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Geek help required

By *thwalescpl OP Couple over a year ago

brecon

Our computer is playing up, hopefully someone can give us an idea of what might be wrong.

When we switch the tower unit on, it used to hum (fan and drive starting up I guess), then after a second or so, it would beep once, and the monitor would come on.

Now, when you switch the tower unit on, it lights up, and a slight hum is heard (think its a cooling fan), but the louder hum doesnt happen, and the beep isnt heard, and nothing happens.

Sometimes you have to switch it on and off a few times before the beep is heard, and then it runs fine.

Guess I need to get someone to look at it, but just wanted to know what might be wrong, and roughly how much it would cost, so I know if someone tries to rip me off lol!

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Find Matty Richards, he's a computer geek

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago
Forum Mod

Ive had a little think and I think your beep is bolloxed

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

sounds like the pc is not posting or booting into windows.

could be a problem on the mother board but i couldnt say without knowing how old the pc is.

have you checked the heatsink fan above the main processor. it maybe that dust is clogged up behind the fan.

if so you may want to disconnect everything and using a cocktail stick run it gently behind the fan along the ridges and remove the dust.

have you checked the graphics cards is fitted in correctly and also the memory sticks.

its worth checking.

hope ive helped but without looking its a bit hit and miss.

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By *leasureDomeMan over a year ago

all over the place

"Our computer is playing up, hopefully someone can give us an idea of what might be wrong.

When we switch the tower unit on, it used to hum (fan and drive starting up I guess), then after a second or so, it would beep once, and the monitor would come on.

Now, when you switch the tower unit on, it lights up, and a slight hum is heard (think its a cooling fan), but the louder hum doesnt happen, and the beep isnt heard, and nothing happens.

Sometimes you have to switch it on and off a few times before the beep is heard, and then it runs fine.

Guess I need to get someone to look at it, but just wanted to know what might be wrong, and roughly how much it would cost, so I know if someone tries to rip me off lol!"

hmmm its a bit hard to say whats wrong from what you said ,the beep is in fact the motherboard self diagnostic saying it has gone through its power on self test.An intermittent fault on the motherboard would indicate a heat creap problem .ie a dry or faulty joint caaused as the m.board temperature rises. cost depends how old it is and what type etc.

but tbh it is difficult to be definitive without doing hands on testing and a proper fault trace .

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By *etillanteWoman over a year ago

I think it's poorly

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

might be time for a new one, they are so cheap now

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By *harpDressed ManMan over a year ago

Here occasionally, but mostly somewhere else

PC World will have a look for £20

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

take cover off give it a good clean remove plugs one at a time clean dust off then replace

if that does not work prob best to look for another one some good deals going unless you want to keep what you have

Den

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By *atisfy janeWoman over a year ago

Torquay

Can I sense a 'drop it down the stairs and get onto the contents insurance' moment coming on?

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By *urreyfun2008Man over a year ago

East Grinstead

PC World will probably cost a fortune to fix...

Should be able find details of the motherboard, and some have LED's to help diagnose post problems

Sometimes just making sure all cables and memory are seated properly is enough.

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By *thwalescpl OP Couple over a year ago

brecon

It was the motherboard AND processor!!!!

Had them replaced with upgrades, runs sweet and very fast now!

Thanks for all the help. xxx

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Was it plugged in ?

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By *uton_coupleCouple over a year ago

luton

we buy our computers refurbished , there first class and garuanteed

example

REFURBISHED STONE or NEC PENTIUM 2600 WITH 17" TFT

A slimline white refurbished tower computer system with matching 17" TFT screen Pentium 2600 processor, 512+Mb RAM, 40+Gb Hard Drive, DVD-R…

that one is 125 quid + 15 delivery

if anyone wants the link let us know

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

yes please

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Had an HP Pavillion doing a very similar thing - turned out to be the power supply.

A faulty capacitor in the power supply to be exact, causing a slight ripple on the 12volt rail. Once it warmed up it was fine, but until then it was a real pain in the arse to fire up.

Quick way to see if that's the fault -

1) Switch the machine off (This needs to be stared from the machine being cold)

2) Blast a hair dryer into the power supply cooling fan at the back of the PC - for about 2 - 3 minutes

3) Try to fire up the machine - if it works it's the power supply

If it doesn't - your fucked

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By *uton_coupleCouple over a year ago

luton

sorry to thoses that asked for the link but its getting blocked when we send it evan in private so if you want it you will have to google airedale computors

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

this reminds me of an old joke.

a call to a tech help line and rumored to be true.

tech:whats the problem

caller:my computer wont start up

tech:press the power button and see if any of the lights on the front light up

caller:done that no lights

tech:ok can you get to the back of the computer see if the power lead is plugged in properly

caller:i can really see

tech why not

caller:well its under the desk and all the lights arent working so its very dark

tech:have you still got the box it came in

caller:yes

tech:can you go and get it

caller:one sec

caller:got it

tech:ok put the computer in the box and send it backto us

caller: ok do you think you know whats wrong with it then

tech:yes someone as stupid as you doesnt diserve a computer

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

no reflection on anyone just thought i would share it

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By *thwalescpl OP Couple over a year ago

brecon

I work in telephone engineering, and am trained in ADSL lines (broadband), and once had a phone call similar to the one above, went like this...

Mate - dude my comp dont work, you know all about broadband, can you sort it?

Me - well, I dunno, bit hard without coming over, whats the problem?

Mate - well, its gone completely dead, and I was on the internet.

Me - ok, can you open up your "connections" tab from your menu and tell me if its trying to re-connect?

Mate - no, I cant, its completely dead.

Me - what, the whole thing? (starting to smell a rat)

Mate - yup, no power to it at all now.

Me - what, you mean its completely dead?

Mate - yup, do you know whats wrong?

Me - Maybe, try your light switch.

Mate - why? hang on, oh.... theres no power, thats weird, how come the lights AND my comp are out at the same time?

Me..... well, lets just say it took me about 15 minutes to convince him that he had a power cut.... and why was it so hard to convince him.... well, cos he was talking on the phone he was convinced the power was ok!!! Muppet lol!!!

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By *thwalescpl OP Couple over a year ago

brecon

"Was it plugged in ?"

Lol, of course, I aint blonde, or a woman y'know!!!

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Was it plugged in ?

Lol, of course, I aint blonde, or a woman y'know!!!

That's why I asked the obviously sweetie

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