Please help with dead system

I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
motherboards for this cpu.

Chris
If life seems jolly rotten
There's spmething you've forgotten
and thats to laugh and smile and dance and sing!

>I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
> on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
> disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
> happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
> completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
> Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
> I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
> waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
> motherboards for this cpu.

It's pretty rare for a CPU to fail like that. It's more likely a
motherboard
or power supply issue. Can you borrow a power supply to try?

---
KC COMPUTERS www.kc-computers.com
Internet computer dealer since 1991!!! See customer ratings at:
http://www.resellerratings.com/topstores.pl

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:48:53 GMT, Chris
<> wrote:

>I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
>on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
>disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
>happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
>completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
>Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
>I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
>waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
>motherboards for this cpu.

Standard process here is to try to isolate the issue. The problem
sounds like you have an electrical short somewhere in your system,
which means it could be ANY component.

First, pull out ALL unnecessary components, ie any PCI cards, anything
connected to USB, keyboard, mouse, external speakers, hard drives,
floppy, etc. etc. Basically you want to be left with nothing other
than your motherboard, CPU and power supply. At the very least this
should give you some beep complaining about the lack of memory.

If you get nothing at that point, then at least you've narrowed it
down to three parts, CPU, power supply and motherboard. Now, at this
point there are only two options. First is to physically inspect the
parts to see if there is an obvious proble. Most important here is to
check the capacitors on the motherboard to see if they are bulging,
leaking or just otherwise looking ugly. Given the approximate age of
your system, I would give it about a 75% or higher probability that
this is where you problem is.

Now, if a visual inspection doesn't bring up anything obvious, the
second option is to swap parts. Of course, this requires compatible
replacement parts in order to test things, so hopefully you've got a
similar spare PC lying about and/or have a friend that does. Swap
parts out one at a time to try to isolate the issue, then replace the
defective part.
----------------------------
Tony Hill
hilla <underscore> 20 <at> yahoo <dot> ca

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc Chris <> wrote:
> I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
> on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
> disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
> happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
> completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
> Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
> I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
> waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
> motherboards for this cpu.

If the HDD starts, then both +5V and +12V from the PSU is
reasonably good. HDDs have bad power detectors so they can
decide when to spin-up and spin-down.

One way you could get your symptoms is if the reset line
(called power-good) from the PSU is failing. HDDs atsrt on
their own. The way to test for this is with a different
PSU.

If the CPU is broken, you should get the according
beep code (or POST code, if your mainboard has a POST display).
However if it is partially broken, that may not work....

One thing you may try is removing the CPU and see whether you
get beep codes. If you do not, then the mainboard is likely
broken. This does not matter a lot, since you cannot get
CPUs or mainboards from that generation anymore anyways.

But first, remove everything, except CPU, RAM and video card.
See wheter it still does not start. Then test with a different
PSU. Then you can try the CPU removal experiment.

Arno

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:48:53 GMT, Chris
<> wrote:

>I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
>on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
>disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
>happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
>completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
>Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
>I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
>waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
>motherboards for this cpu.

Sounds about the right time frame for the capacitor problem - check the
capacitors, especially the cluster near the CPU, for doming of the top and
leakage around the base. See www.badcaps.com for examples.

--
Rgds, George Macdonald

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:45:56 -0500, Tony Hill
<> wrote:

>On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:48:53 GMT, Chris
><> wrote:
>
>>I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
>>on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
>>disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
>>happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
>>completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
>>Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
>>I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
>>waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
>>motherboards for this cpu.
>
>Standard process here is to try to isolate the issue. The problem
>sounds like you have an electrical short somewhere in your system,
>which means it could be ANY component.
>
>First, pull out ALL unnecessary components, ie any PCI cards, anything
>connected to USB, keyboard, mouse, external speakers, hard drives,
>floppy, etc. etc. Basically you want to be left with nothing other
>than your motherboard, CPU and power supply. At the very least this
>should give you some beep complaining about the lack of memory.
>
>If you get nothing at that point, then at least you've narrowed it
>down to three parts, CPU, power supply and motherboard. Now, at this
>point there are only two options. First is to physically inspect the
>parts to see if there is an obvious proble. Most important here is to
>check the capacitors on the motherboard to see if they are bulging,
>leaking or just otherwise looking ugly. Given the approximate age of
>your system, I would give it about a 75% or higher probability that
>this is where you problem is.
>
>Now, if a visual inspection doesn't bring up anything obvious, the
>second option is to swap parts. Of course, this requires compatible
>replacement parts in order to test things, so hopefully you've got a
>similar spare PC lying about and/or have a friend that does. Swap
>parts out one at a time to try to isolate the issue, then replace the
>defective part.
>----------------------------
>Tony Hill
>hilla <underscore> 20 <at> yahoo <dot> ca

Smell the power supply. If it smells like something is burned,
probably it is.

