Name: walkunafraid Date: November 11, 2006 at 18:43:43 Pacific Subject: Computer won't turn on; dumb fix? OS: XP CPU/Ram: Intel Celeron D / 256 MB Model/Manufacturer: eMachines
Comment:
I tried to switch on my eMachines computer the other day and it very simply failed to turn on. No power light, no noise, no sign of life whatsoever. I opened up the computer and tried to see if ANYTHING happened -- but again, absolutely no sign of life. Then, I attempted to switch the power supply box with that of an older eMachines computer, and this time did get a green light inside the computer -- but that's it. Again, no noise or any other sign of life.
I desperately needed immediate access to the info on my hard drive, so I hesitantly decided to try to switch the hard drive from the newer (and now dead) eMachines to the older one. I was able to boot up the older computer this way -- but after maybe two minutes with the computer seeming fine (I was able to see and open the files I needed from my hard drive), the computer rebooted itself. After rebooting, I was able to spend two minutes with my documents again...before the computer again rebooted myself. This happened again and again before I finally gave up.
Obviously, I feel pretty screwed up here. Can anybody offer help as to: 1) what might be wrong with my dead computer?; 2) why does my older computer (with my newer hard drive inside) keep rebooting itself?; 3) what the heck can I do to have uninterrupted access to the work on my hard drive?
Emachines computers have el-cheapo power supplies that tend to fail, sometimes slowly, sometimes suddenly. When they fail, they are known to be more likely to damage other things connected to the mboard sometimes than other brands - even if you replace the PS with a good PS the computer may still not work.
Emachines computer #1 probably has a dead PS and something else is damaged; Emachines computer #2 probably has a faulty PS. There is probably nothing wrong with your hard drive. If you connect to a computer other than those 2, it will probably work fine, but if you connect as the master on the primary IDE you may have to run an XP Repair Setup in order to accomodate Windows to the change in hardware (that will not delete the data already on the drive). If you just want to rescue the data from it, connect the drive as anything but master on the primary IDE.
Your hard drive is probably ok, but here's how to check your hard drive. See the latter part of response 1 in this: http://www.computing.net/windows95/...
Thanks a million for all the advice! I had actually purchased a new power supply for the dead computer before posting here, so I'm waiting for it to arrive and will update on whether or not it worked after I receive it. Based on your information, it seems unlikely that a new power supply will fix my problem, but I made sure that I could return it if it doesn't, so I figure it couldn't hurt to try.
As an additional comment about trying to use my hard drive in the old eMachines computer ("computer #2"), what I have noticed is that, after inserting the hard drive, the computer boots up just fine and allows me to enter Windows. Once I get into Windows, pop-up balloons appear indicating "Found New Hardware" (obviously because my hard drive was used in a different computer), before rebooting itself. Is that what you mean by connecting as the master and needing to run an XP repair set-up? If so, where do I get the software I need to run the XP repair set-up?
If the hardware on the computer you connect the hard drive to is similar enough, XP will automatically find enough drivers to make it work with that hardware, and you don't need to run the XP Repair Setup procedure. However, XP will sometimes refuse to run if you connect a hard drive that has already had Windows set up to different hardware, and in that case you MUST run the XP Repair Setup procedure if you don't want to lose what is already on the hard drive.
So - in your case, you don't need to run the XP Repair Setup procedure.
"...but after maybe two minutes with the computer seeming fine (I was able to see and open the files I needed from my hard drive), the computer rebooted itself. After rebooting, I was able to spend two minutes with my documents again...before the computer again rebooted myself...."
"Based on your information, it seems unlikely that a new power supply will fix my problem, but I made sure that I could return it if it doesn't, so I figure it couldn't hurt to try."
If you were not having rebooting problems due to software problems with that hard drive before, it sounds like the second EMachines computer has power supply problems too. If you test the hard drive as I suggested and there is nothing wrong with the drive itself, it's probably the case that the second PS is defective. If the new PS does not help with the first EMachines computer, it sounds like you may need to use it with the second EMachines computer, before the PS presently connected to it fails too and possibly damages something else, leaving you with possibly two dead computers that need more than just a power supply.
