computer question

[Chuck in Indiana]

A couple of days ago, my PC suddenly quit. It was like the power had been shut off. I waited a while in case it was heat related and tried again. It started to boot up, then died again. I thought, "Shirley it's the power supply." Just put a new one in, hooked the SATA cable to the hard drive, other cable to the floppy, power to the mother board.
Power supply runs, but that is all. Holding the power button down to shut it off does nothing.
I'm clueless, of course.. I'm a parts changer. Do I need to seek professional aid?

[Triple Jim]

I'd say it's likely that it either has some bad memory or something on the motherboard like the processor failed.  Were there any boot messages when it tried to start, that might give a clue?

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'd say it's likely that it either has some bad memory or something on the motherboard like the processor failed.  Were there any boot messages when it tried to start, that might give a clue?

Nope, it didn't get that far.

[LaMojo]

Motherboard. 

[Triple Jim]

If you have more than one SIMM, you might try removing one and see if it boots.  If not, put the other one in by itself and see it it boots.  A bad SIMM can make a computer appear dead, but of course so can a lot of other things.

[atavar]

Any beeps as it tries to start up?  if so note the pattern, like long-short-long.. 

[rodekyll]

If you hooked up the power supply to the floppy drive, then yes, you need professional aid.  There hasn't been a computer floppy drive sold with or without a computer attached for at least a decade.  If your computer is that old it probably died of disappointment.

Seriously though -- what is the age and brand/model computer?  What is the OS?  What point of boot does it arrive at -- be specific.

Recheck the cabling.  There is a 20-pin and a 24-pin connector possible to the motherboard.  Do you have the proper one?  Also, there is a 4-pin square connector that needs to go to the motherboard.  That's the actual switch connection.  Gotta have that.

In order to boot, assuming power, the computer needs a good video, memory, and CPU signal.  Any one missing and you got nothing.  So pull and reseat everything to be sure there isn't a tarnish/corrosion issue with a connector.

Report back.

[Xlratr]

A computer is a consumable. I'd buy a new one and put my back up on it.
You shirley have a back up, right Chuck?

[Chuck in Indiana]

If you hooked up the power supply to the floppy drive, then yes, you need professional aid.  There hasn't been a computer floppy drive sold with or without a computer attached for at least a decade.  If your computer is that old it probably died of disappointment.

Seriously though -- what is the age and brand/model computer?  What is the OS?  What point of boot does it arrive at -- be specific.

Recheck the cabling.  There is a 20-pin and a 24-pin connector possible to the motherboard.  Do you have the proper one?  Also, there is a 4-pin square connector that needs to go to the motherboard.  That's the actual switch connection.  Gotta have that.

In order to boot, assuming power, the computer needs a good video, memory, and CPU signal.  Any one missing and you got nothing.  So pull and reseat everything to be sure there isn't a tarnish/corrosion issue with a connector.

Report back.

Reporting back, sir.  It's a Gateway, and kind of old. Quad core from memory. Originally came with Vista, if that helps, but upgraded to Win7. CD drive, not floppy. 24 pin connector. You can just see the power connector to the mother board.
2016-06-12_05-17-25 by Charles Stottlemyer, on Flickr

[rodekyll]

Alrighty.  It's been a while since they made cow-colored computers.  There was a time when they ruled.  Kinda like windjammers (cue the "when windjammers roamed" pic photoshopped appropriately).

Plug in that power connector where it goes on the motherboard and unplug everything from the drives -- signal and power.

Unplug everything from the back except the plug to the wall and the plug to the video.  Keybord, mouse, etc -- all unplugged.  No usb sticks, etc.

Then try to start it.  It should give you some messages on the screen whining about all the stuff you unplugged.  If it does that we can move forward testing the unplugged stuff.  If it does not, there is no point with a computer that old.  It's time to take ol' Bossie out back .  . . . .

[Chuck in Indiana]

Alrighty.  It's been a while since they made cow-colored computers.  There was a time when they ruled.  Kinda like windjammers (cue the "when windjammers roamed" pic photoshopped appropriately).

Plug in that power connector where it goes on the motherboard and unplug everything from the drives -- signal and power.

