Can't Boot

Thanks for your speedy response.

I already replaced the power supply. Its fan and the CPU fan both work fine now. I never replaced a CPU (I assume this means the Duron chip?) or motherboard before, but it doesn't appear that difficult, or am I missing something?

Can I visually inspect these to find which needs replacement? What do I look for? Is there an easy way to determine which is the defective component?

If I have to buy a new board and/or CPU, what do you figure this'll run? Must I get exact replacement(s), or will "similar" be OK?

If I do replace the board and/or CPU, will the computer automatically boot up, or do I have to go through some sort of programming process?

Incidentally, any idea what the soot actually is from?

A Duron is cheap as repairs go. Look at www.compgeeks.com but only buy new ones...

The black soot is likely the epidemic BAD MOTHERBOARD CAPACITORS issues. Put those capital words into http://www.google.com to learn how to identify these bad parts. There are places that will "re-populate" a motherboard with new good capacitors, but that runs about 160USD. A new motherboard and CPU is cheaper... You'll have to do the inspectition and determine if this is a source since I can't look at your machine.

Bob

Thanks for your speedy response.

I already replaced the power supply. Its fan and the CPU fan both work fine now. I never replaced a CPU (I assume this means the Duron chip?) or motherboard before, but it doesn't appear that difficult, or am I missing something?

Can I visually inspect these to find which needs replacement? What do I look for? Is there an easy way to determine which is the defective component?

If I have to buy a new board and/or CPU, what do you figure this'll run? Must I get exact replacement(s), or will "similar" be OK?

If I do replace the board and/or CPU, will the computer automatically boot up, or do I have to go through some sort of programming process?

Incidentally, any idea what the soot actually is from?

1. I already replaced the power supply. Its fan and the CPU fan both work fine now. I never replaced a CPU (I assume this means the Duron chip?) or motherboard before, but it doesn't appear that difficult, or am I missing something?

No. At least for most, it's just review what comes with the devices for installation notes and settings.

2. Can I visually inspect these to find which needs replacement? What do I look for? Is there an easy way to determine which is the defective component?

I'll write not likely. At this point I've noted the bad capacitor search at Google, so it appears you don't have that issue (unless you haven't researched and looked.)

3. If I have to buy a new board and/or CPU, what do you figure this'll run? Must I get exact replacement(s), or will "similar" be OK?

Given the world can post here, and I am not privy to where you are or who you'll buy stuff from, I can't answer the first part. Similar is a good idea if you didn't upgrade the power supply along the way.

4. If I do replace the board and/or CPU, will the computer automatically boot up, or do I have to go through some sort of programming process?

I always have to set the BIOS settings to match my new setup.

5. Incidentally, any idea what the soot actually is from?

The fun answer is that it's the bits that leaked out of the chips and that's why it no longer works. But since you have the machine, you have all the clues. Any part could be vaporised and that's the source.

Bob

Thanks, again.
I checked that Bad Capacitor site, but there's nothing there except some lady's return of merchandise, along with her credit card info.

I haven't yet started my all-out effort to fix this thing; been mostly thinking and -- to the extent I'm able -- analyzing. Two questions: (1)Does the fact that I get partial booting (through the part where it checks memory and identifies all components, etc) indicate that the cpu is probably Ok and the trouble is with the motherboard? And (2)If I can't visually determine which is the defective component, which would you recommend I replace first, the board or the cpu, without endangering the other?

I visited compgeeks.com as you suggested, and it appears they have what I'll need (whatever that turns out to be). I'll have to contact their tech support to make sure I get the right motherboard that has all the on-board stuff mine does (video, sound, etc).

I think I asked to type in BAD MOTHERBOARD CAPACITORS at http://www.google.com When I do this I find many web sites, articles and PICTURES of bad capacitors. These articles and pictures are what you need to compare with your board. The partial boot means that you have a partial boot. It's a known side-effect of this issue plus burnt out other components. Since I can't look at your motherboard, it's up to you to do this research. I can only guide you on how to find this information.

In my world, we have to offer some sort of warranty on the repair. If we need to give such a warranty, the CPU and motherboard are changed out as a pair since one part can damage the other.

Since you haven't looked at the motherboard capacitor issue, you haven't started down that road...

Bob

Thanks, again.
I checked that Bad Capacitor site, but there's nothing there except some lady's return of merchandise, along with her credit card info.

I haven't yet started my all-out effort to fix this thing; been mostly thinking and -- to the extent I'm able -- analyzing. Two questions: (1)Does the fact that I get partial booting (through the part where it checks memory and identifies all components, etc) indicate that the cpu is probably Ok and the trouble is with the motherboard? And (2)If I can't visually determine which is the defective component, which would you recommend I replace first, the board or the cpu, without endangering the other?

I visited compgeeks.com as you suggested, and it appears they have what I'll need (whatever that turns out to be). I'll have to contact their tech support to make sure I get the right motherboard that has all the on-board stuff mine does (video, sound, etc).