Running fan and computer cannot be turned on (SOLVED)

VisionD · Last edited by VisionD on Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:29 am; edited 2 times in total

Hi there,

i have a really serious problem with one of my computers. Yesterday i turned it off and it just didn't really turn off. The fan kept running. After pulling the plug and putting it back in the fan keeps running again... and then the real problem appeared. I just couldn't turn it on again...

What's happening here?? The system is the first one in my list above.

Any ideas?? Please help. I need that stupid system for my university...

Greetz
VisionD
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

blendmaster · Apprentice Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 196

sometimes when i pull the plug on my computer because it crashes or somthing, it won't turn on. in my case, all i had to do was plug it back in, push the reset button and then push the power button. this might work on your computer too. if it doesn't, try seeing if there is a reset button of some sort on the PSU.
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VisionD · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 6:21 pm Post subject:

Hi there,

thanks for the quick answer.

Sorry, but your tip didn't fix my problem :cry:

I didn't find a reset button on the PSU right now. It is a Super Flower ST-420TS. Any ideas about this one??

.. Meanwhile i start googling... :wink:

Greetz
VisionD
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

blendmaster · Apprentice Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 196

at this point, you should start checking to see whats wrong. try using a different power supply or a different outlet or a different surge protector (if you use one).
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shuttle sn25p
2.6.12-gentoo-r10 in 64bit
amd64 3500+
geforce 6600gt

VisionD · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 2:23 pm Post subject:

Hi,

i tested the power supply in a different computer with my own cables. It works in the other computer :evil:

The only idea i have left is to try a different mainboard... but i hate to put my whole computer in a million pieces just to get that stupid mainboard out of it...

Any other ideas before i start turning the screws ??

Greetz
VisionD
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

Quarks · n00b Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Germany

Maybe your power supply is too hot.
If your power supply is too hot it could be that there is too low resistance in the power supply module and the mainboard gets too high voltage; then it wo'nt work. -> Try after it cooled down.

The mainboard can have a thermo-control. If it's too hot in your pc-tower the mainboard may refuse work.

Another possibility is that you have a loose contact in your power supply.
It may have worked in the other PC and then again not in yours.

Sorry for my bad english

Have a nice day, Quarks

blendmaster · Apprentice Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 196

did you try swapping out the fan that was causing trouble?

VisionD · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:15 pm Post subject:

Hi guys,

thanks for the replies.

@blendmaster:
It's not a single fan that's causing trouble. All of my fans keep running without even pressing the normal power button on the front. When i plug in the cable and turning the power supply on the fans start to run and won't stop again.

@Quarks:
I can exclude the too hot thingy. I didn't use the computer for several days now (wasn't able to test the power supply before) and i even haven't put the sides of my case back on.

I also would exclude the contact (but you never know :roll:

) because i tried my power supply in the other computer for about four times (with starting, using and shutting down the other computer).

Grrr... i use computers for a pretty long time now and i never had such an error. My tips still goes for the mainboard. What would you say?? I think i have to get it out of the computer and test another one (no idea where i should get one without paying for it right now... i had when all my friends are on vacation

).
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

alkan · Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 7:12 pm Post subject:

It is far fetched, but you can try resetting the bios. It is usually a jumper or remove the battery and wait several minutes before replacing it ( don't forget to disconnect power supply from main board while doing this, the little electricity from power supply capacitors may prevent the resetting).
Althougt the symptoms were different I had a similar problem, resetting bios solved the problem.

Another suggestion, that worked for me several times when computer wouldn't turn on (usually on old computers), is that you remove all the hardware including memory, hard drives, cd roms, floppy drive, video card, keyboard, mouse, monitor, fans and all the pci cards. then try turning it on (the bare mainboard), if it works (I mean if you hear a few beeps meaning some necessary hardware is missing or power light goes on), start installing one hardware at a time starting from memory then keyboard then video card then one hard drive and so on. I don't have to tell you that for each step you have to turn off , install the hardware and then turn it on. This procedure either works or help you identify the buggy hardware including main board.

Please applly my suggestions with care at your own risk.

blendmaster · Apprentice Joined: 02 May 2004 Posts: 196

do the fans turn on when you plug the PSU in or when you push the power button? if they come on when you push the power button on the computer, it could be that the fans come on as expected but the mobo is broke and wont turn on. but if this were true, the cd drives and other stuff like that would turn on too. you have a very strange problem. i would just keep swapping stuff until you find the problem.

VisionD · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 4:23 am Post subject:

Hi guys,

first: thx for your replies!

This IS kind of a really strange problem. The fans don't just wait to turn on until i press the power button on the front. There is this little switch on the power supply itself (on the back saying 1 or 0) and when you switch from 0 to 1 the fans start running... this is what i call strange. Sounds like a power supply error but that stupid thing runs in another system!! :roll:

@alkan: Resetting the BIOS is a pretty good idea. I think i will try this next (even if i hadn't changed the settings, this problem is odd enough). I don't really think that it could be the other stuff in my computer, because then i wouldn't understand why my fans are running without turning on the computer but i will also try this.

The absolut strangest thing about that is that the fans seem not to be running as normal. It's like they are running at half the speed they normally do. I have a fan for my CPU which can be calibrated but i know how it sounds running the lowest possible performance and this is far beyond that...

Man, i really repaired many computers in my life and i saw some disgusting stuff :wink:

But this one seems to be a case for the X - files

Still trying out to find that stupid error
VisionD
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

alkan · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 4:50 am Post subject:

I suggested removing the other hardware because a "switching power supply" (that is kind of supply unit computers use) may not start functioning properly under certain conditions. May be one of your hardware overloading it. And it never reaches proper operation conditions. That may also explain why your fans running while it is off. These power supplies provides power even when the computer is off.

