Computer won't boot

Antares 531 wrote:
> On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:13:15 -0500, "Daave" <daave@example.com> wrote:
>
>> Antares 531 wrote:
>>> On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:41:50 -0500, "Daave" <daave@example.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
> (snip)
>>>>>
>>>>> ---copy/paste from web site---
>>>>> NVIDIA 196.75 drivers were released on Marc 2nd, and have now been
>>>>> removed from the download site. If you are running these drivers
>>>>> it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you uninstall this driver and
>>>>> immediately downgrade to the 196.21 drivers.
>>>>
>>>> So, did you roll back the driver? If so, is your problem gone?
>>>> Enquiring minds want to know!
>>>>
>>> I had already installed a new video card, to replace the one that
>>> failed. It came with new drivers, but they aren't the same sequence,
>>> number-wise as those listed on the above web site.
>>>
>>> My new GeForce 9500 GT installed the following drivers;
>>> Driver Date 6/10/09
>>> Version 6.14.11.8618
>>>
>>> I don't have any way of knowing what the driver version was when the
>>> old video card failed. I had not done any driver updates, but maybe
>>> this had been done by my automatic updates settings.
>>>
>>> The new problem with the CPU fan (not the graphics card fan) is
>>> still going on. Any time I shut the computer down for a few
>>> hours...long enough for it do cool down to room temperature...the
>>> CPU fan runs sporadically, the beep sound comes on and I have to
>>> re-boot. After re-booting everything runs normally.
>>>
>>> I'm thinking this CPU fan problem may be the result of some other
>>> driver or hardware malfunction. But, at this time I don't have any
>>> information on this or any ideas as to what I could do to clear the
>>> problem away.
>>
>> If you are handy with a multimeter, that should give you good
>> information.
>>
>> Otherwise, replace the PSU and see what happens. If the CPU fan
>> problem is resolved, then you know it was a voltage issue and all
>> will be well (with the new PSU). If not, then you know the problem
>> is with the fan itself, the motherboard (hopefully not), or perhaps
>> the CPU.
>>
>> It really sounds like your problem is hardware-related. You will get
>> better suggestions if you start a new thread in a hardware
>> newsgroup. To see whether or not the hardware is fine (I doubt it,
>> though!), you could boot off a live Linux CD and see whether or not
>> you experience similar problems.
>>
> Daave, I quite agree, the PSU needs to be checked out, but until I get
> my hands on another one that I can do a swap-out with, I'll have to
> get along with voltage measurements. So far, I've not been able to
> catch any voltage fluctuations on any of the PSU outputs, but I can't
> conclude that they don't happen...I've just not had my voltmeter
> probes in place at the right time, maybe. Is there any socket on the
> motherboard or PSU that I could plug my voltmeter probes into and
> watch what happens during the boot process after an extended shut
> down, cool off time?

It's been a while since I've used one. Perhaps these articles may be of
help:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-1053275.html

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-1053274.html

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...ontent;leftCol

http://www.ochardware.com/articles/psuvolt/psuvolt.html

> Would a power supply anomaly such as this trigger the beeping?

If the beeping is the result of a component not getting enough voltage
to function properly and if the PSU is the reason, then yes. :-)

Antares 531 wrote:
> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:25:25 -0600, Antares 531
> <gordonlrDELETE@swbell.net> wrote:
>
>> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
>> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
>> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>> checked out and settled in.
>>
>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>
>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
>> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>>
>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>
>> Thanks, Gordon
>>
> I finally got the above problem resolved and for a day or so this old
> computer worked very well. But, this morning when I turned it on after
> being shut down overnight I got a continuous beep. Everything seemed
> to be working okay but the beep didn't stop.
>
> I opened the case and noticed the CPU fan was running in short bursts
> of about 2 seconds then stopping for about the same length of time.
> This continued until I shut the computer down and re-booted...cold
> boot. After this, the fan ran constantly and there was no more
> beeping.

Fans are often controlled by a thermal sensor.

If the sensor goes over one limit, the fan is supposed to start.
Sensor goes over another limit, the alarm sounds.

A flaky sensor could explain what you saw, as could a tie up in the
stack that controls the sensor & fan.