Unplug everything from the back except the plug to the wall and the plug to the video.  Keybord, mouse, etc -- all unplugged.  No usb sticks, etc.

Then try to start it.  It should give you some messages on the screen whining about all the stuff you unplugged.  If it does that we can move forward testing the unplugged stuff.  If it does not, there is no point with a computer that old.  It's time to take ol' Bossie out back .  . . . .

Dang, old Bessie was  a good old girl.. but when it's time it's time. <loading 44>
Thanks all..

[Chuck in Indiana]

A computer is a consumable. I'd buy a new one and put my back up on it.
You shirley have a back up, right Chuck?

I Shirley do.  I've been avoiding new computers, though. I'm not sure that my Cad/cam software will run on Win 10, and I don't know if communications (rs232) with a serial port is possible either. I'm sort of in the plugs and points era. Is there a USB to serial converter?

[lucian]

Sounds like it's gone into "protect the public mode" you haven't typed any bad words lately have you?

[Chuck in Indiana]

Sounds like it's gone into "protect the public mode" you haven't typed any bad words lately have you?

Well, I though of a couple when the computer suddenly died. Shirley they aren't reading our thoughts yet.. are they?

[Chuck in Indiana]

So. Assuming that I'm buying a *choke gasp*   new computer.. is there any brand I should avoid? I pay no attention whatsoever to computers.. they're tools to me, not toys.

[beetle]

Get a fuel injected one. 

[ITSec]

I Shirley do.  I've been avoiding new computers, though. I'm not sure that my Cad/cam software will run on Win 10, and I don't know if communications (rs232) with a serial port is possible either. I'm sort of in the plugs and points era. Is there a USB to serial converter?

If your CAD/CAM requires a lower version of Windows than Win10, you've got a couple of choices. Some machines are still on the market from the 'old' days with pre-installed Win8 or even Win7, but buy soon as the supply is limited, You can also buy a copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 and install it yourself, but if you're not well-versed you may have issues with installation since machines using the latest 5th or 6th generation Intel motherboards may not be able to support installation from a USB device (i.e., they only have USB 3.0 ports and it becomes acrobatic to successfully install Win7 especially). You may also be able to use a virtual machine to run Windows 7 as a process under Windows 10, and use your software in that VM environment. Again, if you're skills are basic you'll need to bone up a bit to do this.

The best free virtual machine software is VirtualBox, available here: https://www.virtualbox.org/

Some desktop machines still have serial ports, but fewer all the time. USB to serial converters are readily available, and better quality ones with good drivers can work even with older software. Read the Guzzidiag threads and you'll see what happens when people try to use low-quality USB to serial adapters. You'll also see some references to help you identify USB-to-serial products that work well.

Most major name brands, and a few of the minor ones are all good. I have not been impressed with HP/Compaq for almost a decade, maybe longer. Lenovo, Toshiba, Dell, Asus, Acer, and a bunch of others are all good. For my own use, I usually build my own desktops and servers, and buy ThinkPads (Lenovo) for my laptops.

You may want to buy locally for support, but if you want to buy online, good sources include Fry's, Newegg, TigerDirect, and some others.

[rodekyll]

I have no recommendations other than to
blow up your tv,
throw away the paper,
go to the mountains,
build you a home. 

Have a bunch of children. 
Bring them up on peaches. 
Try to find Jesus
on your own.

I have reverted to my luddite, feral ways and can no longer advocate for computers or computing.

[lucian]

[. Shirley they aren't reading our thoughts yet.. are they?
quote]

I don't think your old one could, but the new one certainly will, so practice mind control before you log on.

And whatever brand you choose looks like there will soon be an improved beetle map available

[Wayne Orwig]

I Shirley do.  I've been avoiding new computers, though. I'm not sure that my Cad/cam software will run on Win 10, and I don't know if communications (rs232) with a serial port is possible either. I'm sort of in the plugs and points era. Is there a USB to serial converter?

The only possible issue that I can think of, is that the USB to serial adapter might assign the COM port to a number greater than 9. I have encountered a lot of old software that didn't allow you to use, say port COM16. Even on those cases, you can usually go into the driver in device manager, and set a better COM port number.

