My PC will boot up but no signs of external power

[logo897]

Hello all,

I have a very unexpected issue that has came up on me..

I went and plugged in my external DVD drive into my usb on my PC and it did not work, so I restarted my PC. I restarted my PC and it turned off and on repeatedly. I've had this issue before on other computers, so I changed the power supply. The PC turned on just fine, but there was no display on the monitor and my keyboard did not light up.

Things I've done with no success whatsoever

-reseated cmos battery
-swapped power supply at least 4 times
-reseated ram
-unplug all usb
-unplug hard drive
-unplug graphics card

I am out of ideas at this point and am stunned because usually these should work. I am afraid my MOBO might be dead.. but I do not see how it can be from simply plugging in my usb external dvd drive.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[fireberd]

When you "reseated" the CMOS Battery, did you just remove it and reinstall? Intel says to reset the BIOS (CMOS memory) you must remove the battery for 15 minutes (usually 10 minutes is sufficient). With the PC powered off and unplugged from AC power, give that a try. Sounds like a problem in the BIOS.

 

[logo897]

When you "reseated" the CMOS Battery, did you just remove it and reinstall? Intel says to reset the BIOS (CMOS memory) you must remove the battery for 15 minutes (usually 10 minutes is sufficient). With the PC powered off and unplugged from AC power, give that a try. Sounds like a problem in the BIOS.

Hello,

I did what you said and no such luck still. I notice that when I remove all the RAM, the motherboard does beep, when when I put the RAM back in, it's silent again. I don't know if that helps the problem or not

 

[Megahertz07]

Please edit your profile and add all specs about your computer.

The beeps means that your system doesn't find memory and that is good, as your MB seems to be working.
I would say that it is possible that your CPU has a failure.

 

[fireberd]

I would say the CPU is OK. It needs the CPU to do the POST (Power On Self Test) and it is doing that.

Since you replaced the power supply, double check that you have connected everything, the two motherboard connections, hard drive(s), optical drive(s), Video Card power (if needed), etc. Also check other motherboard connections, that nothing was inadvertently disconnected.

 

[Eric3742]

Hi
Before doing anything, remove all unnecessary connection to other devices, such as DVD drive.

I went and plugged in my external DVD drive into my usb on my PC and it did not work, so I restarted my PC. I restarted my PC and it turned off and on repeatedly. I've had this issue before on other computers, so I changed the power supply. The PC turned on just fine, but there was no display on the monitor and my keyboard did not light up.

MB do not die so just like that.
First is to ensure your MB is in working connection.
To test, you need to only connect the power supply to the MB, leave out other devices as not connected.

When you mentioned that turned off and on repeatedly.

Do note that you have to wait for a short period and the computer do not have any light -> main power supply should be switch off too.
Also by doing this way on turned off and on repeatedly, it is not a good method, hence your computer may 'complain' - refuse to boot up.

When the computer is turned off for a longer period and then turned on, this is "Cold Boot".
And if you just restart by not completely turn off, this is "Warm Boot".
There is a difference between both method.
As what you had done, it is consider Warm boot and this may affect the MB.
Warm Boot usually do not check on MB (and other components) conditions.
Cold Boot is for the MB to check all the components are in working condition.
If not, it will not start the computer, hence you are having this sort of repeatedly on & off.

The thing about main supply unit is first to check MB in working condition then it boot, and giving the power to all other devices.
If not, it will not boot. That is why power supply unit is for this purpose.

I am afraid my MOBO might be dead.. but I do not see how it can be from simply plugging in my usb external dvd drive.

It is not the fault of the usb external dvd drive, as you have already doing unnecessary turning off & on the computer, as it is just the timing that it happened at that moments.
By the way, external dvd drive do come with external power adapter or additional usb cable for power.
Note that the additional usb cable for external device, you need to connect to USB 2.0 for power, not USB 3.





Reset the BIOS is the very last method, if all else failed.
Doing it unnecessary may even give the MB error and failed to boot.

