pc troubleshooting help

[durendal]

hi all. I think we need a new subsection for the "techie" stuff since no debate is involved here. Not to mention that we have no section dedicated to seeking help. Asking technical help from a debate section doesn't seem to be appropriate.

Anyway, i'm really stumped. My pc is shot and i'm trying to fix it without having to replace everything, because its an old model (p4 dual core bought on 2007). I first tested the memory and it failed so i bought a new ram (1gb ddr2 667). It detects the ram now when it boots up, but it won't get past the boot screen. Cmos checksum fail appears so i changed the cmos battery. No effect. Removed all peripherals and still no good. I'm starting to give up since i don't know if my board, processor or both is broken.

Perhaps you pc gurus could help me out. I could try to research this over the net, but using my phone to do that isn't exactly easy. Heck, posting this is already a pain.

Thanks in advance.

[*Jess♥]

the only thing I can think of is maybe you put too much memory in? or the motherboard doesn't support the type of memory or speed of memory?

about the place where this would be appropriate? perhaps in the general discussion forum.

I don't think we get enough technical problems to justify a subforum for it.

[durendal]

the only thing I can think of is maybe you put too much memory in? or the motherboard doesn't support the type of memory or speed of memory?

about the place where this would be appropriate? perhaps in the general discussion forum.

I don't think we get enough technical problems to justify a subforum for it.

Ah thanks. May i request this be moved to the gen sec please. Or should this remain here? Come to think of it, i seem to be the only one asking for technical advise.

Moving on, the ram i bought was kinda old model. I would have gotten 2gb but my board spec can only accomodate 1gb. If my ram is not compatible, i wouldn't made it up to the boot up screen. I'm really at a loss at what to do as i really don't want to shell out for the whole thing.

[durendal]

Or perhaps you guys think that I should just give up and buy a new board and processor? Then I'd have to buy a new casing and power supply. *sigh* I'm really depressed now.

[*Jess♥]

i copied this

Explanation: A checksum is an error-detecting code containing a numerical verification used to compare the BIOS settings stored in the CMOS memory. Each time the system is started this number is recomputed and checked against the stored value. If they do not match, an error message is generated to tell you that the CMOS memory contents may have been corrupted and therefore some settings may be wrong. BIOS's react in different ways when encountering this type of error. Some will warn the user and then continue on with whatever settings were in the CMOS. Others will assume that the settings that were in the CMOS were corrupted and will load default values stored in the BIOS chip by the manufacturer as a safety measure. Others will correct the settings and proceed through the boot process. The error message will indicate to you what your system is doing.

Diagnosis: The most common cause of checksum errors in CMOS is a battery that is losing power. Viruses can also affect CMOS settings, and motherboard problems can also affect the stored values.

Recommendation: You should make sure that all of the BIOS settings in the system are correct, by rebooting the system, going into BIOS setup and double-checking all the values.

* Replace the CMOS battery on the motherboard.

* Scan your system for viruses.

* Look for other signs of motherboard problems.

* Check your computers power supply to insure that it is being properly cooled and it is providing the correct voltages.

from here - http://www.dewassoc.com/support/bios/boot_process_errors.htm

I wonder if this can help solve your problem.

[durendal]

Thanks. yes I have tried that, actually. Already changed the CMOS battery to no avail. I have no idea how to scan for viruses since it won't let me get past the POST screen. And I'm sure the CMOS is stored in the ROM so the only way you can infect this with a virus is if you flash it, which I have never done. I'm still contemplating if my motherboard has problems. I can't remember if there was a beep when I started up, as these beep will automatically tell me what's wrong with the PC (normal is 1 beep). I have also checked the temperature of the board and its around 41 degrees upon cold booting and around 50 degrees on warm boot. I guess I'll have to try one more time tonight to see if I can isolate the problem. If not, then, I guess it's really time to let go.

[durendal]

tried thinkering with it again and this time its worst. It hangs even when i enter bios. I guess my mobo is toast. Huhuhu....

[*Jess♥]

ah yes it sounds that way.

maybe your old memory was ok...

[durendal]

I would wish that. But I also tested the memory and it was really broken. Failed the memtest 86. I guess keeping my PC open for 24/7 has already reached its limits. *sigh* I'll be days for me without a PC. I might go into a withdrawal.

[*Jess♥]

I know what you mean.

life without a pc is so difficult these days.

[durendal]

I just thought about something. Do I need to change my power supply? I'm currently using a generic PSU, and is it possible that it is because of the generic PSU that my board keeps failing? I did not realize that a good PSU would cost so much. A friend of mine also mentioned that generic PSU have the wattage over stated, so when it says 500W it's actually only 350W. What are you're experiences with regards to this?