In my case, I use a PC to talk to a 30year old weather station. The USB to serial adapter has been a good thing. A nearby lightning strike takes out the USB to serial dongle, not the PC port like it used to.

[charlie b]

If your only goal is CAD, then get a copy of Draftsight.  It's free and is as capable of the 2D Autocad.

If it's the CAM you're worried about then it's another issue.  Maybe see if there is a more current one that would work?  Tons out there in the open source world.

[Triple Jim]

If your only goal is CAD, then get a copy of Draftsight.  It's free and is as capable of the 2D Autocad.

And there's a version for Linux.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'm pretty well married to my cad/cam. It's 3D, I'm familiar with it, I've been running it since it was on DOS. (Luddite content) Woke up early this morning thinking about all the hassle this is going to be.
 Another couple of questions.
Back in the Pleistocene, I put  my old hard drive in a new computer as a slave. Is that still possible with 32 bit/64 bit technology?
 My old (pre Y2K) Quickbooks won't run on the 64 bit system either, will it?

[Chuck in Indiana]

If your CAD/CAM requires a lower version of Windows than Win10, you've got a couple of choices. Some machines are still on the market from the 'old' days with pre-installed Win8 or even Win7, but buy soon as the supply is limited, You can also buy a copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 and install it yourself, but if you're not well-versed you may have issues with installation since machines using the latest 5th or 6th generation Intel motherboards may not be able to support installation from a USB device (i.e., they only have USB 3.0 ports and it becomes acrobatic to successfully install Win7 especially). You may also be able to use a virtual machine to run Windows 7 as a process under Windows 10, and use your software in that VM environment. Again, if you're skills are basic you'll need to bone up a bit to do this.

The best free virtual machine software is VirtualBox, available here: https://www.virtualbox.org/

Some desktop machines still have serial ports, but fewer all the time. USB to serial converters are readily available, and better quality ones with good drivers can work even with older software. Read the Guzzidiag threads and you'll see what happens when people try to use low-quality USB to serial adapters. You'll also see some references to help you identify USB-to-serial products that work well.

Most major name brands, and a few of the minor ones are all good. I have not been impressed with HP/Compaq for almost a decade, maybe longer. Lenovo, Toshiba, Dell, Asus, Acer, and a bunch of others are all good. For my own use, I usually build my own desktops and servers, and buy ThinkPads (Lenovo) for my laptops.

You may want to buy locally for support, but if you want to buy online, good sources include Fry's, Newegg, TigerDirect, and some others.

Yeah, I've read of the issues with Guzzi Diag.. that's why I was thinking of a real serial port.  Thanks for the advice.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I have no recommendations other than to
blow up your tv,
throw away the paper,
go to the mountains,
build you a home. 

Have a bunch of children. 
Bring them up on peaches. 
Try to find Jesus
on your own.

I have reverted to my luddite, feral ways and can no longer advocate for computers or computing.

John has it right.  I'm trying to get there. Computers have kept me in toys for years. This job I'm currently working on is the last I'm going to be actively involved in, but I'll have to keep the machinery running for the pup I'm training.

[LaMojo]

You can probably buy a new motherboard for that machine for about $25 - $35 from Ebay.

[Chuck in Indiana]

You can probably buy a new motherboard for that machine for about $25 - $35 from Ebay.

Great idea.. I've kept the obsolete ('86)  CNC running with  ebay boards. Never even thought about an ebay motherboard.. Duh.

[Wayne Orwig]

Great idea.. I've kept the obsolete ('86)  CNC running with  ebay boards. Never even thought about an ebay motherboard.. Duh.

They couple of Gateways that I worked on had odd things about the configurations. They didn't use normal ATX mother boards, or the power supplies connectors were a bit odd, or something there. So make sure everything is a match if you do that.

[Triple Jim]

I've lost count of the notebook computers my wife and I have saved with eBay motherboards.

[Chuck in Indiana]

They couple of Gateways that I worked on had odd things about the configurations. They didn't use normal ATX mother boards, or the power supplies connectors were a bit odd, or something there. So make sure everything is a match if you do that.

Ok, thanks for that, Wayne..