Help me - my computer is dead

**slimboyfat** · 31-03-2007, 05:58 PM

yes i have also invalidated my warranty.

but what can you do when they dont put enough RAM in these off the shelf PCs?

I hope ACER will be sympathetic.

i have spent all today taking the bastard apart, swapping bits with the other PC and I now also think it must be something wrong with the motherboard.......

i'll get the ACER dude to come around next week because i havent the first clue about replacing motherboards

**Frankenstein** · 31-03-2007, 06:39 PM

Motherboard - the large circuit board that forms the base for a computer (hence 'mother'). If you open up a standard desktop computer of the tower type (higher sides than base), the motherboard is the largest circuit board inside.

Some modules are included in the motherboard - typically motherboards will have onboard sound modules. Others are connected to it by various types of connectors. The RAM sticks clip to long slots on the motherboard. The hard disks are boxes mounted separately from the motherboard, but connected to it by cables. A video/graphics card is usually bought separately and screwed to the case and clipped into a slot on the motherboard.

All parts in the computer receive electricity from the power supply. The back of the power supply is where you connect the power cable from the wall outlet. Inside the computer, at the front of the power supply extends a bundle of cables. These are connected to various parts of the computer to give them electricity, transformed to the right specs inside the power supply.

**phunphin** · 31-03-2007, 09:46 PM

Yes sounds like a motherboard or bad ram, you didn't mention any beeping at start up, this would indicate most faults ie. memory, display or bios.
if you do take it in for a new mainboard make sure they transplant your old components (unless you what a complete new setup).
But before you waste money unplug all your power cables and remove memory cards and the CPU if possible (this sometimes fixes tricky bios faults)..Don't worry about stactic discharge as the thai's never do.

**Thetyim** · 31-03-2007, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by phunphin

remove memory cards and the CPU

Can if you like but socket 775 CPU can be a bitch

**Curious George** · 01-04-2007, 12:14 AM

Let me add my 2 (or 3) cents, for what it's worth.

"Award Bootblock Bios v1.0 copyright (c) 2000 Award software inc" sign-on is good. It means that the BIOS is being read.

"BIOS ROM Checksum error" is not good! It indicates that the 'battery backed memory' of the BIOS configuration does not match the stored configuration. The computer's motherboard has a battery (either fixed or rechargeable) used to hold the BIOS configuration. If the configuration is lost, usually due to a bad battery backup, it is possible to get a checksum error. The batteries are usually guaranteed to last 3-5 years.

Every computer BIOS has an entry point where it can be (re)configured. With most desktops, and some laptops, immediately upon boot-up, a message at the lower lefthand portion of the screen will give the 'hotkey' access to the BIOS setup. Most often this is either the "Del" or "F2" key. Once the BIOS setup has been accessed, all of the parameters need to be checked, making sure they match the layout of the computer. Once satisfied with all the settings, a SAVE now rewrites the memory configuration. That may solve the issue. If the above 'hotkeys' mentioned do not work, the motherboard manual needs to be referenced for BIOS setup access.

Now let me tell you what I think has happened, since I've seen it too often to recount. While your kids were surfing the 'Net', they got to a place that allowed them to download (unknowingly) a trojan that trashed the Master Boot Record (MBR) on your harddrive. I had "Official Updates From Microsoft" do it to me on two computers with completely different updates. Malicious or not, I ended up with two nonworking computers with trashed primary MBRs.

You have a possibility of recovering from a primary MBR trashing, but it is too complex to detail here. The fact that the drive is readable on another computer is very good, since all of the accumulated data can be saved and re-established onto a new installation of the Operating Sytem, and reinstalled applications. This is time lost, but thankfully not data.

**slimboyfat** · 01-04-2007, 10:36 AM

is there a good way to boot from my harddisk which i have placed in my old computer so that it accesses windows and other programmes etc just like it did on my fucked pc.

i have tried but it gets to the log-in screen but then my mouse and keyboard arent functioning so i cant get any further - even in SAFE MODE.

note to self : March is an unlucky month for all types of windows

**lom** · 01-04-2007, 11:23 AM

^ Don't do it ! Your old computer is different hardware wise and need a different set of driver software. The chance is that you mess it up so much that you can't boot on it when the broken one is repaired.

**man with no head** · 01-04-2007, 04:17 PM

If the motherboards' chipsets are similar (Intel and Intel or VIA and VIA) then it's usually not a problem.

**man with no head** · 01-04-2007, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by William

^as part of your "explanation", can you include an explanation of wtf a "motherboard" is? It sounds like you lot are talking about spaceships

The big green thing in the photo here is the motherboard. It is what all components inside your computer must attach to in order to make a computer a 'computer.'

