on. And now some of the plastic pins that fix it to the motherboard have broken. Anyone know how I can replace those at all? It'd be such a waste to have to buy a new heatsink, but I can't attach it anymore. It's just the stock Intel one.

Im surprised no one has mentioned it, your PSU cable. Replace it.

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Originally Posted by Okele

Im surprised no one has mentioned it, your PSU cable. Replace it.

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Another person suggested to me that is may be the power supply (I don't know why it's so hard to figure it out). Unfortunately any spare power supply I may have lying around does have the extra 4 pins that my motherboard needs (why the hell can I not remember what that's called). So pretty much I guess my power supply uses a 24 pin connector, and every spare power supply I have is only 20 pins.

Will I still be able to connect one of those power supplies to the motherboard and see if anything happens? I just want to make sure I can figure out the exact problem as much as I can before buying a new piece of hardware, if I have to, since funds are a bit limited for myself at the moment.

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Originally Posted by DaJe

Another person suggested to me that is may be the power supply (I don't know why it's so hard to figure it out). Unfortunately any spare power supply I may have lying around does have the extra 4 pins that my motherboard needs (why the hell can I not remember what that's called). So pretty much I guess my power supply uses a 24 pin connector, and every spare power supply I have is only 20 pins.

Will I still be able to connect one of those power supplies to the motherboard and see if anything happens? I just want to make sure I can figure out the exact problem as much as I can before buying a new piece of hardware, if I have to, since funds are a bit limited for myself at the moment.

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For about 4.00 you can get this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812201001

I don't know what kind of computer stores you have around you, but you can probably find one locally too. If you have other PSU's you can actually, just as a test, use the power cable from one of them to see if it's the power supply. I mean the big black one you plug into the PSU from the wall. Otherwise those converters can be bought pretty cheap. They even have some that are single sleeve for asthetics.

I did try using another power cable. Even just now, I took another spare one from a monitor and tried it out, even plugging it into a different outlet. It didn't seem to change anything.

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Originally Posted by DaJe

I did try using another power cable. Even just now, I took another spare one from a monitor and tried it out, even plugging it into a different outlet. It didn't seem to change anything.

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Have you discharged the PSU yet?

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Originally Posted by Okele

Have you discharged the PSU yet?

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Yep, but I think I figured it out. I realized that even though I didn't have another power supply to use on this motherboard, that I still had other motherboards that this power supply would work on, to test and see if the power supply was the problem.

So I just tried it on another motherboard. Everything powered up, and booted just fine, got a signal to go to the monitor, am able to access to BIOS, the speaker beeps, everything. So it seems like the problem is the motherboard for sure now. So now I'm guessing I'm just going to completely replace my motherboard.

Should I attempt to go for the same model, or do you guys have a recommendation for a nice motherboard for me to get. Newegg no longer seems to carry my motherboard :(

What CPU? and what motherboard is it?

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Originally Posted by Okele

What CPU? and what motherboard is it?

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CPU is an Intel core 2 duo e6700, and the motherboard is an Asus P5W DH Deluxe

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Originally Posted by DaJe

CPU is an Intel core 2 duo e6700, and the motherboard is an Asus P5W DH Deluxe

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You could check out this page - http://www.evga.com/products/prodlist.asp?switch=20 Should work with everything you have, and be a decent upgrade, not to mention they have a couple under 60.00

I just made some big progress! I tried clearing the CMOS before, but it didn't seem to do anything. This time, I tried again, thinking maybe I didn't do it long enough or something. I removed the battery, and moved the jumper for like, half an hour. Then I plugged in the power supply to the messed up motherboard, attached only the speaker and the power button, had in the cpu, one stick on RAM in the first slot, and the video card (with needed power attached as well), and then hook a monitor up to that, and also decided to plug in a keyboard. I started it all up, and since I plugged in a keyboard I held down the insert key while it was starting up, though I don't know if that helped with anything.

Anyway, the computer actually started up! My BIOS seems to be reset now, it went through POST, the monitor got signal and I was able to see everything and go through the BIOS, and it properly beeped at me and gave me a warning that no hard drive was installed.

So now It's back to me hooking everything back up properly, and seeing what I can do, and see if I fixed this problem for good now. So time for me to get to work and see where I can go from here. I'll update on any progress I make.


Edit: Good news, got everything fully working now. Managed to get into the BIOS, reset everything in there, get everything assembled and put together again, and everything is now powered up and working and performing just fine :)

I appreciate all the help that was given. I'm just happy now that I won't have to go out and spend any money on new parts or anything.