[unctarheel]

I have a 5-year old desktop computer running Windows XP Pro (Service Pack 2 and all Microsoft updates are current). It's a generic brand - built from scratch. I regularly sweep for spyware, malware and viruses, and also scan the hard drive for problems. I have a wireless router and a firewall installed. I've had virtually no problems for as long as I've owned this computer.

However, a few days ago I sat down to surf and the monitor screen was completely blank. Using the keyboard generated no response. I also noticed the light in my optical mouse was not lit. I tried ctrl-alt-del several times to no avail. Finally I
just powered it down (yes, it was still running). Over several days I tried restarting it and shutting it down, just to see if maybe it was a temporary glitch. No luck getting it to boot. In fact nothing ever appears on the monitor screen, and there are no boot or error beeps - none at all. It does start, but that's it. I have two fans in the computer and they all run fine (including the one on the cooling fins of the CPU).

I can feel the hard drive vibrating as the disks spin. The green power light on the front of the case is lit and the yellow light indicating the hard drive is working stays on constantly indicating drive activity. One unusual thing is that neither
of the two DVD drives indicates they have power. No lights on the drives and they don't open when I push the eject button. If I open them manually, they don't slide closed unless I push them in. I tried a different monitor and then added another video card just to be sure it wasn't the monitor or video card. I also made sure every card was seated properly (I also reseated the RAM and the CPU) and checked that every connection for electrical wires and data cables was properly plugged in. Since this problem first happened with the computer running just fine while sitting on a desk in my den, I really don't think anything worked its way loose.

I pulled the hard drive out and connected it to my laptop as an external USB device and was able to write and read to it as if nothing was wrong, so that's why I don't suspect a hard drive problem. I keep my virus protection current and while
connected to my laptop I scanned it again without identifying any problems. I probably should have done a scan disk on it, but I really think it's okay. With all hardware appearing functional, and since there are no error messages or beeps during boot up, I tend to believe it's the CPU or motherboard. Except for power to the hard drive I don't think the drive is being accessed at all by the pc. I even unplugged all of my peripherals (DVD-ROM, floppy drive, etc.) to reduce the power draw, but still there was nothing.

If the CPU or the motherboard has gone bad, I have no way of testing them. The CPU is Duron by AMD and it's a Socket A 462 type. Unfortunately I can't remember the CPU speed. I don't have access to any computers which use AMD CPUs to try testing another known good one.

I'm not sure about the maker of the motherboard. There is something that appears to be a model number (D33064 Rev. A and a UPC of 0000000096076, but an Internet search turns up nothing of value).

Has anyone ever dealt with a problem like this? How did you resolve it? Any suggestions? Any help?

Thanks!

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This happened to one of my customers, turned out to be fried motherboard.

[The Skeptic]

It could be the power supply unit. It delivers different voltages to different parts of the computer. It looks as if the 12V which runs motors (fans, disk) is ok but others have failed. It could also be, like you suspect, a motherboard or cpu problem.

Failures with power supply are very common and are easiest and cheapest to be tested. If you are handy and can borrow another power supply unit and install it in your computer for test purposes that could help pinpointing the problem. That should be your first step.

[jpgp]

I am having the same problem. I did a run down of test on my pc to check what it is. Watch my post as well and maybe you may get some help

http://www.geekstogo...er-t257351.html

[gilley]

Interesting that there should be so many of us a similar problem. My desk top PC is about the same vintage and it won't go through a POST anymore. Happened a couple of days ago. I got a different MB from a friend that I plan to install today or tomorrow. Hopefully that will solve the problem.

[123Runner]

Just because the symptoms look similar does not mean the the resolution will be exactly the same.

You need to bring the unit to a barebones configuration and test as described below.

First of all try disconnecting all drives inc. the hard drive itself, leaving just the CPU, RAM and Graphic card - this is known as the 'bare bones' set up, the machine should boot the bios (single OK bleep) or POST as is properly known (Power On Self Test). You may get an error message saying 'no drive found' or similar to that..

... if the machine does boot, turn off and add one item at a time until you get the 3 bleeps again, obviously this will indicate which device is giving the problem.

If you get 3 bleeps with the bare bones set up then you are looking at, RAM, CPU, mobo, video card or Power supply.

Bios Beep Codes

123runner

[rshaffer61]

Not to mention that this topic is over 2 years old since the last response to the original OP.

[123Runner]

Missed that 1. Not used to looking at the dates.

[rshaffer61]

Got you covered there 123Runner....

[gilley]

Oh yeah! It is 2 years old. DUH!! Do I feel dumb?

[rshaffer61]

No problem gilley as it happens to the best of us.
It is always advisable to start your own topic and that way we can concentrate on you only. This will guarantee that you get the best advice that is structured strictly for your issue. Welcome to GTG and enjoy the forums.