'puter Croaked

[Lounge Lizard 6]

The old PII in sig upped and died while I was on it. One moment it was fine and the next it winked out like someone tripped over the power cord. It started to reboot but it hangs just after it posts the "PII 504". I have a backedup copy of my OS on the other HD and when I switch it does the same thing.

Any ideas that might help?

[Thantos]

hmm... i u can maybe try going back to clock speed

[DrunkenBozo]

yeah. drop the clock speed back down to default and work from there. If that doesn't work, you fried something and will have to drop a total of $30 (gasp!) on a new p2.

[JimmyG]

Or you could use this as an excuse to buy a brand new AMD 2200 or a P4 2700!:D

[Lounge Lizard 6]

Thanks, I'm thinking it might be the CPU, too because after a little more fiddling it won't even post at all. Just a "no signal" on the screen.

I've got an usused slotket so I guess I could find a PIII. The old MB's softmenu will only go to 800, so any suggestions?

[DaddyB]

If the CPU died then it wouldnt attempt to post at all (like its doing now). try using the clear CMOS jumper and try pulling out all non essentials (pci cards, extra hard drives, extra RAM). try reseating the vid card and RAM and if it still doesnt work try a different stick of RAM (if you have one). then try another vid card in there and try another power supply if you can.

what happens when you turn the comp on now? do any lights come on or any fans spin? if not then I'd suspect the power supply or motherboard. but try what I said above to isolate the problem.

[Lounge Lizard 6]

I disconnected all the extras. Left just the floppy, HD and vid card. The fans spin up but no HD activity and the "No Signal" on the screen. Before it would start to post but now there is nothing.

[DaddyB]

you should try to disconnect the floppy and make sure you have at one stick of RAM in.

If you are not geting any POST beeps set up as above that then its probably the cpu or motherboard. the last thing to try is pull out everything else but the cpu (no RAM, no vid card) if it still doesnt beep then its a toss up between the cpu and motheboard, I had a motherboard die on me and all of the lights and fans would come on but it wouldnt POST. if it does beep with only the cpu in, then it could be an issue with the vid card or possibly RAM (usually if its one of those then it would have given you a beep code before). you could try to pull the cpu out and make sure it is put back in properly but it looks like its probably dead.

looks like were right about it being the CPU although it could be the motherboard, only way to know for sure would be to try the cpu in another system. sorry about your loss... :(

[Lounge Lizard 6]

I'll get another cpu, but you make a good point about the MB. It's the oldest component in the system-around 4 yrs old.

Thanks