[*Jess♥]

if you've changed the memory alone, it shouldn't really change the power requirement.

it should only cause a issue if you upgraded to a power hungry component like a grfx card

[durendal]

Yes I know. What I meant is that having a generic PSU (which has a lower output) will chronically damage your system. You won't detect it at first, but you'll only find out when some of your components have gone bad. Like why my board shorted out. Of all my PC, I've only encountered 2 PSU that have gone bad. Versus roughly 8 or 9 damaged boards. I've even read from somewhere that the most prioritized part of a PC is the power supply, since most people underrate the PSU. The PSU may still function, but the constant flunctuation will really damage the board. Voltage in the wall outlets have constant flunctuations, which is why an AVR is at least needed, and I plug my PC into a UPS, so I'm not sure if the fluctuations are caused by the wall outlet or the PSU itself.

[*Jess♥]

Oh right, I see, well I don't know much about faulty PSU causing problems with other components. I thought that if there was not enough power it just wouldn't work. and i thought that the motherboard would do all the power management etc.

i did a search for PSU problems.

I found the following article-

One component in your computer can cause so many problems and if not replaced can actually cause other components to fail. Your computers power supply can cause a lot of problems for you when its starting to fail. In this article I discuss in depth the power supply and how, if

malfunctioning, can eventually damage your computer.

Noises

Unusual noises coming from your power supply can mean several things. It is either starting to fail, dirty, or both. A can of compressed air can tell you if the problem is the power supply being dirty or its actually failing. You can get a can of compressed air at Radio Shack for under $7. You should always have a can on hand to blow out your computers every so often. If after you have blown out your computer and you still have noise coming from your power supply than purchase a new one. They are not expensive and even though your computer is working great a noisy power supply is a warning that it is on its way out.

Voltage and cooling

Power supplies do more than just power your computer and help cool it. They provide accurate voltages needed for each component. When they begin to fail they can allow too much voltage or not enough. This will result in other components being damaged. You could damage your motherboard and other boards. It can also damage any of your drives which would cost you more money. Your computer over time will lock up and may even overheat to a point it will not boot any longer. Power supplies must provide proper voltages for all components or they will not work properly and will fail over time.

Fan

If you can put your finger on your fan and halt it than replace the power supply immediately. If your fan stops functioning all together do not turn your computer on until the power supply has been replaced you would risk blowing other boards. If your fan has noise coming from it replace it as soon as possible. A noisy fan is as almost as bad as having a non-working fan. I cannot stress this enough DO NOT OPERATE YOUR COMPUTER WITH A NON-WORKING FAN. If you do you may cause serious damage to your computer and its boards.

Replacement power supplies

Most of the replacement power supplies today are better than the original some will have dual fans and run very quiet. This is good cause you will be able to tell when they begin to malfunction. If you replace yours with higher wattage power supply thats okay as long as the unit is

recommended for your system. Your computer manufacturer will make some suggestions on good replacements you can buy. You can get better deals however from buying it from some other vendors. Some of the computer manufacturers prices are higher than the computer outlet places on the Internet. It pays to shop around and look for good deals. Also, make sure you check their policies on returns and warranties so there are no surprises.

This is very important information so that you get the most value out of your computer hardware. Its better to be informed so your not sorry.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/306446/malfunctioning_power_supply_can_cause_pg2_pg2.html?cat=6

[durendal]

Thanks for this. I did hear some noise in my PSU, but it was way hella dirty. Tried cleaning it up with a vaccum and the noise disappeared for a time. I still haven't checked on it since I have not operated my PC due to lack of components. (I need a new SATA drive, both my HDD are IDE and I have 2 optical drives, and new board will only provide 1 IDE slot.) Dammit, I'm thinking now I need a new PSU. Grr.... the longer it takes for me to fix my PC the more it costs me.

[durendal]

I'm finally back and thankfully everything is working in order. Although I still need to re-install a lot of stuff. But basically I now have a working PC.

But that's not the end of my problems yet. I still need to fix the second PC in the house. Already changed the motherboard and I'm currently stumped. PC won't boot, or even get to the POST screen. I hope it's only the RAM. I only bought a new motherboard for this and used the same processor. I can't hear any beeps because the board doesn't have an onboard speaker and my casing doesn't have a speaker. This will be very irritating.

[*Jess♥]

i'm glad you got it all sorted. good luck with the other one

[durendal]

Ok, reviving this old topic because I'm very pissed, tired and stressed at the moment. This is also a way for me to vent out my frustrations caused by other factors. And when my second PC broke last night with the accumulation of all the negative emotions yesterday, I started to feel depressed.

