Member Avatar for war3n3xt

Morning all.
I am having problems booting machine, It started with a problem booting up, it both restarted during xp screen or froze. assumed hdd, got new one. while doing this clean out case, therm paste chip. check all cables.. re installed windows and the same thing happens.. ok change ide cable same, new processor, swop and change ram, still the same, different xp disc, same, any ideas! bios reset and just in case tried second new hard drive formattted with active kill disc.. got me beat...
cant get specs as machine is well not booting..
any help would be great..

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Dani AI

Generated

Given what has already tried and the prompts from and , the most likely remaining culprits are the power supply or the motherboard. Below is a concise, ordered diagnostic workflow and a few safety/diagnostic notes to narrow it down without repeating the parts already swapped.

  1. Bench the board (minimal boot): remove the motherboard from the case, fit it on a non-conductive surface, connect only PSU, CPU + cooler, one known-good RAM stick, and video. Power on and watch for POST LEDs/beeps and fan behavior. This rules out case shorts and many peripheral faults.
  2. Verify or swap the PSU: either swap in a known-good PSU or measure live rails (black = ground). Typical acceptable ranges: +12V = ~11.4–12.6V, +5V = ~4.75–5.25V, +3.3V = ~3.135–3.465V. If uncomfortable with live measurements, swap instead. Do not open the PSU.
  3. Visually inspect VRM and electrolytic capacitors (especially around the CPU area) for bulging, leakage, or brown residue — visible damage is a clear fail. Absence of visible damage does not guarantee health, but visible damage is decisive.
  4. Clear CMOS and listen for POST/beep codes (attach a simple speaker if none). If the board posts to BIOS reliably but Windows still dies, use a bootable Memtest86+ or a Linux live medium to test stability outside Windows.
  5. Check mechanical/installation issues: heatsink seating and backplate torque, bent CPU socket pins (if applicable), stuck standoffs or misplaced screws that can short traces, and firmly reseat all power/data connectors.

Safety notes: discharge capacitors only by leaving the PSU unplugged; do not open the PSU; use static precautions when handling components. If swapping the PSU fixes the problem, replace the faulty unit. If all tests still fail, the motherboard is the likely fault and replacement or professional board-level repair is the next step.

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Member Avatar for gerbil

PSU? Voltages ok?

Member Avatar for war3n3xt

how on earth would i check? i have another machine here for download discs and stuff..
may have a voltmeter somewhere?!

Member Avatar for willcomp

Looks like you have it narrowed down to PSU or motherboard. If swapping PSUs doesn't resolve the problem -- well mobo is left.

Inspect capacitors on motherboard for signs of swelling or leakage, especially the ones near CPU socket. Absence of damage does not mean they are good, but visible signs of damage does indicate they are failing.

Member Avatar for war3n3xt

ok.. will do thanks for advice. i have another psu here that ill be using in the morning.. but ill defo have a look for damage..

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