computer repair

!!!!!!!Before you read note this: I searched this site for my topic and gave up around 6!, Google is not always the answer especially when there is 90% crap and 10% good stuff compared to asking you guys and getting a direct and better answer!!!!!!!

PROBLEM: An old cpu! Its from my friend! He said that he just deleted everything. It looks like he just took out the cd-rom drive. When I turn it on, it doesn't boot. I know it works because the harddrive gets warm, etc! I tried different things but didn't work! I don't know what type of computer it is--It looks like someone bulit it by themself-i.e computer shop! Inside it:: intel on the motherboard, and caviar(western digital)11200 harddrive.....

If anyone can turn me in the right direction with help or other web-sites, I would apreciate that! :) thanx

If there was a award to be awarded for the most vauge post...
There is no POSSIBLE way to determine if the PC is even functional by what you posted.
hard drive is warm? sure it is. that tells me the powersupply works, and your hard disks motor is spinning. Do you have a vid display? POST beeps? ANYTHING for us to go on???

Hi,

I appreciate your problem, It could be almost anything :( we will need some more information:

1. What does it have.........I am assuming that there is a floppy drive, a harddrive (you mentioned it) anything else? soundcard?, video card, modem, NIC?

2. I am sure that you have checked that it has a processor and at least one RAM strip?

3. Power it on with the case off and look for lights on the motherboard, HDD and the front of the case............you should get some flickering from the floppy drive and the HDD light. There is frequently a light on the MoBo, and on the HDD itself.

4. Do the fans start and run smoothly?

5. Do you get any "beeps" from it? if so, how many?

6. Do you get anything showing on the VDU, or does it give some sort of "no signal" message? I am wondering if you can get into the BIOS, or if the POST is failing before that?

With the power OFF (unplugged) check that all connections from the power supply are firm. There should be one to the MoBo, HDD and Floppy drive.

Let us know how you get on

avenger_jcc thanx for your award! I'm almost crying! I didn't want to write every detail down until I knew someone would reply! Since it doesn't show up on the homepage!!

Modem
Sound card
Four ram cards
Floppy drive!
No beeping
no video display
keyboard lights don't show
as far as a processor, could you tell me how this looks like?

sorry for the vagueness! thanks

YOu say he deleted everythign, so I'm assuming that he formatted the drive.

If he did that, then the computer won't boot, you'll probably just get a message saying no OS found.

Also if he took out the CD-ROM drive your gonna need to put one in so that you can install a OS.

so from what I know, your gonna need to install a OS.

OK

Somewhere close to the memory strips there should be a square device about 40mm. It should have a heatsink mounted on top of it, and perhaps a 60mm fan mounted on top of that. If you just see a square shape with a lot of little holes, the processor is missing :(

Does the light on the floppy drive come on and flicker?

Do the fans start up, how many are there.........there will be one in the power supply unit, any others?

Does the hard drive light flicker? (on the front of the computer case).

It sounds as if you are not getting very far into the POST cycle?

Cheers

If you DO have a CPU installed on the motherboard WITH a heatsink and fan, try to locate the manufacturer, model and revision numbers for the board. They are usually printed on the board itself (most times they will be a combination of alpha and numeric symbols). Check along the edges, near the PCI/ISA slots (where your modem, sound card, etc. are 'plugged' into the board) and around the middle of the board. Write down and post any references you can find (PCB, Rev., etc.) which will aid in tracking down the specifications for your particular 'custom system'. Be sure the computer is turned off AND unplugged before removing the case cover. If the inside of the computer is a bit 'cluttered', gently move cables aside and try using a flashlight to get a better view. DO NOT touch the flashlight to the board or anything installed on the board. If you have a static wriststrap, be sure to use it. It is always a good idea to have a users manual for your computer systems motherboard on hand.

Since you are not getting any beeps or video display, you may want to check the seating for your RAM and video card - then reseat each of them. If you are not familiar with the proper procedure, please post back here and we can outline it for you (that way you won't end up with damaged memory or cards). Many times no display + no beeps = a loose video card and/or RAM module.

Please let us know what you find and GOOD LUCK!!