Background:

Just to up date you guys, I managed to fix my second PC. Was working fine and dandy, after last night! I did not know what exactly happened because I wasn't the one using the PC when the error occured. Prior to it going wonkers, I iinstalled an epson stylus c45 printer, was working fine then. (since I can't find the CD installer I had to download it off the net). The next day I get a call from home that said PC has gone bad. So I said I will check it out after I get home.

Nature of the problem:

Well, at first it didn't quite boot, just hangs and displays error loading operating system. So I tinkered with the loose connections and now I boot to the windows loading screen. Only it doesn't load windows, it gives me a freakiing BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH! At first it was a stop code 000021a, with a f 0xc00000135 error. Same thing when I try to choose "last configuration that worked", "safemode" and "safemode with command prompt". Okay, not good. So I decided to repair my windows installation even if it means I will have to reconfigure every software that I've installed. And yet again to no avail. This time the BSOD still gives me the stop code 000021a with error or f 0c00000080. Even tried the recovery console, but still to no avail. I'm depressed so I stoped working on it.

Facking epson driver. (Sorry about the language, I'm just really, really pissed-pissed)

[*V Guyver]

well, it seems you had a driver related crash. However, it was a critical one. Also if you have a videocard on that PC, it will likely crash your windows OS due to driver problems too. Believe me, it took me a good 2 weeks to finnaly sort out all the problems on my custom made PC, and as it turned out, the biggest problems came to drivers. This was not more then 3 months ago.

As for the boot problems, your PC came with a BIOS motherboard guide. When loading it, set it up to default settings. It should help with the loading of windows. If not you can always reinstall windows. Don't worry, the more recent versions such as Windows 7 will create a new partition on your drive, thus avoiding the deletion of your old files.

For me to really help (and anyone else with tech skill for that matter.) I would like a list of your PC's scematics and operating system data. That way I can have a better idea as to what I should troubleshoot.

[durendal]

Hmm... let's see

I got an Intel Pentium Dual Core CPU

an EMAXX Intel G31 motherboard,

a wireless Lancard,

512mb RAM,

a 250GB HDD,

and a DVD-rom.

No video card, no audio card, all built-in from the MB.

Running on Windows XP SP 2.

It's really a basic setup. Even the monitor is only a 17" CRT.

[Guest Deka-RyuRanger-Red]

my pc is knackered, has been for a while. to the effect that i havent had my own pc since last august. been using the girlfriends laptop ever since.

[*V Guyver]

hmm, so no card or anything? Then that means it's probably not a driver, unless you recently installed someting. Did you install a new software into the sytem?

[durendal]

Yes, I installed a Printer. Like I said, it's the fricking Epson printer driver. PC gone nuts after I installed the printer.

[*V Guyver]

Aside from that printer there was nothing else? Now I do know that drivers when installed to the PC from certain products or even software do cause these type of problems. So I was expecting the possibility of another program having been introduced as well. Since that isn't the case then try the following.

Before we do the following, check and see if you have a valid warranty, if you do then it may be simpler to just send it to the company to get it repaired for free. Anyways.. moving along.

Make sure printer is disconnected from PC. Sometimes even if the driver is removed, the PC will automatically try to redownload it with each boot, thus causing the problem again.

Now if you still can't turn on your PC without the bluescreen of death, then try to go into your bios and load up the default settings.

If that still doesn't work, to get your PC running again, try using a boot CD or boot USB. If you have neither, then you may have trouble starting up the PC otherwise.

If that is the case, then you should stick in the motherboard or operating system instillation disk. If you are lucky enough to have a version with a "boot from" feature then you can finally get your pc running again and take care of a things.

This last one is a last resort, and only should be done if you really see no other way.

If that fails then you can try reinstalling your windows. When doing create a new partition, thus saving your old valuable files. Later you can delete the old partition after you've moved your files to the new one.

Some after thoughts on the matter.

Just so you know, you could take this pc to a repair shop, but chances are they will just pop in disk warrior and repair it without actually doing any work and charging you a hundred bucks or more. If none of the above worked, then you may be better off just buying disk warrior yourself and using it on your PC. It's supposedly the one tool every repair shop uses when a PC is really bugged up, and practically everyone in geeksquad uses it from what I've been told.

Also if any of the above do work, please do not install that printer onto your system until you go to the website of the product and download the updated driver for that product. Install it before you install the printer, just make sure the site has it listed for your operating system.

[*Jess♥]

some printer driver say that the antivirus does not like it.

not sure why.

why must printer driver be so invasive?

well you could connect your hard drive up to your other computer and browse it i that way. not sure if you could troubleshoot the operating system on it that way. but you could save the files and then format the disk.