My cpu will not show a light on the power button but the cd drawers will light up. The monitor light comes on but nothing comes on the screen. I can hear the fan running, and have checked the connections from the cpu to the power outlets. I haven't gone into the cpu tower. Please offer suggestions I can do myself. :(

CPU = centrel prossesing unit
that's inside your tower ;D
so say computer, that makes it easyer for us instead of cpu.

anyway with that said.
YES "You can do it!"

Check your connections from you monitor to your computer unplug and replug,
If you still get the same problem.

I need to ask you a few questions
1. what's your OS "operating system? win95/98/me/xp
2. type of cpu, memory, or type of computer?
3. Did you over clock the CPU, "the prosessor"?

because it sounds like a burned out cpu
let me know so I can help

MagikPoo... spelling is silly
8)

Thanks for your interest; I unplugged the cord as suggested from the computer to the monitor; no change;

My computer is a systematic amd athelon 1.2 ghs and running windows me

256 mb space ram; 412 mb ram (hope this is what you need to know)

I don't know what over clock means?? ]

(I started it up and in the process of start up it froze; when I did a reset I never started back. )

I don't know what over clock means?? ]


Overclocking refers to the "dangerous" (dangerous as in I'm too chicken to do it) practice of running a CPU at a speed faster than the rated speed. If you don't know what it means, and no one has been changing stuff inside the tower, then you're not overclocking.


]
(I started it up and in the process of start up it froze; when I did a reset I never started back. )

Can you be a bit more specific? When, exactly, did it freeze? Did you do a soft or hard reset? If it was a hard reset, did you hit a "reset" button, or did you hit the power button and then hit it again?

Any oddish smells?


If you want, pop open the case (ground yourself first), and see if there are any obvious signs of problems (i.e. something that got burnt :) ).

:)

~psi42

OK, when I did a reset (pushing the reset button) the main switch light did not turn on and nothing came on the monitor. I then cut off from the main switch and back on again. I can hear it start up in the computer but...

I'll try taking it apart; and let you know later. Thanks for the info so far.

Oh... windows me well there's your problem.::)

Do you know where the hard drive is ?
And if you do make sure that your connections are seated properly.

And just like psi42 said make sure you wear a ground strap, you must have the computer unpluged and you grounded before you enter the hart of the monster.

While your at it "BE VERY CAREFULL" but smell around inside if you smell burning that sucker is cooked.

One more thought when you press the "on switch" (laymans turms) how many beeps do you hear ?

MagikPoo... OUT!
Spelling is silly! :o

Ok- here's the details: I took the computer apart and it was full of dust. No sign of anything other than that. No smell of anything burned. I cleaned good and checked it out without putting back together. The light came on and it appeared that it would be OK.

I put all connections back and it started, but froze. I did a restart, from the button and it wouldn't give me anything on the m onitor.

So I did a cold boot. It seemed to like that. A good start and since it was shut down improperly did a check of the drive; but it froze after completing that. It did complete the check. Now the light is out again and I get nothing.

Any suggestions? I'm at frustration level!! I have some things on there on my hard drive that I will need soon. HELP!

ok- here's the details: I took the computer apart and it was full of dust. No sign of anything other than that. No smell of anything burned. I cleaned good and checked it out without putting back together. The light came on and it appeared that it would be OK.


Did it boot?


]
I put all connections back and it started, but froze. I did a restart, from the button and it wouldn't give me anything on the m onitor.

So I did a cold boot. It seemed to like that. A good start and since it was shut down improperly did a check of the drive; but it froze after completing that. It did complete the check. Now the light is out again and I get nothing.


Try disconnecting are peripherals that are not absolutely required, and see if that does anything.

If not, you can try disconnecting all nonessential components inside the tower, which should help you in narrowing down the problem... but you'll need to know which thing is which to know what to unplug... If you don't, try to find a local geek to do it for you ;D


]
I have some things on there on my hard drive that I will need soon. HELP!


You could try taking the hard drive out and putting it in another computer to get the data off...


]
Any suggestions? I'm at frustration level!!


I know how you feel :-/...
If this makes you feel any better: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=computer_hardware;action=display;nu m=1047866490

;D

~psi42

I was going to suggest that it might be your graphics card but you said that it booted successfully then froze.

Did you add any programs recently? If so, perhaps you should start in safe-mode and go in to delete them.

Also, in WindowsME you should be able to take your system back to a "restore point" when everything worked.

Also, maybe, if you can boot, perhaps try re-loading WinME on top of you existing OS.

I'm not a Tech but maybe one of those suggestions will help.

It restarted but now I've lost the start light again; as before I can hear the fan running but nothing appears on the monitor and the power light is off.  nothing happening.

It's getting late and I think I will take apart again tomorrow night to recheck things.  for now, tired and frustrated.  don't know where things are inside so I'll have to ask someone at work Monday.  

Again, thanks for the input.  i'll try your suggestions Monday.  

Hello
I'v been away and now "I"M BACK"
Anything new...

OK I'v read every thing that you have told us and I think I have the right solution.

It's not the cpu, but the cabels going to your hard drive,
A few things gave it away.


]I put all connections back and it started, but froze. I did a restart, from the button and it wouldn't give me anything on the monitor.

So I did a cold boot. It seemed to like that. A good start and since it was shut down improperly did a check of the drive; but it froze after completing that. It did complete the check
Did you see anything on the screen, I'm asuming you did there for I think its
1. your OS-operating system (Win ME)
2. change the long flat wires form your motherboard, to your hard drive.

OK a little education
1. HD (harddrive) it looks like a silver or gray box that has a long flat gray or white wire going to it and a smaller white plug that's right next to it, and it sits all buy itself away from the CD OR DVD what-have-you.

2. long flat wire, you'll observe that one of those wires edge is red, that my friend is wire one, notice how it commects INTO the HD. And how it commects to the systemboard/motherboard, some times a one can be seen on the board and on the HD.

3.reconnect the new wire

The problem sounds intermittent so if that don't work then its is definitely win ME
I'm almost sure it is.

MagikPOO... out!!
Spelling is for the week. Mon - Fri

Hey,
Just to let you know, you could save the data from your hard drive onto another one since you need it. I can't tell you how to fix your PC because anything could be wrong, though it sounds like a mainboard or op-sys problem to me... Sometimes they just.. well stop working. The operating system often has a mind of its own as well. (This could be fixed by a 1 hr long windows re-installation). However, if you choose to do anything other than unplugging power cords, I would recommend to CONNECT your hard drive to another computer and TRANSFER the files you want to keep (if it's only the necessary stuff then it won't take much space on the new computer, don't worry). Then go and do anything you want with it. This is from a suffered user :)

Thanks for all the input. We did change the wires to the hard drive. Voila-it works. Great job! :D

thanks for all the input. We did change the wires to the hard drive. Voila-it works. Great job! :D

Glad you got it working


Good call MagikPoo :)

Glad to be of service.

Although Hishnika is right
Somtime for the sake of just retriveing data, that's a good idear, but one has to always keep in mind that data can also becomes corrupt due to worms viruses, and internet porn... no no no sorry, that shows you where my mind is..
:-[

Any who...
Another satified costomer TY pricecb1
You were great too

MagikPoo... OUT!!