Member Avatar for karlosfandango

Hi,
I have just been given two of these machines, both of which have probs. I will talk about this one first and come to the second one in a later thread.
I put a 30Gig Drive in it and set the BIOS to boot from CD to install anew op system for my daughter. It starts up and then immediately powers down before it does anything more. The onboard fan also appears to be a little noisy too with a moderately loud whirring sound. Any ideas to get me started please.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by disophisis

Dani AI

Generated

A few targeted hardware checks beyond the basic power checks already mentioned will quickly narrow the fault down. — building on 's initial suggestions, try these next-level diagnostics before replacing parts.

  • Check the AC adapter output against the rating on its label with a multimeter. An adapter that falls well below its rated voltage under load is a common cause of sudden shutdowns.
  • Inspect the DC jack and its solder points on the mainboard. Look for looseness, burn marks, or cracked solder joints; a wobbly jack can interrupt power under any small movement.
  • Reseat and test memory modules one at a time in each slot. Faulty RAM or a bad slot can cause an immediate power-off or no-POST.
  • Clear the CMOS (remove the coin cell or use the BIOS-reset jumper) to restore default settings if BIOS corruption is suspected.
  • Do a visual inspection of the power/VRM area for bulging or leaking electrolytic capacitors; damaged caps are a classic symptom on older boards and often visible.
  • Attempt a minimal POST with only the CPU, one RAM stick, and onboard video connected (no drives/cards) to see whether the board will stay powered long enough to give diagnostic beeps or status LEDs.

If adapter voltage is correct and the minimal configuration still dies, the problem is likely board-level (power regulation or a short). At that point a shop with board-level tools or a replacement mainboard is the practical next step. Always disconnect mains and take ESD precautions before opening the case.

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Member Avatar for disophisis

Is this with AC power plugged in or is this just on battery?

Try taking the battery out for a half minute or so and then putting it back in.

Member Avatar for karlosfandango

I have tried this on battery only and also with the mains

Member Avatar for disophisis

Did the machine work before you set it to boot from cd?

Well I guess it had to have in order to change it to boot from cd, huh.

If possible, remove the cd drive and see if it boots.

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