Elliot B. Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Trying to repair an uncle's PC (Athlon 64 3200+, 512 MB RAM, Windows XP). When the machine is switched on, the system and CPU fans speed at their maximum level constantly until I keep the power button pressed to switch the system off. There are no beeps, and there is no display. I believe the fan's maxing out is normal, but only for a second or two, before normal POST/boot resumes. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art_X Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Check the bios settings, sometimes there are settings there for fans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Could be a few things, try each stick of RAM on its own Remove the graphics card if there is one and use onboard (if it has one) Could be the motherboard Reset the CMOS by removing the battery for 30 seconds neo1911 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 Check the bios settings, sometimes there are settings there for fans You missed the part when I said "no display" :p Could be a few things, try each stick of RAM on its own Remove the graphics card if there is one and use onboard (if it has one) Could be the motherboard Reset the CMOS by removing the battery for 30 seconds Only one RAM stick. I'll try the other things now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seta-san Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 did you check the heat sinks? are they clogged with dust? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Only one RAM stick. I'll try the other things now. Try that stick of RAM in different slots too, if you have any spare RAM, try that instead neo1911 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 bad PSU ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art_X Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 You missed the part when I said "no display" :p Only one RAM stick. I'll try the other things now. Indeed I did :blush: , Detections ideas should be the next course, sounds like an old AMD i had, CMOS battery was dying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guth Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 sorry OP this is a little off topic but I always wondered why some PCs do that full speed fan thing for a few seconds on power up. all 3 of my PC's have been self builds and they haven't done that, but my mum and dads computers are bought and they both do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 As soon as I take the NVIDIA GeForce 6600 out, the fans only spin fast for one second. However, I can't confirm it's the video card at fault since I can't get anything onto the display! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 As soon as I take the NVIDIA GeForce 6600 out, the fans only spin fast for one second. However, I can't confirm it's the video card at fault since I can't get anything onto the display! Sounds like that's your culprit If you have speakers, plug them into the machine, let it boot up and see if you hear XP startup sounds HDD activity light should give up its secrets if its booting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 This is a PCI-E video card, right? If so, which one?: PCI Express ?1 PCI Express ?4 PCI Express ?16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 This is a PCI-E video card, right? If so, which one?: PCI Express ?1 PCI Express ?4 PCI Express ?16 PCI-E yep, x16 if the board supports it, x8 if not I would imagine but you could test with any other PCI-E card so long as the PSU has the appropriate power adapter for it / or it doesn't need a power supply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 PCI-E yep, x16 if the board supports it, x8 if not I would imagine but you could test with any other PCI-E card so long as the PSU has the appropriate power adapter for it / or it doesn't need a power supply Unfortunately, I have no way to plug speakers into the machine. The HDD doesn't sound like it's doing much from what I can tell/hear. His current video card doesn't need any power adapters from the PSU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Unfortunately, I have no way to plug speakers into the machine. The HDD doesn't sound like it's doing much from what I can tell/hear. Unless this is dust, it looks like this cap has popped Possible because of so many failed boots, its stuck on some safe mode / repair screen, or can't boot at all His current video card doesn't need any power adapters from the PSU. Yea, I meant if you had another card to test in his machine, or were you going to test that one in your machine ? Either would work -- From a closer look I'd say this was definitely the problem, or at least one of them, maybe could be repaired if you can solder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 Well spotted, mate! Turns out two have popped: We'll pick up 2x 6.3V/1500uF capacitors tomorrow :) Detection 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Well spotted, mate! Turns out two have popped: We'll pick up 2x 6.3V/1500uF capacitors tomorrow :) Ah yes, you can see it much better in that photo :) Good luck, be interested to hear if you manage to repair it Guth 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Teej Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 From a closer look I'd say this was definitely the problem, or at least one of them, maybe could be repaired if you can solder Holy moly, what a good spot! I didn't even notice that when I looked at that :laugh: Detection, Elliot B. and neo1911 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shockz Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Sounds like that's your culprit If you have speakers, plug them into the machine, let it boot up and see if you hear XP startup sounds HDD activity light should give up its secrets if its booting Most systems don't post unless there is a video card running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Well spotted, mate! Turns out two have popped: We'll pick up 2x 6.3V/1500uF capacitors tomorrow :) So what led to this ? Overclocking ? Overheating ? Just a bad video card ... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 Most systems don't post unless there is a video card running. Good point, mine will POST without a GPU, but if I have a dead GPU installed it refuses to POST at all, as I found out a few weeks back So what led to this ? Overclocking ? Overheating ? Just a bad video card ... ? Just old CAPs, they all die eventually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 So what led to this ? Overclocking ? Overheating ? Just a bad video card ... ? My uncle had this system for 7 years and he is a technology novice, so I doubt it's an overclocked GPU. Overheating is a possibility, but the inside of the PC looks very clean and dust-free. Also, this PC has only been used a few times each month since it was bought. Still, could just be "wear and tear". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hum Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I've never had a video card burn out, so I was curious. Then again, I don't think I've used the same video card for more than about 3 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliot B. Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 I've never had a video card burn out, so I was curious. Then again, I don't think I've used the same video card for more than about 3 years. I was surprised this was a PCI-E video card, considering the age of the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkos Reed Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 7 years? Right when chinese companies flooded the market with faulty capacitors based on a stolen electrolyte formula, look no further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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