Windows 7: Computer not starting, was placed on Subwoofer

jimkromann · 02 Sep 2012

Just build my GF a new computer last month, so we moved to a new place this weekend, and when we were unpacking we found her computer placed on a sub-woofer

(i removed it as fast as i could) now after plugging our computers, her pc is not starting.... it powers up for about 2-4 secs. then it turns off.

I tried to remove the RAM and put them back in, and i did the same for the graphics card, but it did not work.

Any ideas for what could be the issue..??

TVeblen · 02 Sep 2012

I take it you are concerned that the magnet in the sub-woofer has damaged some component. While this is certainly possible, it would need to be a very large magnet and very close to the component.

I'm thinking that something was jarred loose during the move. What I would do is strip the entire build down and put it back together again. If it were me I would test it after every piece I installed, starting with the processor. You should get beep error codes telling you that key components are missing: RAM, Video Card before you can get to the BIOS screen display, but if the problem occurs early in the reassembly then you can narrow it down to the failed part.

linnemeyerhere · 02 Sep 2012

Will the computer post to it's bios? Normally hitting delete or another key when you first turn it on.

jimkromann · 02 Sep 2012

Thanks for the reply

It does not show anything, the fans start and it stops again (i saw this by taking the cover off the side). no display on the screen. the computer powers off before i have a chance to get in bios, and i do not get any beep codes.

I also checked every wire to the mother board and they appear to be as they should.

linnemeyerhere · 02 Sep 2012

Jim,
That's a problem, you may have wiped the bios chip with the magnetic field of the sub. I'm unsure just how you can re-program the bios......I believe this is what we refer to as a "bricked" mobo same as if you'd improperly updated your bios. You may be looking at sending the mobo into the manufacturer or at least calling them could be the best next step. Once you get the mobo booting then we can only hope the HDD is intact, of course you can pull it and check in another system.

TVeblen · 03 Sep 2012

Just going to post some information here about magnets and electronic components folks. You can look at more stuff on this with a web search. But like I said before: it is highly unlikely that the magnet caused this problem.

From "The Top Eight Computer Myths"

"8: Magnetic mayhem
One of the basic tips in every computers-for-idiots book is to keep your floppy disks and other magnetic media away from magnetic fields, lest your data be wiped.
Magnetic fields can, indeed, eat data, but the usual suspects aren't generally the problem.
Every ordinary cone-type speaker driver has a large permanent magnet on its back, to give its electromagnetic voice coil something to push against. "Shielded" speakers neutralize the magnetic field with another, opposed magnet glued to the voice coil one, which reduces the driver's efficiency but does the job. An unshielded speaker's magnetic field is clearly apparent if you put it too close to your monitor - the image will distort and change color, and in extreme cases stay that way, despite the monitor's built in "degaussing" circuit, until someone makes magic passes over the device with a degaussing wand.
But putting a floppy disk on top of an unshielded speaker won't hurt the data on the disk at all. This is partly because a change in magnetic field strength is helpful in erasing disks when the field is more or less powerful enough to flip the bits, but mainly because the magnet on the back of a speaker may only barely be strong enough to erase a floppy even if you put the disk right on top of the bare driver. A rapidly oscillating magnetic field of greater strength is much more dangerous than the weaker, static one from a simple permanent magnet inside a box.
A old fashioned bell-ringer telephone contains a pulsing electromagnet that moves its bell-clapper, and a disk leant up against it is likely to be a goner in short order. The above mentioned monitor degauss circuit may zap disks left atop the screen pretty well, too, and some printers, especially older dot matrix models, contain quite large and poorly magnetically shielded motors.
Essentially, any electronic device with moving parts may be able to zot your floppies, tapes and Zip disks. It doesn't have to be able to pick up a paper clip to be dangerous."

Can I Erase a EEPROM like this?? - TechSpot Forums

Is it possible to erase a hard drive with magnets? | Cobolhacker

The Top Eight Computer Myths!

jimkromann · 03 Sep 2012

Thanks for the answers everyone, im afraid that "linnemeyerhere" is right

linnemeyerhere · 03 Sep 2012

Jim,
How much was the mobo, could you purchase a lesser mobo for the same chip and test? Then if it boots you would have a viable rig till the repaired mobo comes back?

bobkn · 03 Sep 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by TVeblen

An unshielded speaker's magnetic field is clearly apparent if you put it too close to your monitor - the image will distort and change color, and in extreme cases stay that way, despite the monitor's built in "degaussing" circuit, until someone makes magic passes over the device with a degaussing wand.

To state this obvious, this applies to CRT monitors. The change in them that required degaussing was due to magnetization of the shadow mask, which was sometimes made of Invar.

I've heard of people damaging the data on floppies by sticking them to steel file cabinets with refrigerator magnets.

Damn, but I'm old.

jimkromann · 03 Sep 2012

I gave up on it, it stressed me too much as we just moved too, there is a tons of things to do so i turned in the computer at the local computer shop and asked them to address the issue and then call me. i will follow up on this thread when they call me back....

Thanks for all the help from u guys so far

Windows 7: Computer not starting, was placed on Subwoofer

Computer not starting, was placed on Subwoofer problems?