V.

Quote:

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Since you are not getting any beeps or video display, you may want to check the seating for your RAM and video card - then reseat each of them. If you are not familiar with the proper procedure,

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proper procedure?? Just pull the thing and then push it back :D. I suggest you definately try this, remove all your PCI cards and RAM cards that are there. then put the RAM and PCI cards Back in then Boot the System, see if it boots. But it they are loose or faulty the system should beep :confused:

Try Changing the CMOS Battery. i don't have a proper explanation for this but when i worked as Tech Support, i saw this problem with some old assembled computer, when the battery died they showed sysmptoms very similar to what you have stated. When you press the Power Button every thing seem to work fine (Hard , CPU fan Started Started). no beeps ect.but nothing on the monitor the light on the monitor didn't turn green remained red. nothing helped but when changed the CMOS Battery it started working fine .

:p thanks for helping me guys. I took the hard drive out of the computer tower and hooked it up to mine. The HD works fine. I put the windows startup disk to enable me to get into ms-dos mode. He didn't format it(it still has the dirs), he just deleted everything! stupid! I got it to work but it says it has probelms loading the gdi.exe?! So I imported(copied) from my harddrive to his! This helped it but still has problems loading! While switching my hard drive back I tore the cable. Now I feel like a moron! So I have to get a new one today! <<Is it possible, by accident, to wipe the harddrive clean!?..>>


Does gdi.exe need any other files to back it up?
I'm figuring that even If I would be able to fix the HD on my tower that it won't work on his tower.....

Now I have a question for you oldtimers(no offence!), how did you guys do it in the oldschool days?

And as I was looking at my piece of **** computer I was wondering how did we figure on putting to chips together and making a computer?! Wierd!

Nothing on his comp tower (lights) flicker. The processor is there! No display and no beeps! Just hum of the fan and HD!

vvirtho >> If you don't mind explain the outline for me...please! Jus to see how its done!





-bis bald!

If you want to wipe the hard drive clean, put in a startup disk and type

format c:

I googled gdi.exe and it seems that if you delete your video card from the device manager and reinstall your drivers, that should fix the problem.

kurt -

Outline? I'm assuming you mean the procedure for reseating your RAM and video card . . . so here you are:

Before you begin, you will need an anti-static mat of some kind to place the uninstalled components on. DO NOT use an anti-static bag! If you don't have a mat, make sure whatever you DO use has a clean surface and will not build up static electricity. Wear a static wrist strap or touch a grounded/anti-static surface or metal fixture before handling computer boards. When installing/uninstalling components, avoid contact with the metallic edge connectors, use both hands and hold components by their edge whenever possible. Always turn off and unplug the computer before starting. Make sure the underside of the motherboard is supported so it does not bend when installing new components.

RAM

1. Locate the SIMM/DIMM slots on the motherboard. Depending on board specifications, they could be 30, 72 or 168 pin slots. Some boards are able to utilize more than one type.

2. Memory slots are grouped together in "Banks" and will be numbered (starting with either 0 or 1). Find the last memory slot (the numbers are usually located above or at either end of the slot) holding a RAM module.

3. Release the locking tabs/clips at each end, using both hands either pull or roll gently (again, depending on the board) the module out of the slot. Set the RAM aside and repeat until all the slots are empty. NOTE: When setting these aside, if the RAM is either 30 or 72-pin, be sure to keep the modules in the same order they were in when installed.

4. Beginning with the first slot in the bank, align the memory module with the slot connectors. RAM memory is designed to fit into a slot one-way only. SIMMs have a notch on one end which will match to a protrusion on the slot. DIMMs have two notches along the edge where their metallic connectors are located.

5. SIMM: Insert the SIMM into the slot at about a 30 degree angle. Using your thumbs on either side of the module, gently push the SIMM down and forward until it clicks into place. DIMM: Insert the DIMM straight down into the slot using both hands. The clips on the slot will close to hold the module in place once it touches the bottom of the slot. DO NOT FORCE modules into slots. If you're using too much force - it usually means the module isn't aligned correctly with the slot. Repeat until all modules are replaced in their respective slots.
NOTE: For testing purposes, install only the minimum RAM needed (DIMMs = 1 module, SIMMs = 2 modules).

