ARGH! System "Dead"???

[gmgq]

I just got home and noticed that my server computer froze. So I held down the power button to turn it off. But once I let go of the button, it started back up (instead of staying off). So I let it run, but there was no video feed at all -- no post.

I held it down again to turn it off, then I reached behind it to unplug the power. Then I plugged it back it, and now it will turn OFF when I hold down the button. But after several cold boots, it still does not Post.

Another weird thing is that if I switch to this PC on my KVM switch, the KVM's status LED will keep blinking if that PC is off. It usually doesn't blink if it's off. I tried plugging in a KB directly to that PC, but it's as iff the KB isn't detected (caps/scroll/number lock, non of them light up). Same as if it was hooked up to the KVM.

I cracked it open and unplugged the HD's, but still no post.

The scary thing is that this PC was recently struck by a virus. Symptons indicated it was Nimda, but Norton scanned and fixed W95.Spaces.1445. But I ran the symantec Nimda fix anyways. All appeared to be ok, aside from the 300+ .EXE files it had to delete. But other than that, the system appeared to have recovered from the infection.

Now THIS. What else can I do to find out why it won't post??

[jadison]

Well, it might be your motherboard/CPU. (going on a limb here) Try swapping out motherboard/CPU if possible and see if that works. Your system just may have breathed its last breath. Check all cards, devices, etc make sure they're plugged in/inserted firmly...check the PSU, Memory!, mobo connectors, cables, etc for any defective wear.

If you can't get your computer to even post, then that's all I can suggest for now...

[gmgq]

Thanks jadison.

Yeah, I just finished checking the RAM and CPU. I took each piece, and plugged it into the PC I'm using right now, and booted up each up seperately. Both sticks of 128MB ram passed, and the P3 slot-1 CPU passed.

Like I said, I tried booting it up with no IDE devices, but it wouldn't post. So I guess the IDE devices aren't a factor...

The system is an older NEC system. P3-550. MSI all in one motherboard. I originally had a crazy time trying to setup the system. Only OS that it would boot was Win95. Everything else, it would freeze at the desktop. (I think it might be a USB issue).

Right now when I turn it on, it's emitting this high pitched whistling noise... How can I check the PSU? Shouldn't the PSU be ok if everything is whirring? The HD's whir to life, and the ROM drives both eject just fine... just no video...??

TIA.

[gmgq]

A friend suggested it might be a BIOS virus?? If so, how can I fix it? TIA.

[jadison]

Try resetting the BIOS, there should be a jumper/DIP switch which has that setting. Check on the motherboard if you don't have its documentation and look for a jumper/DIP switch that says "Reset CMOS" or "Reset BIOS" or something similar and just reset it. Start the computer, let it run as far as it can then shut it off. Replace that jumper/DIP switch back to its original position and then boot up the computer.

I'm still researching this problem, LMK if the above works.

[Mntsnow]

Hey Gmgq,

Please check your email addy as I'm getting bounced emails from the Hotmail postmaster.

Thanks

[gmgq]

Hotmail? I just double checked, and I'm not using hotmail here. And I AM getting my email notifications...


Originally posted by Mntsnow
Hey Gmgq,

Please check your email addy as I'm getting bounced emails from the Hotmail postmaster.

Thanks

[Mntsnow]

Hmmmm


This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed.

gmui@hotmail.com

Looks like it was for someone else now that I look at more closely but they are not listed in the membership with that email addy

[gmgq]

Actually that IS my hotmail address. But it's not associated with my account, is it?? I just checked and I'm using a different email address.

Originally posted by Mntsnow
Hmmmm



Looks like it was for someone else now that I look at more closely but they are not listed in the membership with that email addy

[Mntsnow]

Well we wont worry about since you say your getting the notifications correctly now :)

[gmgq]

Ok, I just tried to reset the CMOS, by clearing it with the jumper by the battery.

1. I took out the jumper from it's original position. Then the floppy drive made a noise.

2. I put it in the second position to clear the CMOS.

3. I put it back into the original position, and the system suddenly started up...!! Weird.

Anyways, still no post. No video feed at all...

----------

I just tried popping in a PCI video card, thinking maybe the built in video was not working. But nope, no post.


Originally posted by jadison
Try resetting the BIOS, there should be a jumper/DIP switch which has that setting. Check on the motherboard if you don't have its documentation and look for a jumper/DIP switch that says "Reset CMOS" or "Reset BIOS" or something similar and just reset it. Start the computer, let it run as far as it can then shut it off. Replace that jumper/DIP switch back to its original position and then boot up the computer.

I'm still researching this problem, LMK if the above works.

[jadison]

I took out the jumper from it's original position. Then the floppy drive made a noise. :jaw:
Ok...you know you're supposed to have the computer turned off, and the power cable disconnected before you touch anything on the motherboard, right?

LMK if I just misunderstood you.
You also just might have a defective/dead motherboard...

[gmgq]

Heh, well it was OFF when I did the jumper thing.

Yeah, all signs are pointing to the motherboard being dead... So was it the victim of the virus attach?? Damn... I've never had a virus attack like this, and boom, my first one takes out the mobo.

Welp, anyone have an extra Mini NLX form factor motherboard w/ video/sound/LAN built in?? I'd like to keep the current NEC desktop case, rather than get a new bulky tower... It fits so well on my printer cart as it is.

Originally posted by jadison
:jaw:
Ok...you know you're supposed to have the computer turned off, and the power cable disconnected before you touch anything on the motherboard, right?

LMK if I just misunderstood you.
You also just might have a defective/dead motherboard...

[logan4mayer]

i have the Ezack same problem with my MSI pc, i have try all the same stuff(tested the cpu,v-card,ram,and tryed with out the ide pluged in) but still no post.
I am thinking it's 1 of the capaciter on the mobo, my k7t pro mobo has 3 10v3900uf and 2 6.3v4700uf, 1 was rubbing agenst the heat sink so im going to try that 1 first

heres ware i got the idea from http://www.overclockers.com/tips469/

[SoopaStar]

If its makign a high pitched noise, I would probably take a look at that power supply. I've had had quite a few go out and make that noise.
Also, I had an NEC back in the day (AMD athlon 500mhz, 4x cdrw, 24 ro 32x cdrom, tower case) and it's power supply occasionally made wierd noises and then started smelling funny. Probably a capacitor leaked or something.
do you have another PSU you can test it with? If you want to test the current one, you can get a multi-meter and put the black cable in the black plug on the molex connector and then the red one in either the red or yellow. the yellow should read 5v DC and the red should be 12v DC (or was it the other way around...?). It may fluctuate by a few tenths of a volt. You can also turn it to AC and if you get a strong AC reading on it, then AC is getting thru the DC current which can cause problems.

Paul

[Team-Eagle]

I got a problem in my computer that whenever i use MacFee or any other spyware software the computer shuts down. I was watchin the scan to see if it would stop in a certain file but it didn it just shuts off immediatetly. Can someone help me?