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General discussion

Hooking up a new power supply

Aug 23, 2004 8:18AM PDT

Before I took the old one out, I color coordinated etc. It looks like I have the new one in right but the monitor, though it has power, won't start up. I must be missing something. I have the main plugged into the motherboard, one in the CD Rom, one in the hard drive and a little one in the floppy drive. Nothing in the modem card. Can anyone surmise from what little I've told you, what I need to do?

Thanx, I hope! Valerie

Discussion is locked

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Re: (NT) Where is it seeing the CD drive??? Primary or seco
Sep 15, 2004 7:53AM PDT

Val we crossed paths.

CD-ROM as secondary slave is incorrect. If you have the extra IDE cable that Ray mentioned on the M/B's secondary IDE channel to the CD-ROM you will need to change the jumpers. Getting close tho.

Clicking and invalid media type error message is not a good sign.

Carry this on at my new post, this is getting long.

Bill

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Now rthat the Hard drive is being seen properly
Sep 15, 2004 7:17AM PDT

before you do the FDISK bit, using the boot floppy change to C prompt and type DIR and hit enter to see if you see the files on the drive.

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Good job Ray and Val
Sep 15, 2004 7:47AM PDT

HI,

Saw your post 2 hrs ago and just now able to join in ... tho from your posts all looks good. Thanks tho for the compliment.

Val can't add any more than what Ray has, the cabling is basic computer and the hardest to understand. Follow Ray's lead on booting to DOS and checking for files on
C drive. Then review my post on DOS commands.

DOS is not case sensitive just demanding.
Do you know DOS? Gonna try something/// No offense

A:\<- existing/ add this only "C:" no quotes press enter
C:\<- existing/ add this only "dir/w/p" or "dir /w/p
no quotes press enter. Some versions of DOS use one or the other command.

Again well done.

Bill

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Bill, as to checking the drive,I'll leave
Sep 15, 2004 7:58AM PDT

it to you to help Val thru the FDISK, MBR et al. But it doesn't sound good for the drive.

If there were valuble data on the drive, I would stop using it immediately and maybe try that Knoppix disk to read it in another computer.

Would be great if FDISK/MBR worked, and drive had enough life to get the data off of it.

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Re: Bill, as to checking the drive,I'll leave
Sep 15, 2004 8:09AM PDT

Ray,

Stay close, you have been leading Val along real good and I need someone to correct or clarify as needed.

Agree on H/D not sounding good, can't agree on Knoppix disk. (don't flame me Bob). Knoppix is a good application for someone that works with Linix not a Windows user. I looked at Knoppix, discovered in 5 hours how to use it. Again it was great but not for most users. And not for Me when I have four different methods to recover data and copy to disk or CD.

Val -- E-mail me again on a different matter.

Bill
.

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Re: Bill, as to checking the drive,I'll leave
Sep 15, 2004 9:01AM PDT

I'm not too worried about the data. I pretty much back up what I want. I would like to save the PC if I can do it without it costing too much. It seems that my mobo is OK but I definitely need a new hard drive and CDROM. Are we agreed on that? How can I tell if it's worth investing a few dollars in? I'm off now to read Ray's lesson on cables.

Val

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Let's find out what vintage
Sep 15, 2004 10:06AM PDT

your computer is. That will determine if it is worth saving, HOWEVER if it is your favorite of the 3 that you have, it would seem that getting a CD and Hard drive would be worth it. What wattage Power Supply did you invest in?? What CPU speed? What type of memory does it use? CD-ROM's are $20 range, CD Burner $30 range.

Hard drives get iffy if you want new. Virtually impossible to buy small ones. Probably can buy a 20 GB somewhere. I'll look around, gotta work tomorow for a while.

Robert Proffitt always finds things far cheaper than I do. Seems that Bill has a shop so he could be a good source for info re parts buying.

I'm not an EBay buyer so many will tell you to look in EBAY.

I usually buy from newgg.com

Keep an eye on Staples, Best Buy et al for specials/rebates.

One potential problem If, in fact your husband actually saw some bulging capacitors on the mobo, then it might not be worth it.

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At newegg
Sep 15, 2004 10:17AM PDT

40 GB Maxtor $49 incl shipping.

20 GB WD $53 with shipping.

Both OEM, just means that you don't get it in a retail box and a booklet and floppy with it. The booklet is no use and the floppy can be had by downloading the files from the drive mfr's website.

How old is your Maxtor??? May still be under warreanty and get a peplacement free. Check if is one that had the 3 year warranty.