***************************************

Video Card

1. Unscrew the mounting screw securing the card.

2. Using both hands, hold the card along the edge and with a gentle rocking motion, work the card out of the expansion slot.

3. Check the card for missing jumpers, bent edges, smudged metallic connectors or loose wires. Metallic connectors can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol and a lint free cloth. Allow time for the card to 'air-dry' before attempting to reinstall.

4. Again, using both hands, align the metallic edge connectors of the video card with the corresponding expansion slot connections.

5. Firmly (Not Forcefully) push the card into the slot. Push down on one end, then the other, of the card, using a rocking motion until the card is firmly in the slot.

6. Ensure the card is evenly and completely located in the expansion slot and secure it with a mounting screw.

***************************************

I hope this is helpful and what you wanted. It's generic and not specific to your motherboard. If you would PLEASE locate the motherboard information, as I noted earlier, I could probably be more of a help to you.

Does the CPU have a heatsink and fan unit? Definitely try replacing the CMOS battery. Did you strip the system down to the basics, as suggested earlier, to help locate the problem?

As for the hard drive, I'd suggest reformatting it, removing all partitions, replacing the Master Boot Record with Fdisk, setting up new partitions and formatting again. You can do all that while it is connected to your main system. Once the other system tests out as working, install the hard drive and reinstall an operating system. Doing what you're doing to the hard drive won't help you get the older system running. Copying your files to the other hard drive is not a good idea either, unless you happen to have the same hardware as the older system (NOT!). You are better off with a clean install of the operating system, rather than trying to figure out why its not loading properly. If there are files on the drive you want to save, copy them to your main systems hard drive before erasing the drive.

I could be wrong, but I get the impression you would like an 'easy or quick fix' to the problem. Unfortunately, sometimes there aren't any and you have to start at square one. Just think of it as a learning experience. Please, please, please - locate the info on the motherboard so I can find the specs for it. I will happily upload any data I find so you can have it to refer to. It really will make things a lot easier. Good Luck.

V.

P.S. If you're having trouble locating the board info - can you take a picture of the motherboard for upload? If you can, make sure the pic is large enough and clear enough to read whatever is printed on the board. TTFN

vvirtho thanx... A quick fix would be nice but of course that will not happen! I'm using this as a project! And if it works I want to connect the computer to my computer(make a home network) Iwill try to get the info on the the motherboard! It does have a fan

cheyenne1212>>As to reinstalling drivers, etc...don't have any of the files! I already know DOS commands! Thanks though

Question- If one of the little pins is broken on the(back, where the iso ribbion cord connects) HD, can it be fixed?


I tried to format it it doesn't do anything!

kurt -
You do know that some hard drives are missing a pin on purpose . . . right? Do you know if it is actually broken off? If it is broken, how in the world did you do that - did you pull the IDE ribbon off at an angle or put a blocked pin 20 ribbon on wrong thus breaking the pin? The only thing you can do, besides using the hard drive as a paper weight, is find another drive of the exact same make and model with a working circuit board and switch them out - unless you want to contact Western Digital and try buying a new one (Good Luck on that!). No guarantee you won't lose the info on the drive by doing it though. Do you mind me asking where you're located (curious)? Which pin is broken? Anyone else have a suggestion?

As far as drivers go, if you get the info off the cards (same way as noted for motherboard) drivers can be found for those online. Depending on how old the cards are and what operating system you're going to install - you may only need to update the drivers as your system will probably be able to recognize most if not all of them.

The sooner you get the info on your board, the better. I started my journey into computer hardware with an older system as well . . . much easier to make mistakes on an older one than a brand new system (and much less expensive lesson learning too!!).

V.

I don't know how I broke the pin. And I do know that a pin is missing in the beginning! It looks as if it pushed down not broke off though! I have to quit this experiment, my friend wants his computer back, don't know why. You can't even get it to work! Oh well I learned al lot from this and I thank you guys from helping me! -later