posted on July 7, 2001 04:51:51 PM
I'm hoping somebody will tell me that I shouldn't panic but my computer went down. I have most things backed up but YIKES!!! I'm having to use my daughter's Packard Bell that I picked up at a garage sale last month and I am so glad that I did. A slow modem is better than no modem!!
Here's what happened. My baby's been acting a little strange lately. Losing lots of time when turned off, just not acting quite right. The last time I turned her off overnite CMOS reloaded during start up. A friend suggested that I needed a new battery - wow, never thought about that! So I we were moving stuff around in the house and the computer has to move to the dining room table temporarily. I figured this is a great time to open her up and see what I need. Well I didn't move anything but wrote down numbers off of what I think is the battery (I know just enough to fix small problems and get myself into trouble ). When I plug it all back in and nothing. Light comes on, fan hums, nothing else happens.
I've got a call into my guru but won't be able to take it in until Monday. Please somebody tell me there's hope for my computer! I'm sure I don't have all the discs to the programs on there. I'm not sure what I'll do! Anything I can try right now before taking it in? Thank goodness we bought my daughter this one to play games on.
My guess is that something was knocked loose when you opened the case. Even if you didn't touch anything, a cable or some other vital part might have come loose just enough to cause a problem. Especially if the computer was recently moved around.
The problem you were having before does sound like a dead battery. It's easy enough to fix, and doesn't cause any long-term problems.
You *could* try checking to make sure all the cables and circuit cards are seated tightly, but it would probably be best to wait and let a tech do it. Computer parts are very sensitive to static electricity, and some of them are very delicate as well.
I do think there's quite a bit of hope for your computer. This doesn't sound fatal to me. My guess is that all your tech will need to do is replace the battery and tighten a few connections.
posted on July 7, 2001 05:10:57 PM
something is probably unseated unplug it open the case and push down on all the boards and connectors to be sure it's seated.
try booting up with the cover off ..just in case you are knocking something loose in replacing the cover
its doubtfull that its non-repairable
posted on July 7, 2001 05:13:58 PM
A suggestion from the 'stupid but true' column:
Check that the monitor power is plugged in, and verify that the outlet you are using actually has power.
I know is sounds impossible but on a dual outlet it is possible that one outlet is working and the other is not.
I've seen it and simple things like that can drive a tech crazy too.
So swap power outlets and see if anything happens.
Normally computers will emit a series of beeps if it detects a hardware problem during boot up.
Good luck!
posted on July 7, 2001 05:15:14 PM
Oh thank you Rima! You're my new best friend!! I'm hoping that's all it is. I bought the computer on eBay over a year ago and it's been great so I hate to lose it and my programs.
It will still be going to my tech on Monday (I'm not messing with it) but I will sleep a little better. I'm also going to see if we can put a larger hard drive in this old PB I'm using. It seems to run fine, even has Win98, but the hard drive is small! Still not bad for $75. We got the monitor, keyboard, 2 mice, printer, and losts of software plus all cords! That's my best buy of the summer!
posted on July 7, 2001 05:20:15 PM
i have a stupid question-i had a packard bell for years ,then bot a compaq.
what battery are you guys talking about ?i dont know pc has battery inside,are you referring to the clock battery??
posted on July 7, 2001 06:16:27 PM
The battery is not a small repair on a computer its on the mother board and when the battery dies or is removed for replacement the computer loses it Cmos memory as it is only saved in memory by the battery back up it also keeps the processors real time clock running which all processors need to run if you pull the battery your computer will need a tech to not only replace the battery but re install cmos and reser all it bios.
battery is located on the mother board usually next to the processor.
Some newer computers do have writeable bios that can be restored by installing the Restore disk that came with your computer when it was new and installing each CD required to restore your computer back to store condition after the battery is replace,
Some of the newer cheap under $900 computer the batteries are not replaceable you just pull the mother board and replace the whole deal.