Reset the BIOS need additional option beside remove and fit back the coin battery.
If possible, get a new coin battery, do check the type of coin battery.

There is a jumper on the MB to clear the BIOS, which need to wait a few second.

Example:
How to Clear Your Computer’s CMOS to Reset BIOS Settings

Once you can get to BIOS, check all the setting in the BIOS carefully, including date/time - as this may cause issue.


I can't provide any solutions yet, just digesting what you had done.
Maybe someone may have a solution &or answer to your problem.


Do note that this is a basic understanding on computer.

 

[logo897]

Please edit your profile and add all specs about your computer.

The beeps means that your system doesn't find memory and that is good, as your MB seems to be working.
I would say that it is possible that your CPU has a failure.

I have no guranteed specs right now because of the fact that I'm changing PC parts to test stuff out, but here's the main part of the computer I haven't changed

cpu: intel core i5 650
mobo: intel dq57tm

everything else varies, as I've changed my psu and ram as many times and combinations as I can imagine.

I've also tested 2 gpu's:

gt 610 and gtx 960

 

[logo897]

I would say the CPU is OK. It needs the CPU to do the POST (Power On Self Test) and it is doing that.

Since you replaced the power supply, double check that you have connected everything, the two motherboard connections, hard drive(s), optical drive(s), Video Card power (if needed), etc. Also check other motherboard connections, that nothing was inadvertently disconnected.

Everything is ok except foir some bent pins, however they have been bent for over a month and my pc has worked flawlessly until yesterday

There are some batteries that are tilted but none have come off.

 

[logo897]

eric3742,

My hard drive spins and everything else powers on perfectly, except my monitor and I also notice that the LED flashing is no longer on. The flashing for when my computer is thinking. My pc doesn't have a jumper but I have taken out the battery, put a new one in my computer, and even taken one from my other working tower. No luck. I've also let the computer sit on for over 30 mins and no display still.

 

[fireberd]

Could the monitor be the problem? Have you connected it to another PC?

 

[Eric3742]

Then most probably is the monitor.

Is the monitor old type where the video cable is unable to remove.

This could means that either the MB connector not working or the monitor cable or monitor itself not working.

Funny thing is your keyboard also not working.

 

[logo897]

Yes the monitor works perfectly fine on my other pc and I even tried connecting it to another one just in case. No luck. I just tried jumping the motherboard cmos battery and no such luck. Things look pretty bad right now...

 

[Megahertz07]

"Everything is ok except for some CPU bent pins, however they have been bent for over a month and my pc has worked flawlessly until yesterday" The bent pins are on the CPU or on the socket?

"There are some batteries that are tilted but none have come off." On a desktop there is only a Cmos battery (CR2032). Aren't them capacitors?

I still think the problem is with the CPU.

 

[logo897]

"Everything is ok except for some CPU bent pins, however they have been bent for over a month and my pc has worked flawlessly until yesterday" The bent pins are on the CPU or on the socket?

"There are some batteries that are tilted but none have come off." On a desktop there is only a Cmos battery (CR2032). Aren't them capacitors?

I still think the problem is with the CPU.

My cpu pins are fine and only some pins by the power are bent, but not the power itself. Also yes, I meant capacitors not batteries, my mistake

 

[Megahertz07]

Didn't understand "My cpu pins are fine and only some pins by the power are bent, but not the power itself."
Can you be more clear? Are you talking about the MotherBoard or CPU?

 

[logo897]

Didn't understand "My cpu pins are fine and only some pins by the power are bent, but not the power itself."
Can you be more clear? Are you talking about the MotherBoard or CPU?

My bad, I mean there are some pins by my power switch cable on my mobo that are bent, but I successfully installed the different colored wires on my PC mobo that enable me to turn on the pc with my power button. The pc turns on just fine as well as the power light, but the hard drive light does not flash or turn on whatsoever.

 

[Layback Bear]

Could you fill in you (My System Specs) completely?
It would help us help you.

 

[Eric3742]

Seem that all else failed, there may be one thing not done /test yet.

