| Author |
Message |
CrazyDan
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 2, 2002 - 2:35 pm: | |
About a week ago my computer went on the blink. When trying to start up my computer the red LED on the front of the tower stayed lit. I removed my Modem, NIC, two extra banks of RAM, and then finally, I removed the video card. It was an ATI Xpert 8mb card using an AGP slot. The computer then booted up, at least to where it tried to access the video card. I borrowed a matching video card from a buddy of mine and the system worked. I decided to upgrade my video card so I ordered an ATI 32mb Radeon card. Upon installing this card the computer booted up, but half way through the software installation, the computer shutdown (after the monitor showed "frequency out of range"). Now, even after removing the video card the red LED will not go out. I am suspecting my motherboard, but it seems so odd that it would die in this way. Please, if you have any suggestions, let me know. I am going crazy without my computer.
Dan |
Trish
| | Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2002 - 6:19 am: | |
You didn't say what kind of motherboard. Give us the dirt. A few thoughts...
Does it have onboard video?
You might uninstall first card and completely delete ALL old video drivers from your drive, reboot and run the new install.
Possible conflict with another device?
What is the intended purpose of the red LED?
Ok, info??? |
CrazyDan
| | Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2002 - 5:59 pm: | |
Here is all of the information. The motherboard is a micro ATX form factor GT693VA with a 500mhz slot1, P3 processor and 640 mb of RAM (I run some high end design programs like Pro-E). The computer had a Samsung DVD drive and I recently installed an AOPEN CD-RW (about 3 weeks before this problem ocurred). The motherboard does not have onboard video, but had a 8mb XPert card in the AGP slot. The red LED light that I am talking about is the one on the front of the tower called the action light or in this case the lack of action light. The problem is deeper then a bios configuration. The computer will not boot up at all. As I explained earlier the graphics card orginally shorted and the computer would not boot at all (the action light stayed red instead of changing to green). After removing all of my cards (modem, NIC, etc.) I determined the video card was bad. I then replaced this card with an updated card and the computer booted up and I was half way through the driver installation whe the computer shutdown again and now when I try to turn the system on the red LED is lit again and the system will not boot. The power supply is fine. I checked it with a meter. Any other ideas or questions let me know.
Dan |
E.S.
| | Posted on Monday, January 14, 2002 - 11:23 pm: | |
I just had a look at the specs on the GT693VA, If your power supply is rated at 200 or 250 watts
I would still hold the power supply as suspect, Sounds like the power supply may not be providing adaquate +5 volts +12volts. If they meter at 5v and 12v without a load once the load of CPU and video/memory I/O controller hard drives & fans hit they may be dropping well below specification. |
Matt Weston (Matt12330)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 8:16 pm: | |
I would tend to agree with ES on this one. Power supplies sometimes die quickly, but more often, they hang on for a long time - getting weaker and causing strange problems for the rest of the system. Even if the power supply is producing 5/12 volts when you tested it, if it falters for a second or two (especially under load) it can do bad things to your PC. This happens to a LOT of people - and is often misdiagnosed as some other problem.
What wattage is your supply rated to handle?
How old is it? It sounds like you are using a lot of power in your PC - maybe too much for an old unit to handle. |
CrazyDan
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2002 - 10:00 am: | |
The power supply in this system is a Hi-Pro model HP-146SSC. This is only a 150 Watt Micro-ATX power supply. Assuming now that the power supply is the culprit.....what is the largest micro-ATX supply available. I saw a 180Watt on the HiPro site, but something bigger would probably be even better. Any suggestions? Also not being a computer show junky....if I find the motherboard is shot, are there any places on the web that may still have simliar motherboards to the one I have (Slot 1, 100FSB, etc...) so that I do not have to replace all of my RAM (640mb) and the processor (500P3)? Just thought I would ask ahead of time. By the way thanks for all the help so far....
Dan |
CrazyDan
| | Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2002 - 10:45 am: | |
Just wondering is there a maximum amount of power that the motherboard can support? Do ot see anything listed in manual and the only real items on the web I have found talking about the gt693va are other forums. Obviously not an extremely popular board.
Dan |
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