(not a nubie)...computer won't start? help

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by cpeters12, Jun 27, 2008.

  1. cpeters12

    cpeters12 Member

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    first off,

    abit kg7 motherboard
    geforce 2
    amd 64
    500 mb ram
    windows xp

    I've had this computer sitting in a box in the basement in storage for maybe 6 or 8 months. I decided to set it up as a gaming computer for my kids (not any serious gaming, just roller coaster tycoon or something). So, when i turn it on i hear a loud high pitched buzzing sound and nothing appears on the screen. I'll admit that I'm not the best computer troubleshooter out there but i'd say that i'm better than most. I opened her up and checked and made sure all the cables were correctly connected, and everything checked out ok. I also put in the xp boot disk to see what would happen, but nothing. I checked to see if all the fans were on and everything is running fine.

    So, to all you troubleshooters out there. What should i try next?

    This computer isn't a piece of junk by any means and i would like to get it running again even if it means putting a few hours of time into it.


    Thanks,
    I'm truly stumped on this one and could use some help
     
  2. Crab56

    Crab56 Regular member

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    Is the buzzing coming from the power supply ? I have a handful of tools - $25 or so can get a fair, plug in power supply tester. You can make a bootable disc to test hardrive and ram for free - just use google. That's where I would start. Of course, that's after I tell the wife I'm gonna need the latest graphics card, cpu and mobo - the kids can get some more wear outta their old clothes for now !
     
  3. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    moved to correct forum as not a windows issue.
    disconnect all cables to drives. try another psu as most likely that buzzing sound is from your psu.
     
  4. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Well, the PC's many years old, so it might just be the PSU dead after sitting for so long out of use - you may as well start by replacing that, and do yourself a favour - get a proper quality power supply not some cheap nasty brand or you will regret it.
     
  5. cpeters12

    cpeters12 Member

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    the buzzing isn't coming from the power supply, it's coming from the speaker in the front of the case, which is plugged in trough all the little wires into the mother board.(pardon my in-technical lingo) To my understanding it is a good case, antec.

    This got me thinking that it might be some sort of hardware that died and is 'screwing' something up. I unplugged both cd drives but left the floppy plugged in. I also took out an extra usb slot and a modem card. But still no.
     
  6. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Does it sound like the buzz a speaker would normally make to indicate a problem?
     
  7. cpeters12

    cpeters12 Member

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  8. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Would you describe it as a 'continuous beep'?
     
  9. cpeters12

    cpeters12 Member

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    no, intermittent beeps that last about a second and off for a second...
     
  10. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Could possibly be faulty RAM then. try tracking down some replacement memory off ebay.
     
  11. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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  12. Crab56

    Crab56 Regular member

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    To test ram - I downloaded this and burned on a disc - You can boot the system from the disc and test ram without the OS running. If you download from this site and burn to disc yourself it's free.

    http://www.memtest86.com/
     
  13. Napalm212

    Napalm212 Member

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    Well we know your computer is on because it's making a beep...You said you had a graphics card installed. Try plugging your screen into your on board graphics card. it could mean your video card is shot, I may be wrong but sound like something that happened to me before. Hope this helped in some way Good Luck.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2008
  14. cpeters12

    cpeters12 Member

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    Last night I was reading about the kg7 motherboard. They were saying that this board is very hard to get the ram seated all the way in and some people put it in before ever mounting the motherboard in the case. Anyway, i took out the ram and tried using only one at a time to see if one of them was faulty, but they were both ok. So now my computer is working fine and i am concluding that the ram probably just wiggled a bit when it was sitting in storage.


    Thanks everyone for all the help.
     
  15. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Possibly, I fail to see why that should be a problem with any board, but glad you got it sorted. Memory's usually the issue when you get a continuous set of beeps the same length.
     

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