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Re: Good job Ray and Val
Sep 15, 2004 7:59AM PDT

Thanks Bill but the job is far from finished.What do think about the clacking sound? I'll bet this hard drive is ready to give out. I never did understand DOS and being relatively new to computers, haven't had to very much. I'll try your suggestions. By the way, very insensitive of me, how did YOU do with Charley?

I'll get back tomorrow guys after I've digested Ray's cable lesson. I have tried your DOS cammands and can't make them work. I'll keep at it.

Val

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Awakened from a sound sleep VAL/Bill
Sep 15, 2004 7:18PM PDT

by a thought.

Possibly HDD is formatted NTFS and the boot floppy is a FAT disk??? FAT can't read NTFS. Good reason for invalid media???

Going back to bed. Check with you guys in the adternoon.

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Re: Awakened from a sound sleep VAL/Bill
Sep 16, 2004 12:10AM PDT

I can't believe I've got you missing Zzzs now Ray. I will be gone for most of the day and then then again this evening. I won't be able to check until later but I definitely will check in before the day is out.
I will perfectly understand if, at any time, you guys say, "enough is enough!" I'm beginning to feel embarrased by the amount of posts!!

Thanks tons. Val

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Re: Awakened from a sound sleep VAL/Bill
Sep 16, 2004 10:23AM PDT

Val,

Don't be embarrased, this is what I live for and I'm
sure that the feeling is the same for all the others that are here.

Was't able to be here today, had about 10 systems come in and if I get home before Midnight I'll be lucky.

Ray is correct about the age of your system in attempting to salavage it. A lot of factors go into this type of decision.

The Clacktey sound from your H/D is not good. Final death rattle.

Ray,

If drive is formatted to NTFS fdisk will show non dos partitions. These can be deleted out provided you wish to lose all data.

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Thanx Bill. I wasn't sure what FDISK
Sep 16, 2004 11:01AM PDT

would show for NTFS partitions.

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Re: Thanx Bill. I wasn't sure what FDISK
Sep 17, 2004 2:06AM PDT

My PC just won't work no matter what. It is now making those clacking noises all the time. I hate to give up after all the work you two have done with me but I also feel bad taking up your time. I finally found all the right cables and where they go and that doesn't help. I think I'll invest in a cheap, refurbished hard drive and a cheap CDROM and see what that does. I can always use them at a later time if it doesn't work on this one.

Ray and Bill, I want to thank you both so much for your patience and guidance. You haven't seen the last me (don't groan) as I pop up quite often in different forums.

Later! Val

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Your computer IS WORKING. Just
Sep 17, 2004 4:17AM PDT

have a hard drive that has failed and a CD that has failed.

You can get video and get into the BIOS, correct???

I'll watch for you.

Also remember that if you want to discuss this computer in relation to the current set of problems just post in this thread and it will pop to the top of the forum again.

Good luck in all your endeavors.

Noted that you are in Florida, and you may have Jeanne coming next, be sure to duck when appropriate.

Note that Bill is from Zephyr Hills Florida. Suspect that is a phony name, Been to Florida a few times and never saw a hill, except if someone was in a sink hole looking up to see out. LOL Enjoy

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Re: Do to have a hill
Sep 17, 2004 5:42AM PDT

Ray,

We do to have a hill, all of 240' above sea level.

Stories go that a German stood on top of this hill and commented on the breeze (Zephry).


Val,

Its been fun. Helped to kill time between systems

Bill
.

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(NT) (NT) ROFLMAO
Sep 17, 2004 5:46AM PDT
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For Bill and Ray
Sep 29, 2004 5:44AM PDT

Hi guys, just wanted you to know that I bought from computergeeks, one refurbished hard drive and one cheap CDROM. I'm proud and happy to announce that my computer is now up and running. Again, I thank you for your help and encouragement. I was ready to throw in the towel and you talked me out of that.

All the best. Val

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(NT) (NT) Really proud for you, GREAT!! Thanx for letting us know
Sep 29, 2004 5:53AM PDT
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Re: (NT) Really proud for you, GREAT!! Thanx for letting us
Sep 29, 2004 5:58AM PDT

From me also

Bill

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Re: Hooking up a new power supply
Oct 1, 2004 3:18AM PDT

Each power supply has a cooling fan in the back.
Double check if the fan runs when you push ON/OFF push button in front of the computer.
If the fan does not run, the check if you turn on the ON/OFF switch in the back of the power supply (1 for ON, 0 for OFF). Check your home outlet to see if it has power.
If the fan run, the your monitor is bad or video card is bad or something else not the power supply. Use a good monitor to test. Let me know at tuan2yh@yahoo.com

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Re: Hooking up a new power supply
Oct 1, 2004 3:53AM PDT

TLuu,

Not to rain on you parade but read Vals' last post