When PC is turned on, fans stay at max speed, no beep, no display

[Elliot B.]

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?

[Art_X]

Check the bios settings, sometimes there are settings there for fans

[Detection]

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

[Elliot B.]

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.

[seta-san]

did you check the heat sinks? are they clogged with dust?

[Detection]

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

[Hum]

bad PSU ?

[Art_X]

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

[Guth]

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.

[Elliot B.]

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!

[Detection]

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

[Elliot B.]

This is a PCI-E video card, right?

If so, which one?:

• PCI Express ?1
  
• PCI Express ?4
  
• PCI Express ?16
  

[Detection]

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

[Elliot B.]

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.

[Detection]

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

[Elliot B.]

Well spotted, mate!

Turns out two have popped:

We'll pick up 2x 6.3V/1500uF capacitors tomorrow :)

[Detection]

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

[The Teej]

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:

[shockz]

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.

[Hum]

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 ... ?

[Detection]

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

[Elliot B.]

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".

[Hum]

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.

[Elliot B.]

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.

[Arkos Reed]

7 years? Right when chinese companies flooded the market with faulty capacitors based on a stolen electrolyte formula, look no further.