crap, computer died

[dmw319]

well here's the short version: my computer was running slow so i decided to restart it. it shuts off, comes back on to the screen where it says "press 8 to run this, press 9 to run this, press delete to run this, etc", and it froze. i tried to press one of those buttons (delete, esc, f8, etc) but nothing worked. so i turned it off completely waited about a minute and turned my pc on again. it got stuck/frozen at that same screen and nothing happens/works. therefore, i cant really start in in BIOS or anything either. any idea what could be wrong? memory going bad? harddrive taking a dump? my dad said something about a sims card? what are ways to diagnose this problem and/or fix it? i dont have a backup or reboot CD or floppy or anything. help? (i wish i was more computer smart)

[slow6]

Re: crap, computer died

I wish you had Diagnostic LEDs on the back of the motherboard like a desktop PC does.

Maybe you should search google for your computer model (if you dont already have the manual)
good luck dave

edit: might wanna tell us the make/model??? Otherwise I think you are using an Amiga... or a 1 button mouse MAC, etc...

[Fireball27]

Re: crap, computer died

Cooool DMW's computer is posting from the grave....... :eek:

[slow6]

Re: crap, computer died

no necro action please!

[slow6]

Re: crap, computer died

maybe its a Commodore 64? msx? 8808? vic 20? c16? atari st?
shooting in the dark here... :)

[dmw319]

Re: crap, computer died

haha it doesnt have a brand. a friend of mine back a few years ago built it for me. worked AMAZING till now. but somehow it lets me post still so im not worried. ;)

[bah]

Re: crap, computer died

a shot in the dark i'm going to say its the motherboard, that is one of the most common things, it could also be a number of things, memory would be number 2 on my list, memory can do some wierd ****, if you know what you are doing take out the stick of memory, if you have two that is even better, take out one of them and then try to start, see what happens, if the same thing happens try it with that stick back in and the other one out, but my money still lies in the motherboard

[Tradition_F]

Re: crap, computer died

sim card?! those go in cell phones... it sounds to me like maybe you dont have enough memory or you got a virus, or your computer is outdated and needs to be replaced...

[slow6]

Re: crap, computer died

all components inside have a brand name
maybe you could run a virus scan like from trendmicro.com or something
maybe hd tune
I suggest formatting and reinstalling

[bah]

Re: crap, computer died

if he cant even get to the BIOS and he gets stuck on that screen before, that is a hardware issue, not software, but i am also diagnosing from a description and havent seen its behavior myself, so i guess it is possible that it is software, but i'm sticking with hardware

[dmw319]

Re: crap, computer died

yea. its definately hardware related. i just dunno what to try first.

[Cyborg]

Re: crap, computer died

As suggested above. If you have 2 sticks of RAM, remove one at a time, and try to run it. If it boots up, its a bad piece of RAM. If you dont have 2 sticks, try to see if a friend has some that you could borrow for 5-10 minutes, or try to pick some up really cheap.

My next guess after RAM, would be the mobo.

I dont know if it has been suggested, but make sure all connections are secure, as this can somtimes screw crap up too. (Maybe youve moved your computer recently, When I used to go to LAN Parties with my computer, this used to be the biggest issue with my computer)

[Camarorulz]

Re: crap, computer died

I would try the hard drive first. If you have an extra one or can borrow one, hook it in and see what happens. I generally have only had bad experiences with RAM that I (A) either just bought or (B) was incompatible with other hardware (or another RAM stick). Wha kind of computer is it? When my HD went bad it wouldn't post at all.

After the HD, definitely check the RAM. Take them out and try one stick at a time. You haven't changed anything (hardware-related) on your PC lately have you?

I would say it could be an overheating issue, but you left it off for quite awhile didn't you? Just to make sure, turn it off and leave it off for half an hour or so, then start it back up. If you can get into the BIOS then, check the MB and CPU temps.

[dmw319]

Re: crap, computer died

ok so my computer decided randomly to boot up and work today and its the computer i am typing to you on right now. i dont know if it was because it had some time to cool off or what.. regardless.. its working good now, im keeping my fingers crossed.

[bret_xi]

Re: crap, computer died

my old one did something sort of like that and it ended up being the mother board... but before we figured that out we ended up replacing the hard drive and something else.. just wasted money.. if you want to be sure take it to a computer shop and let them check it out