Still I am not sure, if you have a multimeter you may want to measure voltages on power supply cables, especially +12 and +5 volts.

Quarks · n00b Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Germany

So you say there are calibratable fans in your system. are they auto-calibrated by temperature? won't solve the problem in booting but maybe give a hint on your running fans.
so at least, how warm is it in your room with the pc? it is not neccesarry that is is very hot out there, the fans might be running by low temerature too. it would at least indicate if your fans are running right or if they could be steared by a broken mainboard?

sorry that I'm still getting on your nerves with temperature :wink:

VisionD · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 7:50 am Post subject:

Hi Quarks,

no problem. My termometer says it's about 25° Celsius in here. That really shouldn't be too hot. I am living in Germany and i had about 30° C in here and something like this wasn't happening.

Okay, i tried some more stuff. Now my system is standing here in front of me: No HDs, no CDROM, ... nothing is in it except the mainboard and the power supply.... still the same problem.

Mmmmhhh... where can i get a mainboard now?? Will report when i tried that. Hope i won't break my CPU. Even if i unplugged CPU fans from several computers several times without anything happening i hate to do this!! Hope i won't break anything.

Greetz and thanks for all your help
VisionD
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

Quarks · n00b Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Germany

Did you "flash" your bios?
If so resetting is not enough, then you have to "reflash" your bios. If possible get the original firmware back on your bios.

VisionD · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:42 am Post subject:

Sorry, but i just did a normal reset like plugging out, getting the battery out, adjusting the jumpers and back to the original position, putting the battery back in and trying again (as described in the manual ;-)

)... NoGo!

I would even try to flash my BIOS, but it don't even run to the point you could flash it. When you switch from 0 to 1 at the power supply the fans are running on very, very low speed (lower than the minimum. I know how the normal sound is because it is not a automatic calibration, you have a wheel to do this at the back of the tower and i use it pretty often). After that the computer doesn't even react when i press the "normal" power button on the front!

Man, this is soo strange. In about an hour i will get me another mainboard. I really hope to fix the problem this way...

Oops, there go another 70... :evil:

_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

Quarks · n00b Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Germany

why don't you try a mainboard from "asrock" ?
its similar quality as one from asus and it's cheap! you can get one for less than 30 !

Info from the Company:

VisionD · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 9:57 am Post subject:

Maybe i rethink my choice. Have to read some tests about it first...

Maybe here is another interesting fact. On the back of my power supply is the three way fan control. I tried all the positions now. There is Turbo, Medium and Auto...

... all give the same fan speed right now. Any ideas about that?? I still would think that the power supply got killed somehow but it worked good in the other computer

I am confused....
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

benesm1 · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 4:15 pm Post subject: CMOS reset

Maybe you should try resetting your CMOS. There is a jumber on the mainboard, with which the task could be accomplished. Refer to the MOBO's manual. When resetting the CMOS, the computer must be plugged off the power outlet.

VisionD · Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 11:03 pm Post subject:

Short answer (because i posted it a few posts earlier)... been there, done that, ... no go.

Here comes a really sad story: My father didn't want to wait for his computer anymore (i still have my NB left :twisted:

) and bought a new mobo.

Guess what, i put it in (just the mobo and the power supply) turned my power supply on (just at the back from 0 to 1 not on the front after giving the computer power) still the same error.

Now i am sitting here, no clue about what to do AND having a brand new mobo in my tower and my old, still functional (!!) mobo, is lying around... and i still can't figure out that stupid error: Fans running on low level just after switching from 0 to 1 on the power supply and my computer still can't be turned on!

You might say, it's the power supply for sure (because no other s*** is left in my testing system) but i tested it in a different computer and it worked fine...

Man, i am desperated :cry:

Any ideas???
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa

Decibels · Veteran Joined: 16 Aug 2002 Posts: 1623 Location: U.S.A.

Boy, this is a weird problem. Especially after replacing the MB and it's still there. I was first going to say, sounds like your computer went into sleep mode and won't wake up.

I haven't heard you mention any beeps. You probably already know about them from experience. Is there any beep codes and if so have you gone somewhere like http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/beep/index-i.htm to see.

If you have the time, a better synopsis of what you have done in a table might help others solve this for you, instead of filtering thru the thread.

I get this:

d_adams · Apprentice Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 223

Here's a possible solution: pull the reset wires off the motherboard (usually blue and white) where all the other front panel connections are. Do this with the power cord pulled from the psu. I've seen the reset button stick and cause a system to stay in an endless loop and make everything run, except for booting up to the bios and into the system from there.

Edit: Seems I didn't read the last post, but definitely give this a try.
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benesm1 · Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:17 am Post subject: Bad case

Yes, this could possibly be. Pull not only the reset cables but also the power button and sleep cables if you use one. The MOBO can be started for instance by interconnecting the two power connectors on the MOBO, where usually the power button cable goes.

d_adams · Apprentice Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 223

VisionD · Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:09 am Post subject:

Hi folks,

this is kind of nice idea... but i had it myself earlier without reporting (tested it on the old mobo)... sorry for forgetting to report...

Somehow the problem remains. I've plugged both cables (power and reset) off the mobo. Even then, when i just switch from 0 to 1 on the power supply the fans start running. I would try to diagnose the beeps, but it seems that my computer won't even start to this point. I here no beeps (and i know from earlier errors that my BIOS would normally give me some when i do some stupid things and yes, i am waiting long enough ;-)

).

I will try the power and reset cable again with the new mobo. I don't reaaly think that it might help to do it again, but it won't hurt also and i have no idea what else i should try...

Will report back.
_________________
My systems:

1. Athlon XP 2,4 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9700 Pro GraCa
2. Dell Inspiron 8600, 1.5GHz Centrino, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 9600 Mobile GraCa