Greens for the posters who can name the other visible parts correctly

**Thetyim** · 01-04-2007, 04:25 PM

Fan. Round whirly thing in the middle

**William** · 01-04-2007, 05:18 PM

wires, of rainbow colors

**slimboyfat** · 01-04-2007, 07:13 PM

top left - $5 and power supply unit

top right - CD ROM
right centre - Hard disk (2)

**Thetyim** · 01-04-2007, 07:35 PM

Tin bit around the outside- case

**slimboyfat** · 01-04-2007, 07:44 PM

to the right of the fan is the RAM things.

underneath the fan should be the processor.

below fan in the pic there should be a graphics and sound card but i am not seeing them

see i hardly knew any of this until this weekend.

and to the bottom right i think that is some kind of grill/oven

**ChiangMai noon** · 01-04-2007, 08:19 PM

my computer is also about to die.
I know this and the computer knows this.
I wish we could just get along.

My boot is slower.
It has gone beep several times lately.
it took an age for the welcome sign to disappear.
It's fukked and i'm bored with it.
I am going to kick it.
It's a kunt.

**Wallalai** · 01-04-2007, 09:46 PM

The small red flat cable is the SATA connector. The "old" IDE connectors are mostly grey and ~5cm wide.

**man with no head** · 02-04-2007, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

my computer is also about to die.
I know this and the computer knows this.
I wish we could just get along.

My boot is slower.
It has gone beep several times lately.
it took an age for the welcome sign to disappear.
It's fukked and i'm bored with it.
I am going to kick it.
It's a kunt.

Are you talking about a computer or a lady?

**dirtydog** · 02-04-2007, 02:32 AM

I think that a good kick in soon lets your pc know who is the boss, and they aint gonna friggin work if they think they are the boss, so if your pc has problems or an attitude, bring it to dirtydogs GENTLE pc clinic, if we cant beat the poxy thing into submission we will give you a free great big club hammer to help sort out your pc problems.

**corvettelover** · 02-04-2007, 08:19 AM

silmboy fat

yous said you had a coninous beep from start to finish
this indicares your fan on top of the CPU is faulty and over heating the cpu.
open side case and look for two wires runniing to a small fan located on top of a metal heatsink on the main pcb check when you boot up if it is spinning this is the fan that cools the CPU (central processor unit).The fins of this heatsink become clogged with dirt and fluff and cause overheating.And kill the fan.
never open a pc unless the power cord is removed from a PC. because if you remove anyPCBS or the RAM stick you can dammage the RAM.
The little fan is held on with 4 screws and can be replaced easily.
The heatsink can be removed as well for cleaning but requires some sil gel to be wiped back on the base before replacing (white goo).
Sugest removing all the small boards out of the PCI slots (white plastic adaptors on main pcb) dont remove the video card you need this to run your screen. The video catd might be in the brown/black adaptor at the top (APG SLOT)APG card.
Boot Pc hold F2 or delete key to boot to bios config Go in to bios and set to default settings on cosmos settings and bios settings this will reset original bios back . look for save normally F10 then save and hit ok Pc will then reeboot.
If still fail to reboot unplug Pc and remove one of your sticks of ram (long Green stick with black intergrated chips on it.Located up the top of motherboard in white sockets. careful only touch the ends with thumb and forefinger.Note the Ram stick has a slot in it which marries up with the corresponding slot in the white socket.if still not working unplug cord replace ram and remove other stick.
If this opens the pc unplug and replace all removed boards
A lot of problems with desktops is dirt sucked in and deposited on the cpu heatsink. this will cause crashes. Solution keep box up off floor or on bricks. and clean with brush every 12 months espically the exit fan vents which will close over fom dust in time.
let me know how you go

**lom** · 02-04-2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by corvettelover

Boot Pc hold F2 or delete key to boot to bios config

His motherboard does not recognize the keyboard

**slimboyfat** · 02-04-2007, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by corvettelover

silmboy fat

The heatsink can be removed as well for cleaning but requires some sil gel to be wiped back on the base before replacing (white goo).

i dont have any sil gel. Will any white goo do? I have my own supply

seriously though, thanks for the advice but i have given up and will hand the job over to a technician.

**corvettelover** · 02-04-2007, 05:42 PM

reseting the bios should fix the key board issue along with default settings
just put a drop of cooking oil on top of the old siloica gel left on the heatsink it will refesh it.dont want you using your supply of white goo to messy

**man with no head** · 03-04-2007, 06:23 AM

Keyboard ports are hard-wired. The BIOS has nothing to do with that.

If the PS/2 port is fried and USB legacy support was not enabled in the BIOS prior to this situation then he's basically screwed unless he buys a PCI USB card and installs it. At least then Windows should recognize a USB keyboard.

**kingwilly** · 03-04-2007, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by slimboyfat

Originally Posted by corvettelover

silmboy fat

The heatsink can be removed as well for cleaning but requires some sil gel to be wiped back on the base before replacing (white goo).

i dont have any sil gel. Will any white goo do? I have my own supply

seriously though, thanks for the advice but i have given up and will hand the job over to a technician.

i think greens to anyone who tried helping u are in order......

**slimboyfat** · 03-04-2007, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by kingwillyhggtb

i think greens to anyone who tried helping u are in order......

actually i was going to give a cheque to each person but i like your idea better.

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