Author Topic: Well, fuck (Read 2942 times)

Manic Velocity · « **on:** November 13, 2011, 03:23:40 am »

So... this just happened. Anybody have any ideas? I'm thinking the motherboard just cooked itself to death.

About an hour ago I was playing TOR, running Windows XP. Out of nowhere, the screen went pitch black and the LCD on my Logitech keyboard went out. Holding the power button did not shut the machine down. My fans weren't unusually loud, so I don't think the machine was overheating.

After waiting a few seconds, I unplugged the box. I waited a few minutes for everything to spin down.

Upon plugging it back in and pressing the power button, I'm stuck at a black screen. The keyboard and mouse do not register so I can't boot into safe mode, and I don't hear the familiar BIOS "beep" before Windows begins booting. The machine turns on, but just sits at a black screen and does not receive any input. I can't even open the disc drive.

Tried swapping video cards, tried removing and replacing the BIOS battery, tried removing and replacing the RAM. Tried using a different keyboard. CPU does not appear to be burned or damaged.

For now I'm out of a gaming rig. :\

ZephixLeer (Zephic) · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2011, 06:18:46 am »

Have yoy pulled every card that seats into the board out, then booted? Curious if you get the bios beep then...

Amarantus · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2011, 09:48:01 am »

When you pulled the RAM, did you boot the machine up without the RAM in it and see if you got a CMOS beep? If not, try that and if you don't have a beep then it is definitely your motherboard. If that doesn't work move on to Zephic's suggestion.

likwidtek · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2011, 01:28:26 pm »

If it's just not posting, you're going to have to pull everthing out of the motherboard and start troubleshooting. Get it down to one stick of RAM at a time, turn on, try another stick, turn on, try another, then swap video cards, then power supply, then CPU if you can but it might be motherboard.

Sorry man, this is always a pain.

Manic Velocity · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2011, 02:04:36 pm »

Pulled everything out all at once with no results. Plugged everything back in one at a time with no results. Tried a different power supply. Nothing is working. I'm convinced it's the motherboard.

Went ahead and put an order in with newegg for a new board, new CPU, and I figured I'd upgrade to Win7 while I was at it.

Thanks for the help, guys.

Here are the parts I picked, for those who are interested:

Board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128523

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076

Not the best CPU on the market, but it's a nice upgrade from the Core Duo I have now.

likwidtek · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2011, 02:33:37 pm »

Yeah it sounded like RAm or CPU. Sorry man, bum luck. Did you miss out on weekend beta because of this?

Manic Velocity · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2011, 04:11:48 pm »

I got a good 6 hours in last night. I managed to discover some cool camera controls that will help in making movies.

Aaaaaand my order just shipped! I fucking love newegg.

Ketamininja · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2011, 04:11:48 pm »

Quote from: "ManicVelocity"

I can't even open the disc drive.
...
Tried a different power supply

Can you try a different power supply with the disc drive (whilst not connected to the PC)? Just curious. May be a lot more than just your mobo has gone...