Another dead PC thread...

[Skinleech]

Hey all,

Will not bore with needless details, but last week my HTPC died on me suddenly - I was installing some Vista updates via Windows Update, controlling it all from my main pc using VNC to save having the TV/AVR on. I had my dinner and went back to it to find thst VNC could not connect.

On switching the TV/AVR on, I was met with a black screen and nothing else. I tried the usual restart/unplug and try again carry on and had the same result - nothing, no BIOS details, no POST no beeps. There is power going to the motherboard as the light is on, and the fans all spin up.

I'm back from a weekend away now, so have worked through everything on the HTPC with no luck. I disconnect all drives, the RAM, tried a different PSU & graphics card, and have removed the CPU. I still just get a black screen with nothing else. Interestingly, the power LED on my case never comes on either.

I'm pretty convinced the motherboard muct be dead, but wanted to see if other Hexites agree - I can't be bothered taking it all to bits to find the mobo is fine, but of course don't have any of the same component to try in it.

BTW the specs are: Asus M3N/ HDMI Geforece 8300 board, 4gb OCZ PC-6400 ram, AM2 Athlon 5600+
.

Thanks for any confirmations you can give...

[circuitmonkey]

hmm a puzzler, have you tried clearing the bios?

[WhiteGiant]

Got a spare PSU/brick to test?

[Skinleech]

hmm a puzzler, have you tried clearing the bios?

Not yet; should have tried it though.

Got a spare PSU/brick to test?

Yep, tested with one noted that above.

Cheers.

[watercooled]

I agree with clearing the BIOS - remove the battery and short both the battery terminals to discharge the capacitor. Alternatively there might be a CLR CMOS jumper which does basically the same thing - of course you will want to do this while the computer is off

[Skinleech]

Checked the CMOS - no change. I removed the battery & flipped the jumper . It's still totally unresponsive.

I just used the PSU to power a different PC and it's fine, so the PSU is not at fault. It's got to be the mobo really.

Cheers.

[watercooled]

You did change the CMOS jumper back right? Sorry for stating the obvious if you did.

[Skinleech]

You did change the CMOS jumper back right? Sorry for stating the obvious if you did.

Hehe, yeah, I did.

I've arrnaged for an RMA with Ebuyer now.