Crashed Computer Needs Diagnostic Help

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Jeremy Baker

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Joined: 16 Mar 08
Posts: 1
United States
Message 15930 - Posted: 16 Mar 2008, 4:09:18 UTC

Hello,

I need help trying to identify what is broken with my computer.

My computer crashed while running BOINC Malariacontrol using Fedora Core 8.

Previously there were no problems and I used BOINC for several weeks, earning 471 credits using Fedora w/ Malaria BOINC. Using Win XP, 708 credits towards Seti, and nearly 1% towards climate change.

Issues began to happen recently. I'm not sure what initiated the problem. During regular use with Win XP, for the first time in four years my system flashed a blue screen with a critical stop message, dumped memory to a drive, and rebooted successfully. A few days later, while using the Linux OS, I received a message that I could upgrade my BOINC software. I down loaded the file but failed to install it, so I used the working software that I had in the system. The next day I arrived home and the screen saver was frozen, the system unresponsive, so I shut the power off. After about 10 sec I powered the PC on, but the system did not work.

Problem:
System powers on, CPU fan turns on, front panel green LED is on, and for about 7 sec a red LED is also on but later turns off.
No signal to monitor. I tried a second monitor, same result.
IDK if I have BIOS access, but I can't tell without monitor.
I keyed the keyboard to boot from both hd0 and hd1, but the drives did not respond.

I've reset CMOS. My research on line has not provided any solutions.

I'm assuming that the issue is related to my running BOINC too hot on my CPU. If this is the case, I erroneously trusted that my mother board would halt the CPU when its temp exceeded a safe level.

Have I blown my CPU, mother board, or RAM, or is there something else I need to fix? How can I diagnose the problem? Help would greatly appreciated.

Simple overview of system:
k7S41GS (Asrock mother board)
AMD Athlon XP 2200+ (CPU)
HD0 (Win XP Professional)
HD1 (Fedora Core 8)
1 GIG Ram

Cheers,
Jeremy Baker
ID: 15930 · Report as offensive
Ralph

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Joined: 30 Sep 05
Posts: 50
Message 16159 - Posted: 31 Mar 2008, 14:49:29 UTC

Hi,

I'm not tech support (I used to be), and I'm in no way affiliated with BOINC, or other pundits. Just some friendly help.

From what you're saying, you seem to have a video problem.
'no signal' from the monitor, and trying a second monitor, means that it's not the monitor. Good troubleshooting!

If your hard drive light comes on for a while, then goes out, that would indicate that your hard drive was detected, and something happened that was not displayed.

Try booting to safe mode, if that's possible, or checking the graphics card/drivers. (boot from system disk next) If not, a visit to the local computer repair may be called for.

Does the system do any beeps as it starts? Normally, if there is a system board or processor problem, it beeps a diagnostic code through the system speaker.
ID: 16159 · Report as offensive
Nicolas

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Joined: 19 Jan 07
Posts: 1179
Argentina
Message 16176 - Posted: 31 Mar 2008, 18:15:57 UTC - in response to Message 16159.  

Does the system do any beeps as it starts? Normally, if there is a system board or processor problem, it beeps a diagnostic code through the system speaker.

And you can find the meaning of the beep patterns on the motherboard maker website.
ID: 16176 · Report as offensive

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