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MistaUNGA
green crack GREEN CRACK!!



Registered: 10/01/06
Posts: 1,519
Loc: Kalifornien, im Süden...
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Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody??
#7823967 - 01/02/08 02:28 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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I built other my computer about a year and a half ago. Had been running great.
Win XP SP2 AMD 64 Dual Core 3800+ 2 GB RAM nVidia 7900 GT (I think, can't remember, too lazy to look atm) 2x 120 GB SATA HDs 2 CD drives Other stuff
Recently, I've started getting an error message on SOME start-ups that the consistency of one of my partitions must be checked. So it goes through its scan, and loads Windows. No real problems.
Yesterday, I was taking a nap, and the computer was on. I was at a point where I was about to wake up, and I heard the computer shut off. After I woke up, I tried to start it. At first, it would boot just past BIOS, ask me if I want to start Windows normally or what. I choose "Normal" and then the whole thing just shuts down.
I tried again. Then it wouldn't even stay on long enough to get to BIOS. I tried again. I got into BIOS, and it stayed there for a few seconds until it died again.
So my conclusion is that it is not Hard Drive- or Windows-related, nor Motherboard-related. I think perhaps my Power Supply has failed, but I'd like some other opinions. All fans still work (chip-set fan, CPU fan, Video card fan). So I know the motherboard is still being powered. But what's causing it to cut out? Is it my Power Supply?
Thanks for any help!
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Madtowntripper said:Or just give her a cloroform soaked rag and tell her it's ether!
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Asante
Mage


Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 86,795
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: MistaUNGA]
#7823977 - 01/02/08 02:35 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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I'm no expert but it sounds like something overheats, forcing a shutdown.
-------------------- Omnicyclion.org higher knowledge starts here
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Ashford420
Animal Instincts



Registered: 08/18/06
Posts: 277
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: Asante]
#7824008 - 01/02/08 02:45 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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only way to test it is to get a power supply and swap them out. What kind of power supply do you have in now?
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Ego Death
Justadropofwaterinanendlesssea


Registered: 04/27/03
Posts: 10,447
Loc: The War Machine
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: MistaUNGA]
#7824029 - 01/02/08 02:50 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Sounds like some sort of hardware failure.
The partition problems are hard disk but could be caused by HD, motherboard, processor, ram or power supply, lol!
At a guess I'd say its a motherboard or PSU problem but its hard to say...
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Cepheus
Balance




Registered: 04/19/06
Posts: 8,266
Loc: the space between reality...
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: MistaUNGA]
#7824060 - 01/02/08 02:59 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Sounds to me like its the ram.. What you got? Decent crucial / kingston shit or ebuyer's own?
-------------------- "I only ever hope to reach equilibrium, in Nature's matrix, in line with the meridian" ~ Jehst
"...and I know that I have to keep breathing, as tomorrow the sun will rise, who knows what the tide will bring?" Free Spore Ring Europe Send any spare spore prints you might have and help the distribution
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TripityDooDaDay
Prick


Registered: 09/14/06
Posts: 2,046
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: Ego Death]
#7824080 - 01/02/08 03:03 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Could be anything mentioned so far but my first guess is the ram. Easiest thing to do first is try it with only one of each ram stick in at the time. If that doesn't fix it then the power supply will be the next easiest and cheap to swap.
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Cepheus
Balance




Registered: 04/19/06
Posts: 8,266
Loc: the space between reality...
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: TripityDooDaDay]
#7824098 - 01/02/08 03:07 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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A similar thing happened to me not too long ago.. and it was the cheap assed ram I had in it.. took a stick out and it worked fine
-------------------- "I only ever hope to reach equilibrium, in Nature's matrix, in line with the meridian" ~ Jehst
"...and I know that I have to keep breathing, as tomorrow the sun will rise, who knows what the tide will bring?" Free Spore Ring Europe Send any spare spore prints you might have and help the distribution
Open Source. Freedom. GNU/Linux Addicting is not a word.
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Sell Your Soul
Nutmeg shaman



Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 40,819
Loc: Over there
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: MistaUNGA]
#7824161 - 01/02/08 03:31 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Power up just the motherboard alone (and video, required). If it doesn't work properly, then the problem is with the board or the power supply. If it does work properly, then add an item (sound card, drives, etc), one at a time until the system starts to fail. This should help you narrow down the problem area.
As for memory, test it one stick at a time. Grab the tester from this site: http://www.memtest.org
Let us know how it goes.
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LeftyBurnz
Mr. I Eat Butthole



Registered: 06/21/05
Posts: 24,570
Loc: FL
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: Sell Your Soul]
#7824226 - 01/02/08 03:50 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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i had this same problem, although i was sitting next to it when it died, i heard a "pop" and saw/smelled smoke. the screen also started flashing colors and various colored lines before it died too. i have yet to figure out what it is. my best guess is its something on the motherboard. i have deduced that it is absolutely not my PSU, hardrive, wires or graphics card. i have interchanged every single thing except the MOBO into another computer piece by piece and everything works.
it has to be something on the MOBO. at least in my scenerio.
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Sell Your Soul
Nutmeg shaman



Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 40,819
Loc: Over there
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: LeftyBurnz]
#7824244 - 01/02/08 03:55 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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You said you saw smoke - you examined the MB very closely yet saw nothing that looked dark or burnt? I would look in their area where the main lines of the power supply connect to. The burnt area would most likely be around there.
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LeftyBurnz
Mr. I Eat Butthole



Registered: 06/21/05
Posts: 24,570
Loc: FL
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: Sell Your Soul]
#7824255 - 01/02/08 03:58 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Quote:
andyistic said: You said you saw smoke - you examined the MB very closely yet saw nothing that looked dark or burnt? I would look in their area where the main lines of the power supply connect to. The burnt area would most likely be around there.
no, it confused the hell out of me, because there was a decent amount of smoke, yet after scouring EVERYTHING for over an hour, i found nothing that looked burnt. and i know for a fact the PSU works perfectly, i swapped it into my other puter.
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MistaUNGA
green crack GREEN CRACK!!



Registered: 10/01/06
Posts: 1,519
Loc: Kalifornien, im Süden...
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: Ashford420]
#7825362 - 01/02/08 08:56 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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The PS is an Antec 500 Watt Smart Power. Hasn't given me any problems yet... Is this brand known for crappin' out?
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Madtowntripper said:Or just give her a cloroform soaked rag and tell her it's ether!
Edited by MistaUNGA (01/02/08 09:14 PM)
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MistaUNGA
green crack GREEN CRACK!!



Registered: 10/01/06
Posts: 1,519
Loc: Kalifornien, im Süden...
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: Cepheus]
#7825372 - 01/02/08 08:59 PM (16 years, 30 days ago) |
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Yeah I tried doing it with one stick of RAM at a time, but same results.
BTW, all parts were purchased from NewEgg in June 2006. The RAM is 2x Authentic Corsair XMS3200 (Xtreme Memory Speed) 1024MB 400mhz.
EDIT: OK, I tried removing power from CD drives and HDs, and when running just the mobo and video card, it would stay powered. I tried adding just the HD and just the CD drives, and then it would go out again. So my conclusion again is it's the PSU. Can anybody recommend a good *QUIET* PSU?
Edited by MistaUNGA (01/02/08 09:18 PM)
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MistaUNGA
green crack GREEN CRACK!!



Registered: 10/01/06
Posts: 1,519
Loc: Kalifornien, im Süden...
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Re: Computer problem has me baffled. Help plz anybody?? [Re: Sell Your Soul]
#7865199 - 01/11/08 02:03 PM (16 years, 21 days ago) |
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Well I ordered this PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817170010
It is working OK now, I have it installed, and it powered everything up just fine first go around. It isn't a modular PSU , but whatever. All of the connectors were the old 4-pin style, but it came with a SATA adapter, so my drives got plenty of juice. It did not, however, include a PCI-e connector for my video card, so I just ordered this adapter:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200106
On startup, my video card issued a warning it was using less power since the cable wasn't connected. So it's kind of limping on until that adapter comes. But everything seems to be OK!
Thanks everybody for your help!
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Madtowntripper said:Or just give her a cloroform soaked rag and tell her it's ether!
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