NNN

On 16 Nov 2006 00:36:03 GMT, Arno Wagner <> put finger
to keyboard and composed:

>In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc Chris <> wrote:
>> I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
>> on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
>> disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
>> happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
>> completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
>> Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
>> I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
>> waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
>> motherboards for this cpu.
>
>If the HDD starts, then both +5V and +12V from the PSU is
>reasonably good. HDDs have bad power detectors so they can
>decide when to spin-up and spin-down.
>
>One way you could get your symptoms is if the reset line
>(called power-good) from the PSU is failing. HDDs atsrt on
>their own. The way to test for this is with a different
>PSU.
>
>If the CPU is broken, you should get the according
>beep code (or POST code, if your mainboard has a POST display).
>However if it is partially broken, that may not work....
>
>One thing you may try is removing the CPU and see whether you
>get beep codes. If you do not, then the mainboard is likely
>broken.

If the CPU is not present or is not working, then you will not get any
beep codes.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:45:56 -0500, Tony Hill
<> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:48:53 GMT, Chris
><> wrote:
>
>>I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
>>on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
>>disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
>>happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
>>completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
>>Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
>>I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
>>waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
>>motherboards for this cpu.
>
>Standard process here is to try to isolate the issue. The problem
>sounds like you have an electrical short somewhere in your system,

A short would shut down the PSU. Clearly this is not happening in the
OP's case.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc Franc Zabkar <> wrote:
> On 16 Nov 2006 00:36:03 GMT, Arno Wagner <> put finger
> to keyboard and composed:

>>In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc Chris <> wrote:
>>> I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
>>> on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
>>> disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
>>> happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
>>> completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
>>> Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
>>> I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
>>> waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
>>> motherboards for this cpu.
>>
>>If the HDD starts, then both +5V and +12V from the PSU is
>>reasonably good. HDDs have bad power detectors so they can
>>decide when to spin-up and spin-down.
>>
>>One way you could get your symptoms is if the reset line
>>(called power-good) from the PSU is failing. HDDs atsrt on
>>their own. The way to test for this is with a different
>>PSU.
>>
>>If the CPU is broken, you should get the according
>>beep code (or POST code, if your mainboard has a POST display).
>>However if it is partially broken, that may not work....
>>
>>One thing you may try is removing the CPU and see whether you
>>get beep codes. If you do not, then the mainboard is likely
>>broken.

> If the CPU is not present or is not working, then you will not get any
> beep codes.

That is wrong. The beep codes are produced by the keyboard
MCU and that will beep a "CPU not present" if it is not
contacted by the CPU after a certain time.

Arno

On 16 Nov 2006 15:02:04 GMT, Arno Wagner <> wrote:

>In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc Franc Zabkar <> wrote:
>> On 16 Nov 2006 00:36:03 GMT, Arno Wagner <> put finger
>> to keyboard and composed:
>
>>>In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc Chris <> wrote:
>>>> I have a pc AMD 2000+ (home built) that will not power on. It powers
>>>> on but no post, no beep codes just cpu fan, power supply fan and hard
>>>> disk comes on. I believe it;s the CPU because when the problem
>>>> happeed there was alot of dust across the top of the heat-sink
>>>> completely covering the top restricting flow of air to the heat-sink.
>>>> Since there are no beeps, no post, no video and the dirty heat sink,
>>>> I'm guessing the cpu. Can anyone offer any advice? I don't want to
>>>> waste money replacing the cpu and I have no known good cpu's or
>>>> motherboards for this cpu.
>>>
>>>If the HDD starts, then both +5V and +12V from the PSU is
>>>reasonably good. HDDs have bad power detectors so they can
>>>decide when to spin-up and spin-down.
>>>
>>>One way you could get your symptoms is if the reset line
>>>(called power-good) from the PSU is failing. HDDs atsrt on
>>>their own. The way to test for this is with a different
>>>PSU.
>>>
>>>If the CPU is broken, you should get the according
>>>beep code (or POST code, if your mainboard has a POST display).
>>>However if it is partially broken, that may not work....
>>>
>>>One thing you may try is removing the CPU and see whether you
>>>get beep codes. If you do not, then the mainboard is likely
>>>broken.
>
>> If the CPU is not present or is not working, then you will not get any
>> beep codes.
>
>That is wrong. The beep codes are produced by the keyboard
>MCU and that will beep a "CPU not present" if it is not
>contacted by the CPU after a certain time.
>
>Arno

Thanks for the replies so far... I have swapped the power supply for a
known good supply, removed all cards, usb cables ram etc... Still no
change. No beep codes and the CPU (heat sink) does not get warm at
all. I gave it a good visual inspection under a magnifying glass (I
am a pc technician) and there does not appear to be any problem with
the motherboard. CPU's are still available for this system, but I'm
not sure about MB's except maybe used... I have a post card but it's
ISA and the MB doesn't have any ISA slots. I can try to boot the
system with no cpu and see what happens. It's been very rare in my
experience for a cpu to go bad, in over 10 years I've only seen one
and it was a bad cache on a g3 chip, but at work I've always had known
good equipment and with this I don't and I am not working at the
moment. Any other ideas?

Chris
If life seems jolly rotten
There's spmething you've forgotten
and thats to laugh and smile and dance and sing!