The battery in your computer is said to have a garenteed life time of 5 years for the person who,s computer is shut off more then on this could vary greatly as when the power is on the battery is not dichargeing .
if you compaq computer is three year old or newer not to worry the newer computers technically never shut off at all the off button just puts them in sleep mode power still on the battery is in use when you unplug the computer to keep the time right on the clock.
If you seen your CMOS reloading when you booted up there could also be a chance you got a virus.
the nastier viruses that really kill computer rewrite your CMOS and once that happens your computer will not reboot till its repaired .....
posted on July 7, 2001 06:30:44 PM
often times the battery is soldered on the mother board, but that battery can normaly be "turned off", and there is a place (on most motherboards) to plug in a battery pack. If it's a "soldered on" battery, and it's dead, it should be removed because dead batteries can leak acid, and damage the motherboard.
With a dead battery the computer won't remember what size hard drive it is trying to read, or what monitor is hooked up, or a number of other things.
Who Need's a stink'n Sig. File?
[ edited by Microbes on Jul 7, 2001 06:34 PM ]
posted on July 7, 2001 09:27:01 PM
Thanks to all! I'm sure the battery is replaceable as the computer is a "built" model and not a brand name. My tech was actually impressed and said all the parts were top of the line when he put in a new modem. It's not the monitor or power as I can tell the monitor is on and the computer doesn't make any of it's normal boot up noises. It's normally quite the chatterbox!
I have P-Cillin and it is updated so I doubt it is a virus but I suppose it's possible. P-cillin did catch one the other day, can't remember the name, but said it cleaned the virus. I still deleted the message and cleared my deleted items folder just in case.
posted on July 9, 2001 11:34:51 AM
Your battery will 90% of the time be located on the MB and be a round disk type cell (almost always a CR-2032), but I doubt if it is the problem. You are very fortunate that the computer is a clone. The problem with most computer repairs is usually the technician. I assume from your posts that you have confidence in yours. I have repaired thousands of PC's and aside from the 0.5% having an actual drive failure, all are easily fixed. Yet if you talk to friends and neighbors you'll hear dozens of stories of how "they lost everything": NONSENSE. It is impossible to diagnose a machine in these pages but what you CAN do is to make sure the cards are fully seated. Clones usually have cases that can "rack" when you move the computer and this has a tendency to pop the cards half way out. A CMOS voidance will almost never cause your symptoms. A blanked CMOS will still have video and would usually re-detect your HD and boot anyway. Have you had any bad storms lately?? You could have a power supply or memory zapped by static electricity. The power supply is a source of spontaneous failure that could cause your symptoms. It provides +12, -12, +5, and -5V. The fan may run yet you have a blown 5V circuit. I'll bet on the p/s. an easy fix. The reason you're lucky with a clone is that parts are so cheap. The price of proprietary parts on "name" brands frequently means you throw the computer away.
posted on July 10, 2001 06:00:58 PM
First of all thanks to you all! I realize that coming up with a solution via message boards is near impossible. I was just hoping to find possibilities that wouldn't make me panic.
I'm thrilled to report that my computer is back up and running. My tech plugged it in and it fired right up. He turned it off to try another keyboard (problems with the first one) and it wouldn't boot. He thought it was the motherboard but wanted to try a new video card first. BINGO! Working perfect now with my new (used) video car. He also put in another battery (free) and made sure CMOS booted and all my settings were correct. Total bill - $30. I love this guy!
posted on July 10, 2001 06:41:45 PM
actually you got very lucky last winter I had a computer the video card went in it took the monitor with it smoked it big time.
I took it to two diferent techs the computer was an older one 100 MHZ both recommened scraping most every part and building a new one this wasnt all bad news as the total cost includeing a new factory reconditioned monitor and one year garrentee was $398.00 and change.
). When I plug it all back in and nothing. Light comes on, fan hums, nothing else happens.
My guess is that all your tech will need to do is replace the battery and tighten a few connections.