Computer Help

[Ken Nagrod]

ossietim,

The hard drive does not give the problems that Chris is having.  His computer doesn't even get to the point of trying to access the hard drive.
Also, if you don't have thorough knowledge of interchanging parts of a hard drive, you can destroy one very easily.  I would absolutely not recommend Chris swapping the hard drive's control board.

Chris,

I'm sure Shane will offer whatever further assistance you need or I will send you my personal contact info if you want my help.

 

[ossietim]

How about yank out the RAM..turn on the computer...hear beep codes? if not, motherboard= dead.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Sounds like the motherboard to me. I've had the very same problem, computer not turning on, only lights, no beeps and no fan running. At that point it can only be the mobo or the power supply. Since you already ruled out the power supply it must be the mobo. With my mobo it was the BIOS chip as Ken suggested and you have a good chance that's also the problem with yours. Turns out a lot of P4 mobos suffer from faulty BIOS chips after 4 or 5 years of use. If it's not an obscure model of mobo then new BIOS chips are pretty easy to find for $15 to $20. It might even be easier and cheaper to just find another used mobo somewhere. Old computer hardware is cheap and easy to find.

 

[chrisrosenb]

Thanks again for the help.

I get no beeps, only lights.
I ordered a new mother board that will use the current memory & processor.
If I had more time right now, I would just build a new computer for my shop & give the old one to my wife.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Yeah, no POST beeps points pretty convicingly to a mobo problem.

There is also a possibility the mobo 'speaker' died and that's why you have no POST beeps.  Based on your symptoms, it could also be bad/dead RAM.
Here's the danger:  If you mobo is badly fried, swapping CPUs, RAM, etc in and out might actually cause damage to good components.

Given the inexpensive motherboards anymore, replacing it right off is your best choice.  So I think you made the right move.