OT-More Computer Problems

tesco samoa · #1 November 20th, 2003, 09:15 PM

Well I have had another set back in the computer system at home.

It powers on but is stuck !!!! Just before POST.

So I openned it up and vacuumed it.... But... It is intermittened.... And I do not have any budget for computer repairs so I may be hit and miss over the next few weeks...

Katchoo · #2 November 20th, 2003, 11:36 PM

Does it give a series of beeps before locking up? If so you can search the internet (or ask here) for an explanation of what your specific number of beeps mean (you'll need to know your BIOS manufacturer too).

It sounds like it could be a problem with your Memory. Have you added/removed any sticks of RAM recently? If you have more than 1 stick in your system then you could try to remove all but 1 of the sticks, making sure it's sitting in the right slot (if your motherboard is picky) and seeing if the System boots differently. Try the other sticks one by one to see the results. If the System boots, start adding the remaining sticks one by one to nail down the offending one.

There could be any number of other things going on, but dying/dead Memory sticks are fairly common.

tesco samoa · #3 November 20th, 2003, 11:54 PM

No... I have the books and about 8 years experenice with fixing pc's professionally...

It just does not go.... WElll it is going now again...

I am thinking that the problem was with some dust.... So I am getting some compressed air and I am going to clean it out and then rebuild it...

Roanon · #4 November 21st, 2003, 01:00 AM

Try changing the power supply.

Suicide Junkie · #5 November 21st, 2003, 01:44 AM

Next time, be sure to get parts that are certified "Computing Curse of Canada" free.

And be sure to back up your data before you end up like me & the Captain

Instar · #6 November 21st, 2003, 06:03 PM

Try new sticks of memory. Ive run into older machines that couldn't POST because of bad memory before.

tesco samoa · #7 June 15th, 2004, 02:04 AM

well... has it been that long

anyways. The computer situation is almost back to no problems anymore.

New Case, new powersupply.

New OS. Now to reinstall all the seiv world.

So 3 days...

Then back to 100 %

It has been along time since I was running properly....

minipol · #8 June 15th, 2004, 12:23 PM

To know if it's your memory (well not yours but your computers) try this memtest86 especially the precompiled one for windows and dos. It allows you to do a number of stresstests and then gives you back the results. Ram going bad will fail on these tests.

Grandpa Kim · #9 June 15th, 2004, 09:10 PM

Tesco, this idea may sound silly, but here goes. I had exactly the same problem shortly after I got my new Dell this past winter. Believe it or not, I think the problem is purely mechanical. I noticed that it happened when I hit the power button and released it almost immediately. It never happens when I hold the power button down for a half second or so.

A quick hit on the power button does turn the power on but does not actually start the computer, or so it seems. This is easy to test, of course, so give it a try. (I have been right before, Last time in 1995.)

Addendum: In the power only state, I could not even turn it off. I had to unplug to turn it off and then start over.

[ June 15, 2004, 20:13: Message edited by: Grandpa Kim ]

Fyron · #10 June 15th, 2004, 09:19 PM

What did you expect from Dell?