Well, my computer just randomly died a couple hours ago, and I have been trying to find out what the issue is, but to no avail.

When trying to boot it, it won't even attempt to start - The fan doesn't spin, nothing. However (and this is what is confusing me), when I remove all the memory sticks, the computer will do the beeping error noise, and the fans/harddrive will spin. So this makes me think that the psu isn't the issue.

Thinking that it could be the memory, I tried re-seating them one at a time, but as long as there is a single stick installed, the computer refuses to do anything.

So does anyone know what this could mean? I haven't installed any new hardware lately, so that shouldn't be a concern.

1 decade ago*

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How many ram slot do you have?

1 decade ago
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4 sticks of 1gb

1 decade ago
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try putting only one ram in every slot. and find what ram slot makes your pc freeze to boot-up.

1 decade ago
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Tried that already, and it seems to be occuring when any of the 4 sticks are installed, which is what is really confusing me. No way that all 4 died at once, is there?

1 decade ago
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Did you try a new memory?

1 decade ago
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I'd have to buy some first. The memory in the computer I'm using now is completely different (from 2001), so wouldn't work

1 decade ago
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Propably memories are burned to ashes

1 decade ago
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If it's a pc you bought and didn't build yourself, 9/10 times it's the PSU. Try if you want booting with a friend's ram stick but still those things can't randomly break down :P

1 decade ago
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Get a memory stick from another computer (removing the others), plug it into your motherboard and try to boot.

1 decade ago
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1 decade ago
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Specs. We need your system specs.

1 decade ago
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Dell XPS 710, 4gb ram, 1tb harddrive, dual 8800gtx, QX6700 processor

1 decade ago
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clean up 1 stick with an eraser and try again. Also clear CMOS before starting. Look for any "pregnant" capacitors on the mobo.

1 decade ago
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THE POWER OF THE ERASER :) haha old trick but definitely works fine :D

1 decade ago
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Just tried the eraser trick (I honestly thought you were kidding at first, but it is a legit trick), and resetting the cmos, but no go. Didn't notice any bulging capacitors either, though with the way it's built, it is hard to see all the capacitors fully.

1 decade ago
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i have two suggestions - dead capacitors or dead memory voltage stabilizer(in this case you will kill the new modules on install). Both mean mobo problems. Try your memory on another pc(ddr2 as it seems), thats the best way.

1 decade ago
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If I had to guess I'd bet it's a fried MB... But if you say that when you remove the RAM sticks the computer starts to boot and gives you beeping errors it might also be the RAM. Since the RAM is fried the CPU stalls but when you remove it you get the error (beeps) saying there is no RAM present.

Try to boot with new/loaned RAM first... If it still doesn't work it'll probably be the MB!

1 decade ago
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Look for burned (blackened) pins in your ram sticks. Also, when you tried them one at a time, did you put them all in the same slot?
Edit: read it now, you already tried it with no avail.

1 decade ago
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Have you turned it off and on?

1 decade ago
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Try posting your OP on Tom's Hardware.

1 decade ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 3 years ago.

1 decade ago
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Check your motherboard. Its the big thing, where all Ram and videocard and... is conected(in case you ask).
I had the same problem and one tiny thing on my motherboard was not properly connected, because it burned a bit...not realy burned, but it was a small burn 5*5 mm

1 decade ago
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and..it sounds stupid, but sniff them....you can locate burned places with the nose quite good

1 decade ago
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have you tried what i wrote?

1 decade ago
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Yea, it was one of the first things I looked for - No burn marks or anything like that.

1 decade ago
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Beeping Noise = RAM failure probably because in your 2nd test you removed the RAM. I'd say its your power supply if their is no fan noise on startup, however since the fans spin it contradicts your powersupply problem. You should do test with 1 graphics card, the only thing that failed on my 5 year old Dell XPS 630 was my nVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT.

1 decade ago
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btw beeping can indicate all sorts of failures(I hated that when working on RMA's), when PSU's, CPU's, memory, heck even some motherboards fail the system can and will beep

1 decade ago
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If you look up the manufacturer manual, or have it on hand, then it will tell you what the amount of beeps mean.

