New PC not working anymore

CsBooCsBoo California
edited September 2004 in Hardware
Hi All

Recently I built my first computer and to my surprise it started up an ran just fine. I configured everything and installed Windows XP Pro. I left to study abroad in Italy and while I was gone my mom used it and called me to tell me something was wrong and the computer won't start (I am not blaming anyone). I have come back from my trip and now I am trying to fix the damn thing.

My computer is acting very inconsistent so I have no idea what the problem is. The mobo LED light comes on when I switch on the power. Then I try hitting the power button on the front of the case and sometimes the computer starts and sometimes it doesn't. If it does start, about 1 - 3 minutes after the monitor comes on, I hear a series of beeps (I think 3) and I get some messages and then I am prompted to either use BIOS default settings or to configure them myself. I tried both options. The first causing my computer to be unresponsive and the latter I get to the BIOS menu's but when I try to save the configuration the computer becomes unresponsive aswell.

I have a Pentium 4 3ghz and an Asus P4C800-E mobo.

I really do appreciate any help I can get. Thanx!

Comments

  • ketoketo Occupied. Or is it preoccupied? Icrontian
    edited September 2004
    Can you tell us the rest of the individual components? Memory, Video card, Power supply , hard drives, etc?
  • CsBooCsBoo California
    edited September 2004
    I have 1gb of kingston 3700 memory modules, ATI 9800 all-in-wonder pro, a 480W antec power supply, a maxtor 80gb ATA hard drive, and a cd/dvd-rom installed in my computer. Hope this helps.
  • JustinJustin Atlanta
    edited September 2004
    I'd say, tear it down and rebuild. Go with just one stick of RAM, video card, mobo and processor. Make sure all connections are tight (IDE, Front pannel connectors) and see what it gives you. If you go into bios, let it run for a minute. The beeps could be indicitive of a memory issue, that board may not like that RAM very much. Memtest86 probably wouldn't hurt. If that boots and stays on for a minute, then connect your main hard drive. Go into BIOS and make sure that it is recognised, reeboot, and it should go into windows assuming the was no corruption on the disk. Try that and let us know what happens.
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited September 2004
    CSBoo,

    I experienced the same problem with another system. I traced it down to the ATI video card. You should be experiencing problems from a completely powered down phase but not on a reboot once it is running.

    Am I correct?

    Have you another video card? Any kind will do. Put it in and see if the PC consistently starts from completely powered off.

    It was a voltage problem with a particular card/mobo combination. It wasn't resolved by boosting the VCORE for the AGP card.

    Let's see if this is what you are experiencing.
  • CsBooCsBoo California
    edited September 2004
    You are correct. I actually can't reboot the system, it just refuses to respond when I do that, so I always have to power down in order to restart. Unfortunately I don't have another video card, but I know some people with the same mobo and vid card combo and things work fine for them. In anycase, I am really not looking forward to taking apart and rebuilding. I tried disconnecting most of the wires and reconnecting them yesterday but with no luck. I'll see if I can get my hands on a different vid card and put your theory to the test. Thanx for your suggestion, I'll let you know if it works.
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited September 2004
    Also...are you updated to the latest BIOS for that motherboard?
  • CsBooCsBoo California
    edited September 2004
    I am not sure if I have the latest BIOS or not and am not sure if that will help because now I can't even get my computer to start. I tried taking it apart and reconstructing it, but now it won't even power up. I know the power supply and video card are functional because when I flip the switch in the back to the power supply the light on the video card comes on but when I press the power button on the chassis nothing happens, then about a minute later the fan comes on for the power supply. Is it possible that one of my components are screwed up or is it just ME? If I can't fix it atleast I'll have a nice paper weight.
  • MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
    edited September 2004
    Check the connection of the POWER lead to the motherboard. Not the ATX cable but the tiny lead that runs from the power switch on the front of the PC to to the motherboard.

    That may be reversed and therefore the motherboard doesn't get its signal to power up.

    Sorry it took so long to reply. We'll see if we can get it solved for you.
  • WeedoWeedo New
    edited September 2004
    Just because you get lights on the motherboard or videocard doesn't mean the power supply is fine, necessarily. It may be providing some power but not enough. I had one do this recently. Sounds to me like something has gone bad. Maybe you can borrow some parts from friends to try and find out what the problem is. Sometimes you just have to throw money at it to get a computer working again. Been there, done that. (It's very possible and likely that one of your components is screwed up is what I'm trying to say)
  • CsBooCsBoo California
    edited September 2004
    Yeah, I have a warranty on my mobo so I am returning it for a new one. I read on another forum that some people had the same exact problem as mine with the same motherboard so that's what they had to do. Hopefully that will do the trick. Thanks for your help everyone = )
  • rykoryko new york
    edited September 2004
    Is it a p4c or a p4e.....you know northwood or prescott? I am guessing that it is a p4e prescott. I have heard of many issues like this where the mobo was built before prescotts came out, and were designed for the northwoods. They need the newest BIOS to run the prescott. You will need a northwood to boot your mobo and then flash to the latest BIOS, shutdown, install p4e....

    I know you already RMA'd, but depending on what they send you back (revision wise or they might flash the newest BIOS on there first if you are lucky???), you will probably have to do what i said above....maybe a friend has a p4c you can borrow?
  • CsBooCsBoo California
    edited September 2004
    I have the P4C not the P4E.
Sign In or Register to comment.