computer help

[Punjistick]

I need some help from those that know a lot about computers. I have a computer that I built about 4 years ago that I was using as my school computer. It stopped working back around June I think.

Anyways here are the specs. It has a Gigabyte GA-81EXP mobo, P4 2.26 GHz socket 478 core cpu, (2) 1GB PC 2100 samsung memory, ATI Radeon 9800 AGP video card, and IBM Deskstar 40GB HDD. It had the latest BIOS version and stock settings, I.E. not overclocked.

The problem I am having is that there seems to be no video signal coming from the computer. I looked around and found out that the chipset fan had stopped spinning. I took it out and had another laying around so I slapped it on there, but there is still no video signal. The fan that I removed doesn't spin freely. The bearings must have siezed up and the fan must have burned out.

With the new fan installed, I was able to get the computer to boot to the windows login screen, but only once and the mouse and keyboard didn't work. Is the chipset fried? Any ideas?

[The Snowman]

I'd say it's new motherboard time.

Once you fry one of the soldered parts of the board, it'll never be the same. (unless you're an electronics wiz and can change that stuff.)

[richw]

I had to replace the bracket for the cpu cooling unit. The original was plastic and it broke so there was little/no pressure holding down the aluminum heat sink. I went to a local computer store and they had Metal brackets to hold the heat sink.

You also absolutely need the heat conductive paste a dollop smear on the cpu as you clamp the heat sink....nice squish.

Last thing get to the BIOS and at least try the safe settings to slow her down etc. Also vacuum her out with the brush attachment and blow or suck out the power supply.

Mine went from dead to happy and has been running fast and reliable since. Went back and is running the optimized bios setting.

[TheIglu]

Reseat everything. Processor, video card, ram, etc etc etc. If that doesn't do it, it's new MB time. No two ways about it.

[Rick Lee]

And those 478 sockets are being phazed out already. If your very quick you may be able to pick up a new one for like $50-$60, but don't wait long cause they are not being made anymore.

[bump909]

yep, and try finding a 478 socket mobo w/ PCI-E

[benVFR]

What are you doing with it?

If you think real life is more interesting then games just go get yourself a new $500 computer and be done with it. Lots of good stuff on the market, if you don't actually enjoy futzing with the computer just go buy a new one. It'll be faster then trying to piecemeal upgrade your old one.

[Punjistick]

Well I already have another AMD system (the one I'm using to type this moement) that I have built that will last me for another 4 years. All I really want is to get some school projects off of the other computer. I guess I could just pull the HDD and throw it in this computer. Anybody want any parts?

It kinda sucks that there is no alarm for the chipset fan speed on that mobo. I might have been able to turn the computer off before damage was done.

I'll keep trying it though since I was able to get it to boot that one time. Thanks for the help.

[benVFR]

Ah... definintely pull the drive and throw it in one of your other computers.

Even if you eventually fix this one you should take the drive out, put it in your other machine, and back it up just to be safe.

[ssg]

could always get a usb external enclosure and just leave it mounted that way to your new pc. Then donate the rest of the old one to your local sportsmens club.

[Punjistick]

I think I fixed the problem. I noticed that a jumper was missing from the CMOS battery pins. It explains why I wasn't able to use my USB keyboard and mouse the one time I got it to boot. The BIOS had reverted to default settings and thus USB support was turned off.

It looks as if the motherboard has a fail-safe to keep rebooting the system if the chipset temp gets too high in order to keep it from frying.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions anyways guys.