1 decade ago
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Well, being that the beeping occurred when all ram sticks were removed, I'd assume it was to indicate that no ram was detected.

1 decade ago
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Agreed that it is the likely scenario, just wanted to clarify Carenard's statement. You can find out what they mean.

1 decade ago
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My computer recently died too, everything would spin up for a second or two then turn off again.
Turns out it was the PSU, I could actually hear the capacitors hissing when it was turned on with the fans unplugged.

1 decade ago
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I would say mobo or cpu shot.

1 decade ago
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best approach I would take is to remove everything out and boot the system on outside of the case without any accessories attached. just 1 stick of ram and the hard drive. this is to eliminate any chance that it was from a static short. then you assess everything else that can go wrong into consideration.

1 decade ago
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Tried that before, and even with everything else unplugged, as long as one stick of ram is in (any of the 4 I have), it stays dead.

1 decade ago
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if your PC doesn't have a built-in LED indicator warning system to tell you what each light/numbers mean when there's a system failure. I would invest in one of those cheap PCI cards that do. it also comes in handy and does work.

1 decade ago
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Guess you have no choice but to buy a new pc?

1 decade ago
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Yea, been saving up to buy a new one for a while. Looks like this is speeding up that process.

1 decade ago
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Have you tried another PSU? As I mentioned previously, this sounds very similar to an issue I had last week and it was the PSU.

1 decade ago
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Well, I replaced the power supply a few months ago, but since I kept the old one, I tried putting that one back in to see, and it was the same issue.

1 decade ago
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It could be the PSU fault, if you can check its outputs for +5V and +12V with digital multimeter, you can be sure.
But from your description I'd say its motherboard's fault. Using RAM stick makes mobo to use more parts and one of them is short circuit, making PSU go to fail-safe state to prevent damage to anything else.

Try to fix it yourself, I'd look for fried elements around RAM slots, or search slots for possible short circuit or broken pins. If everything seems normal then you will have to buy another motherboard to replace failed one.
Not sure about status of CPU or RAM sticks, but chance they are fine is pretty high.

1 decade ago
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How many memory stick do you have? 2 or 4 ? If you have 4 sticks then I highly doubt all 4 will get damaged in same time unless the motherboard was the first one that died and destroyed other things when it decided to die. I said I doubt but I have to ask you if you tried to overclock the ram and pushed too high the V for it (default ddr2 voltage is 1.8V (there are some sticks that require more but they should have a freq that will allow u to run them to 1.8V else it will be imposible to use them first time u put them in the pc)).

Look at the memory modules if they look damaged in any way. If they look ok try to smell them, if all smell like something burned then nothing can be done in their case and also I doubt the mb is ok (unless u have set some crazy V for memory.). Do the same with the mb. If the memory sticks & mb look ok and don't smell like something burnt then: try to get a psu from a friend and test your pc with it, if it acts the same, then either the memory or the mb or both of dead are dead, next step will be to test in a friend pc the cpu, gpu, other pci-e/pci, hdd, etc. to see if they are ok or not. Keep in mind that it's always posible to destroy your friend mb when you test them.

L.E.: Unplug the 4/8 pin connector from your motherboard, put at least 1 memory stick and try to start the pc , you will have no post messages i know , but it's important to know if the fans start to spin or not. If in this case the fans start to spin then the psu died (when a psu dies it can take destroy the mb + others things or not, it depends from case to case) or at least it's no longer capable to power up your pc (as time passes the things in the psu get older and the real W will be reduced) ). You will still need to get a psu from a friend and see how it acts with another psu.

1 decade ago
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Yea, just 4 sticks, and had no reason to overclock the ram (still running 32bit, so wouldn't really benefit). They looked like they were still in good condition too. A previous poster mentioned using an eraser, so got a good luck at the sticks then.

There is a problem with using a friend's psu though, in that this computer uses a proprietary psu (has a different pinout).

I will try that test in a minute and update this post with how it goes.
edit: Alright, tried it. Just for reference, this is the mobo
This computer actually uses two connectors (20 & 24). Having both unplugged, results in nothing. Having just the bottom (20pin) unplugged, and the upper-right (24pin) one plugged in, the fans do spin.

1 decade ago
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Closed 1 decade ago by AuthenticZac.