Computer will not start

Computer will not start
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djr777 @ 25th Oct 10:14PM:
Computer will not start

Well I was hoping it was the PSU so I replaced it. Before I did replace it I tried the ol paperclip in the green and black connector trick. The fans would not turn so I thought it was bad. I installed the new PSU and since the computer still would not start I tried that trick again on the new PSU and this time the fans did spin. So I think the old PSU was bad but now I'm thinking that the motherboard is also out. I have checked all the connections and reset the memory.

When I try and turn it on, all I get is a little flutter of the fan on the PSU.

There is a little burnt smell but no burnt components that I can see. I don't know if it has always smelled that way or not.

The computer is a Gateway fx400xl. I have not replaced a motherboard before and if I do how much do they cost? Also should I upgrade the motherboard?

I think this is the motherboard:
»support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/I···v.shtml#

»support.gateway.com/s//PC/FX400/···nv.shtml

Before it died it was acting a little funny. The mouse and cursor would kinda freeze up and on computer start up the clock would have the wrong time. Stuff like that. Does that sound like the beginning of a motherboard going out?

Any ideas?
If the battery in the motherboard was dead would that prevent it from starting up?

Thanks

Edit: Prior to the 'no-start-up' I did do a memory test and it checked ok.

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...there will be an answer. let it be
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rawwhide @ 27th Oct 08:29PM:
Re: Computer will not start

Can you post a picture of your actual motherboard? If you smell something burnt then something probably fried.
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To talk much and arrive nowhere is the same as climbing a tree to catch a fish.
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veloslave @ 27th Oct 10:55PM:
Re: Computer will not start

Gateways and emachines are known to have the PS and mobo go at the same time so that would not be too shocking.

Disconnect everything from the board except for the PS & video card if it is an PCI-E or AGP and boot it. If the BIOS starts then it is not the mobo. You still need to, at this point, insure it is not the proc if possible but if no BIOS comes up with everything disconnected... then it is most like not worth repairing unless you are really desperate to get it back to where it was... then you can look for the same mobo on ebay.
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bewhole @ 28th Oct 11:37AM:
Re: Computer will not start

Do you have a regular video card or is it on board?? The reason I ask is that if you have a pcie video and on board video take the pcie out and try to power it up using the on board video. Strange request but I have seen video cards go and the computer will not start.
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djr777 @ 28th Oct 11:43AM:
Re: Computer will not start

I have a nvidia 7800 so that would be pcie...right?

So just disconnect it and try it?
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...there will be an answer. let it be
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bewhole @ 28th Oct 11:46AM:
Re: Computer will not start

yes just pull it out of the slot and try powering it up.
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djr777 @ 28th Oct 11:54AM:
Re: Computer will not start

I have tried disconnecting the H/D's and the DVD drives. I'm not sure what else i can disconnect. I have the power going from the PSU to the mobo. I have a connection from the PSU to the video card. There are two fans connected to the mobo and two IDE's as well as sata connections directly to the mobo

I can not really show a good pic of the mobo because i have not yet taken it out.

thanks
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...there will be an answer. let it be

djr777 @ 28th Oct 11:56AM:
Re: Computer will not start

Ok

Is there anything i need to be careful of. I know about static electricity but is there any grounds I should be concerned with?

thanks
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...there will be an answer. let it be
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bewhole @ 28th Oct 12:03PM:
Re: Computer will not start

Not that I can think of just take the screw out the power cable if it has one off the video card and there is a leaver on the back of the slot just push that and the card should pull right out. oh and buy the looks of the fan on the card you need to clean that if the card is not the problem and you have to put it back in.
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I dream of a better world, where chickens can cross roads without having their motives questioned...
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epoxy404 @ 28th Oct 12:03PM:
Re: Computer will not start

Its hard to tell but from your pix it looks like you might not have plugged in the 4pin power connector to your motherboard. It's also possibe you plugged it into the 7800 instead. The new psu should have a 4/8pin mobo power connector and a 6pin pcie connector or an adaptor for a molex it won't post if the 4/8pin is not plugged into the mobo.
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djr777 @ 28th Oct 12:41PM:
Re: Computer will not start

I got some results.

I disconnected the video card and took it out. I tried to power up. Nothing. I took it a step further and disconnected everything except the PSU power and on off switch. When i turned it on this time the fan in the PSU started up but it did not seem to reach full power. I tried to turn it off on the on off button but it only stays on continuously. So i turned it off by means of the powerstrip. I turned it back on by means of the powerstrip and once again it came on. I decided to try and see if i plugged a fan back in to the mobo if that would work. I tried to power up with the fan plugged in and...nothing. I unplugged the fan and tried to power up now the PSU fan only flutters and stops.

...any ideas??
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...there will be an answer. let it be
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djr777 @ 28th Oct 12:42PM:
Re: Computer will not start

Thanks
I checked those and they are right
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...there will be an answer. let it be
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ross @ 28th Oct 04:21PM:
Re: Computer will not start

said by djr777 :

... If the battery in the motherboard was dead would that prevent it from starting up?
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Yep. Pull the battery out, and try starting the system. If the system POSTs, and allows you to enter the BIOS to change settings, do so and choose the "defaults". Check to make sure it is set to correctly identify your video card interface, save and exit. The system should restart, POST and boot to the operating system if you have a hard drive with OS installed.

If the system will not start, or POST, with the battery removed, you have a bigger problem.
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rawwhide @ 28th Oct 09:09PM:
Re: Computer will not start

Look at the capacitors and see if they are bulging. Any bulging even just slightly would mean they are bad. The pictures not high enough resolution for me to tell if there was any damage on the board or components.
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To talk much and arrive nowhere is the same as climbing a tree to catch a fish.
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djr777 @ 2nd Nov 11:26AM:
Re: Computer will not start

I didn't see any obvious damage on the mobo. But that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't blown ...right?

I have already replaced the PSU. If I upgraded the Motherboard, CPU and OS. Is that all I would need to upgrade?

Any suggestions on What Motherboard and CPU would work with my other components?

Can my wife get a discount on win 7 because she is a student?

Thanks
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wcda @ 3rd Nov 11:31AM:
Re: Computer will not start

Did you check the memory chips? I had the same problem one one of mine went bad. Found it by removing the sticks and trying them one by one to see if any were bad.
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djr777 @ 3rd Nov 11:54AM:
Re: Computer will not start

Thanks everyone for your help.

Fixed it yesterday.

»What precautions to take when sending my computer 4 repair?
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anon @ 3rd Nov 01:09PM:
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