Is your monitor connect to the computer using MB VGA or add-on VGA card on the PCI slot.
Three options:


1. If the monitor is connected directly to the MB (MB vga).
If possibly that the MB VGA connector is not working or the VGA itself failed.

1.1. Get a VGA card, from another computer if available, slot it in to the computer PCI slot.
Then connect the monitor cable to the VGA on PCI slot.


2. If your pc is connected directly to a VGA card on the MB PCI slot.

2.1. Turn off the pc and connection, open the MB and pull out the VGA card on the PCI slot.
Find a eraser and polish the gold contact and remove all bits of it. (Do not do it on top of the pc)
Slot back and connect to check.


3. The VGA connector is cable link to the MB pin.
Check the VGA connector, as the connector is do have loose or bend pin, contact no good.
(Remember this when reading about pin)

Both options 1 and 3 are the same, depend on the MB.



I did encountered this during when playing and repair (DIY) computer, during DOS to Windows period.

 

[Digerati]

Intel says to reset the BIOS (CMOS memory) you must remove the battery for 15 minutes (usually 10 minutes is sufficient).

Oh? Do you have a link to the Intel document that says that?

I note the CMOS devices by their very nature "instantly" (within 1 or 2 clock cycles) dump their stored data when power is removed. That is why they are used in many applications and in particular, motherboards. The designers intentionally do not put "storage" capacitors in that circuit either (that's what the battery is for) so there is no need to wait for any caps to bleed off their charge. Even the 5 minutes the How-to Geek recommends is about 4 minutes 45 seconds longer than needed. This is also why shorting the two pins with the CMOS reset jumper only takes a second.

I note if motherboard designers wanted the CMOS data to be less volatile (harder to dump), they would not have used CMOS devices - but instead would have used EEPROMs or something similar.

@logo897 - have you been observing ESD precautions all this time? That is, have you been unplugging the computer from the wall (or flipping the PSU master switch) and touching bare metal of the case interior BEFORE reaching in to touch the CPU, RAM, graphics card etc.? This is essential to discharge any static in your body that may zap those ESD sensitive devices.

I notice that when I remove all the RAM, the motherboard does beep, when when I put the RAM back in, it's silent again.

If you don't hear 1 short beep after putting the RAM back in, the system is NOT finishing POST (power on self-test).

According to the specs for that motherboard, it has integrated graphics. I think if me, I would pull the graphics card, and connect your monitor to the integrated graphics solution. Then pull all but one stick of RAM, and all drives. Verify all power connections are good, then boot. You should see the graphic and BIOS splash screens on the monitor. Then you should hear 1 short beep to indicate a successful POST. Then the system should halt with an error indicating no boot disk found. If that is not happening, then either your motherboard of the CPU is wrong.

Note I do agree with Eric3742 that motherboards should not die like that. However, that is under normal conditions. That is, you should be able to plug in and unplug USB devices and not short out your motherboard. But if the USB device, or one of the USB connectors is faulty, a +5V circuit could be crossed with another and potentially cause damage.

 

[Eric3742]

I do agree with @Itaregid that there should have 1 short beep upon starting.
As i forgot about this since i no longer use desktop computer

Also you need to remove your graphics card which may be the problem, as what @Itaregid mentioned.


When you are removing components such as RAM, and any other card, you need to check that all the gold contact is good.
And also the slot, such as the RAM slot, which can cause problem, if damaged or foreign bit is lock in the slot.
This happened to me while doing my friend /colleague computer, as i damage the RAM slot.

As since your keyboard do not light up, as it meant also another problem.

As mentioned by @Itaregid the USB connector, do check or i think you can disable that particular USB port.
Look at the wiring from the USB port inside the MB, to where the wiring end to which pins on the MB.

Also on the CMOS reset jumper only need Coin battery, that is no main power supply connected.

If @Itaregid say otherwise, then follow Itaregid advice.



(My memory is getting rusty on computers components, as this was a long time ago.)