Old computer kaputt - can it be rescued?
Discussion
Computer refusing to boot into Windows at all. Runs, fans operate
I think my current Mesh computer dates from 2011 and has a Radeon HD5750 graphics card on a MCP61M -M3 motherboard
Anyway, I put an SSD in it a few years ago and put my Windows 7 on it and have a separate HDD for storage etc in a bid to speed it up and it did.
It has suffered blue screens in the past but a Corsair CX750 power units has generally solved those issue and it has run reliably for several years.
Recently had a few Windows did not shut down successfully messages and the odd blue screen even though it was put into Sleep mode but in general, it has booted up with no issues "starting Windows normally"
I have removed the memory sticks and disconnected every peripheral, turned it off and on again and reseated the graphics card. Nothing seems loose or out of place.
I even took out the SSD and tried it in another computer and Windows boots up just fine. I am going to buy a new computer ( separate thread) but would like to get this one working again, in case there is anything I need on there.
So in essence, it starts, fans go but no signal on the screen at all so presumably Windows is not firing up. Any ideas where to start?
I think my current Mesh computer dates from 2011 and has a Radeon HD5750 graphics card on a MCP61M -M3 motherboard
Anyway, I put an SSD in it a few years ago and put my Windows 7 on it and have a separate HDD for storage etc in a bid to speed it up and it did.
It has suffered blue screens in the past but a Corsair CX750 power units has generally solved those issue and it has run reliably for several years.
Recently had a few Windows did not shut down successfully messages and the odd blue screen even though it was put into Sleep mode but in general, it has booted up with no issues "starting Windows normally"
I have removed the memory sticks and disconnected every peripheral, turned it off and on again and reseated the graphics card. Nothing seems loose or out of place.
I even took out the SSD and tried it in another computer and Windows boots up just fine. I am going to buy a new computer ( separate thread) but would like to get this one working again, in case there is anything I need on there.
So in essence, it starts, fans go but no signal on the screen at all so presumably Windows is not firing up. Any ideas where to start?
If the ssd boots fine on another computer then RAM or motherboard has most likely gone bad. But also if youve already done that just get the files you need off the SSD and bin this broken PC unless you really want to keep it as a spare, might not be worth the time and money to fix if it's the motherboard that's expired.
Yup, access the files and bin the machine. New PCs aren't very expensive and are a shed-load quicker. I was going to buy from Currys but the machine was actually cheaper direct from Acer's online shop. It came without keyboard and mouse but you can pick those up from Amazon very inexpensively. Windows 11 is nothing to fear, just say "no" to as much as possible when it's being set up.
you did not really explain what you're seeing as an error but if you have taken all components out and reseated them then you're down to 3 things:
1. Motherboard
2. Corruption in the SSD
3. CPU thermal issues (paste, cooling)
4. PSU
If you get the data off the drive and verify it, try deleting all partitions and installing your OS again. Since it may be croaking in S3 mode, it could be PSU.
For me it's not clear whether you get something on the screen or not, ever. If not then check the cable as well as the graphic card.
1. Motherboard
2. Corruption in the SSD
3. CPU thermal issues (paste, cooling)
4. PSU
If you get the data off the drive and verify it, try deleting all partitions and installing your OS again. Since it may be croaking in S3 mode, it could be PSU.
For me it's not clear whether you get something on the screen or not, ever. If not then check the cable as well as the graphic card.
LuS1fer said:
I even took out the SSD and tried it in another computer and Windows boots up just fine. I am going to buy a new computer ( separate thread) but would like to get this one working again, in case there is anything I need on there.
As others have said, remove the discs and add them to the new machine, scrap the rest.If the new one is capable of it, attaching via SATA will be far faster for transferring data off. If it's a laptop, USB caddies.
Thank you for all the advice.
I plan on transplanting the graphics card to another crappy computer and bin this one. I'll try the BIOS battery thing first.
There was no input signal coming in at all to the screen. Tried another cable but nothing. It was the speed of the demise that I found odd. You normally get a slow death.
I plan on transplanting the graphics card to another crappy computer and bin this one. I'll try the BIOS battery thing first.
There was no input signal coming in at all to the screen. Tried another cable but nothing. It was the speed of the demise that I found odd. You normally get a slow death.
LuS1fer said:
Thank you for all the advice.
I plan on transplanting the graphics card to another crappy computer and bin this one. I'll try the BIOS battery thing first.
There was no input signal coming in at all to the screen. Tried another cable but nothing. It was the speed of the demise that I found odd. You normally get a slow death.
Replace the bios battery - it has probably died. Do the one stick of ram at a time thing and if possible get a friend to lend you some known working parts (gpu, ram, cpu, psu). 15 years isn't too bad (I got 15 years out of a core 2 quad Dell 545S studio) - but it is probably time to upgrade.I plan on transplanting the graphics card to another crappy computer and bin this one. I'll try the BIOS battery thing first.
There was no input signal coming in at all to the screen. Tried another cable but nothing. It was the speed of the demise that I found odd. You normally get a slow death.
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