PC won't boot up

want2bmortgage3

It could even be more basic..... A lot of computers have a built in graphics card on the motherboard. They sometimes also have a better graphics card fitted afterwards in one of the expansion slots.

It could be possible that you have 2 possible ports to plug the monitor into. If it's in the wrong one, then basically the computer will be loading up as normal, but the display wont be shown as its being output on the other graphics card!

hubb

The motherboard is MSI MS-7046 (Medion OEM) if that helps.

No, the drive makes an initial whirring but then doesn't sound like it is loading. I know the sound when it does.

It has never beeped as long as I have had this machine. Changed the psu but it had no effect. It's either the motherboard or the CPU which is impossible to tell. I can get another board for a few quid on eBay but again, it might not be the culprit.

hiz_2

hubb wrote: »

The motherboard is MSI MS-7046 (Medion OEM) if that helps.

No, the drive makes an initial whirring but then doesn't sound like it is loading. I know the sound when it does.

It has never beeped as long as I have had this machine. Changed the psu but it had no effect. It's either the motherboard or the CPU which is impossible to tell. I can get another board for a few quid on eBay but again, it might not be the culprit.

Are you sure you can here the disk whirring. They tend to make very little noise and only a small clicking noise when reading data. A whirring is more likely to have have been the cpu, case or psu fan which probably starts at full speed then slows down as the bios setting probably regulates it.

hubb

Well folks, I did it ! I took everything apart, all the connections, the heat sink and fan, took motherboard out. Gave it all a jolly good dusting with a soft paint brush. Put it all back together and boots first time :-) Seems a bit faster too. When I took the heat sink off the CPU I did notice some grey sticky stuff that was flaking away. I just got rid of the lose bits as I assume it's some kind of adhesive ?

Anyway, much appreciation for all the help and suggestions. Not sure what it was but I am happy its working and the drive doesn't seem damaged.

debitcardmayhem

hubb wrote: »

Well folks, I did it ! I took everything apart, all the connections, the heat sink and fan, took motherboard out. Gave it all a jolly good dusting with a soft paint brush. Put it all back together and boots first time :-) Seems a bit faster too. When I took the heat sink off the CPU I did notice some grey sticky stuff that was flaking away. I just got rid of the lose bits as I assume it's some kind of adhesive ?

Anyway, much appreciation for all the help and suggestions. Not sure what it was but I am happy its working and the drive doesn't seem damaged.

Might want to buy some new thermal paste

Figment

That 'grey sticky stuff' was heat transfer paste (aka heat sink compound) and was there to ensure a good thermal contact between CPU and heatsink. It's worth getting a small tube (maplin/similar or ebay) to replace it. Don't overdo it though as it only needs a tiny amount.

hubb

I didn't take the paste off, just removed the dry flaky stuff from around the edges. The temp is running fine but will bear it in mind when next in Maplin.

Robisere

Hello this is your motherboard.


See the small black square at centre right, with a grey border, above the 2 blue strips? That is where your processor (CPU) sits, and where you would have taken the 'flaky stuff' from.

If it is working ok, DO NOT TRY TO FIT MORE THERMAL PASTE!

If it stops again, you will have to remove the Heatsink & Fan (HSF) and the CPU, to clean and apply fresh paste. You will need a can of Isopropyl alcohol, a tube of Thermal paste (both from Maplins) and a soft cloth.

These are the instructions:
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2231

- But do not do this if it carries on working! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

An occasional clean of the computer, as you have just carried out, say evry few months, will help. Dust is obviously entering the PC. Is it on the floor, in a cupbord, too close to a wall? Quite often people put them on or close to a carpeted floor, this creates a dust magnet from carpet fibres. I knew a friend who put his in a cupboard and ran it with the door closed. No ventilation, it overheated and blew the CPU and motherboard.

I hope that helps, but seriously, do not do anything about new paste if the machine keeps working.

hubb

Yes it's my motherboard and yes I knew about the CPU. I took the side panel off as it seemed to get warm in summer. Perhaps that's where dust got in.

macman

Taking off the side panel ruins the air flow, which is designed to draw cool air right through the case and over the components. So I'd put it back.
Dust is drawn in by the fans, it's unavoidable, so all you can do is make that air as clean as possible.