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General discussion

Computer won't boot up. Help me!

Nov 21, 2004 10:53AM PST

Today I changed my CPU fan because it was making a really loud noise and the computer overheated and restarted after about 5 minutes of use.

After I put in the new fan/heat sink my computer will not boot up past the Windows logo screen. The bar below the logo moves for less than a second and the computer just restarts. No error message appears. Safe mode does not work either.

Computer is using:
Asus A7v8x-x motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 2600+
512 MB DDR RAM
Radeon 9000 128 MB

What could have caused this? Please help.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Computer won't boot up. Help me!
Nov 21, 2004 11:02AM PST

My thoughts.

1. The heatsink is not installed proper.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_869_4348%5E6678,00.html

2. Try slowing the machine down... Find a BIOS FSB setting or jumper and go from 200 to 166 or 133 to 100 MHz. Slow down until you find it.

3. An overheated CPU can "fry". Prepare yourself mentally to replace the CPU.

4. Look for domed and/or leaking motherboard capacitors.

Bob

PS. I know you asked what could have caused this, but I think you are wanting some ideas on how to recover.

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Re: Computer won't boot up. Help me!
Nov 21, 2004 11:22AM PST

How do I find the BIOS FSB? Also, how do I know if I fried my CPU. Is there any way to test this? Thanks for the help.

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Re: Computer won't boot up. Help me!
Nov 21, 2004 11:36AM PST

You would read your motherboard manual or "just look" in the BIOS settings for something like I noted.

The test for a bad CPU is something like this. You put in a new one and the problem goes away... I wish there was a better way.

Bob