Ask Me Help Desk - Please ! Can you HELP me?

Hi , Can you tell me what's wrong with this computer? I have tried everything I know , but still get nothing,something times it will let me go into setup, but then it will luck up.I have up hook everything in it and tried to turn it on and nothing, it won't come on. Please help me...
I Have...
Compaq Preasario 500 7r... 5000 series
800mhz amd duron tm. Proceddor with 192kb on chip cache memory
128mb symc dram memory, 40gb hd, 48x cd-rom drive with adaptec.easy cd creator tm software,8mb nvida tm TNT 2 tm Vanta lt.graphice card .56 modem. Microsoft windows millennium ( formatted the hd and put in windows 98,) Microsoft works 6.0 , Microsoft tm money 2001 and Microsoft encarta on line deluxe.
thank you Joeann

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeann

Hi , Can you tell me whats wrong with this computer? I have tryed everything I know , but still get nothing,somthing times it will let me go into setup, but then it will luck up.I have up hook everything in it and tryed to turn it on and nothing, it wont come on. please help me.....
I Have .....
Compaq Preasario 500 7r ..... 5000 series
800mhz amd duron tm. proceddor with 192kb on chip cache memory
128mb symc dram memory, 40gb hd, 48x cd-rom drive with adaptec.easy cd creator tm software,8mb nvida tm TNT 2 tm Vanta lt.graphice card .56 modem. microsoft windows millennium ( formatted the hd and put in windows 98,) microsoft works 6.0 , microsoft tm money 2001 and microsoft encarta on line deluxe.
thank you Joeann

The problems you are experiencing are really hard to diagnose remotely. It sounds like motherboard problems. You would probably be best served taking it to a shop to diagnose.

Can you give us a bit more history to this, what have you already tried?

Also, is there a specific event that caused these problems (like moving the PC etc) that you can tell us about, or did it just start one day?

Hi,
I also use Win98SE and am very familiar with just about everything that can go wrong with 98, which is quite a bit!
I will list, step-by-step what to try. If you can get to the C:>, then try these. If they don't work, then re-installing Win98/98SE might be the only way to solve the problem.
First though, here are steps I use to keep 98SE running smoothly.

Registry Repair should be done whenever there are problems:

To Repair the Registery:
Turn off the computer; or reboot; then immediately press F8, (or, could be F5) located on top of the keyboard. Keep it press down until an options window comes up, then release it.
(If F8 or F5 doesn't work, then re-boot, and immediately press down the CTRL key, hold down until it comes up to the options screen).
Use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select "Command Prompt Only".
Press Enter
You will now see C:>
Type in SCANREG /FIX (there is a space between the G and the / ).
You will now see C:>SCANREG /FIX
Press Enter
This will take about 5 minutes or so.
When finished, press Enter for OK.
Manually, turn off the computer, wait a few seconds, the turn it back on.
If you don't have the "Command Prompt Only" option, then re-boot the computer normally.
Go to Start/ShutDown, then choose "restart in ms-dos mode".
It will come up to C:\windows.
Type in CD C:\
It will look like C:>windows CD C:\
Press Enter.
It will then be at the C:> prompt.
Then type in SCANREG /FIX
Press Enter
When it returns to the C:> prompt, then manually turn off the computer, and turn it back on.

Win98/98SE Regular Maintenance
All of these should be run whenever Win98/98SE starts giving problems. It will keep the computer running smoothly.

Before doing any of the following; turn off wallpaper and screensavers before re-starting or re-booting the computer.

Safe Mode is best where indicated, because most programs are not running meaning their files are closed, or not in use. This allows them to be scanned much better, repaired, or defragged better.

1. Scandisk
Start in Safe Mode by:
Re-boot the computer, and immediately after starting up, Press and hold down, F8, at top of keypad.
When the options show on the screen, use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select
"Safe Mode".
Press Enter
After it boots to Safe Mode, go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools, and click on Scandisk.
(It is faster if set on "Standard", the "Thorough" usually is not needed and takes a long, long time).
Click on "Start" and let it run until finished.

2. Defrag
When Scandisk is finished, click on "Close".
Now, go back to the same place, but this time, click on "Defrag".
Click on OK, and wait until it finishes (might take 1 hour if not done within a month).
After it finishes, Click on OK or whatever.
Then, re-boot.

All the re-booting is the best way to do it, since 98/98SE needs a re-boot to be completely sure all the configurations have taken effect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottGem

The problems you are experiencing are really hard to diagnose remotely. It sounds like motherboard problems. You would probably be best served taking it to a shop to diagnose.

What I did was took the cd-rom out,the floppy .cd burner out and tried to boot up. But nothing. Then I took out the old memory and put in a new one. Still nothing, the compuer wants to run, the power is there. But the light goes off on the keyboard and the monitor. Then I would put the floppy back and cd -rom and try to boot it up, nothing,, then I shut down everything and pull the jumper out and reset it. And nothing,, in the mean time, nothing would be hook up and the next day I would boot it up and wow I git into setup. When trying to fix the bios in setup. It locks up on me and can't do anything, I know the cr-rom works ,the floppy. And the hard drive, I put them in another computer and all is fine there,and the memory.
Thank you joeann

Hi,
I agree with taking the computer to a local computer repair shop/store. Ask what they would charge to fix it, or diagnose the problem.
It would be much faster than continuing to try finding the problem.

Try re-seating the CPU. Be careful to ground yourself first by touching the bare metal of the case. Remove the CPU fan and then lift the lever to remove the cpu. Replace both CPU and fan - ensure the fan is properly connected to the power connector on the motherboard and try again. Also remove everything but the Power, Ram CPU & CPU fan and try again.

I don't disagree with taking the machine to a shop but it sounds to me like you really want to fix this yourself. The only other question I have is what started these problems?

The fact that sometimes you get nothing and sometimes you get the CMOS setup, suggests that there might be a dust, heat or humidity issue. Reseating the CPU might help. But I would be more inclined to replace the motherboard.

P.S. I see Fred's trying to build his Rep Power again.