I have an older Compaq desk top. When the trouble started I would be able to boot it up by using the manual on off switch and clicking it on and off several times and it would finally come on ,but now it will not boot up. All that happens is that the indicator light comes on by the on off switch and you can open and close the disk tray. Any advice will be appreciated:confused:

Sounds like the motherboard is bad. You need to take it to a tech to have it tested.

Thanks; I think you may be correct. I am looking for used parts because I don't need this computer but just want to see if I can repair it for my own satisfaction. Thanks for your help Walt.

I agree that the motherboard is likely to be the fault here. However, if you want to try a few things the first thing I would do is re-seat all the components into the motherboard.

Unplug the power supply cable first! :)

Then one by one take out everything that is attached to the motherboard and replace it again. Doing this can rejuvinate some connections and obviously costs nothing more than your time. Just be careful to "ground" yourself on the machine by trying to keep your body in contact with a bare piece of metal on the case. This will prevent any static discharge (even better if you have an antistatic wrist strap).

Good Luck!

Thanks for all your help. I will try the unpluging and see if this donn't work. Thanks K.N.

HI,maybe you all ready know about the mem sticks,can cause more trouble than you want,a lot of the time it is them,they need to be reseated! Or replaced!
I`ve pulled more hair out over ram... the laptop-mad said that!! that's my 2-cents!!

Thanks for your reply. I think that I am going to get rid of it because all things that I think may be wrong I can't afford to buy and I can't find any used parts. Thanks to all for your help.