Whenever you run Windows Setup from scratch on a computer, or if you install an existing Windows installation on a computer it hasn't been installed on before that has different hardware, you must load the mboard drivers after Setup has run in the first case, or load the mboard drivers after Windows has finished booting and has loaded the new drivers in a case like yours, so that Windows has all the proper information about your mboard.
If you're not sure which ones and where to get those mboard drivers (you need at least the main chipset drivers) if you can tell us what exact model the second EMachines computer is, I could point you to where to get the drivers. It's probably an Intel chipset, but I don't know which one, and you may also need to load something else to get your hard drive controllers on the mboard to work at their max speeds.
...........................................
You don NOT need to run this, but FYI.....
An XP Repair Setup will not harm your existing Windows installation, but it can only fix things Windows detects as wrong, and/or replace corrupted or missing Windows files that are on your original XP CD. If running it doesn't cure enough of your problems and/or the problems are caused by things not on the original Windows CD, you will probably have to make a clean install of Windows from scratch. You will need a Windows CD of the same version as the one of your Windows installation, and the Product Key, preferably the one that was used to install it, but it can be one for the same version as the one of your Windows installation.
The above assumes you DO NOT have a brand name system that still has it's original software on it. I'm not sure how you would run an XP Repair Setup on a brand name computer, or if it can even be done, or if it can be done some other way without losing the data already on the drive that was added afterwards by you.
If you have a brand name system, it may have come with only a Recovery CD instead of a Windows CD, or it may have come with no Recovery CDs at all, and you are supposed to make them yourself by using utilities put into Windows by the brand name maker. Some Recovery CD's that come with the system are actually Windows CD's with added stuff that allows you to access the hidden partition and restore your original software - that type can often be used the same way as a Windows CD to repair Windows, but it's primary purpose is to re-install the software as it was when the brand name system was new. NOTE that if you do not have that kind of Recovery CD, using a regular OEM Windows CD of the same version may NOT give you choice of a Repair Setup when you follow the above procedure.
If your Windows CD did not have SP1 or SP2 included, and you updated to SP1 or SP2, you will have to install that again to get SP1 or SP2 working properly again.
Okay -- I received my new power supply and tried it in the dead computer (it is an emachines model T2824). The same thing happened as when I tested the older e-machines PS on the dead computer -- a green light inside, but that's it. No sound, no power up, no anything.
I then tried my new power supply in the older e-machines computer (the one that was rebooting itself -- this one is a model T4150). Unfortunately, the two emachines models are significantly different, and have a different hardware set-up inside, so the new PS did not fit inside. Still, I connected the new PS to the old T4150 and set it on the outside of the computer, with my precious hard drive now inside...and got the same results as before: the computer boots, I get on to Windows, I get a pop-up bubble stating "Found New Hardware: Generic SoftK56" and then the computer reboots itself after a few minutes.
These events have led me to the following conclusions:
1) the T2824 had a power failure that likely killed the motherboard, since it won't do anything even with a new PS;
2) the old T4150 did not have a PS problem; the rebooting must have been caused by something else.
What I'm left with now is a newer, but dead, computer (the T2824); an older, living computer (the T4150) that constantly reboots with my hard drive inside; and no idea what to do next. Should I try to get a new motherboard for the T2824? Or is there an easier solution that doesn't involve spending more money?
Thanks again for all your help, I would be lost without you!
One thing I forgot to mention: I did the diagnostic test of my hard drive that you mentioned at the end of Response #1. I did the "Quick Test," since I figured that all I wanted was a diagnostic test to make sure my HD is okay. Anyhow, my HD passed the test without problems. Quite a relief, at least I know now that it is not the problem here...
(On a sidenote, I ran the diagnostic test on the T4150 and it didn't reboot itself at all -- which again leads me to believe that the PS is NOT the problem on that computer).
It passing the Quick test is a good sign but you should also run the long test - it is more thorough and tests the whole drive, not just the part with data on it.
A defective PS may only give you problems when the system is more heavily loaded or after it has gotten warmer - the floppy drive disk running the diagnostic is a minimal load and a quick test doesn't take very long.
I will try to find which mboards those models use when I have some time spare time, maybe tomorrow.
Test the hard drive with the long diagnostics test to make sure it is okay.
The video on the two computers is different. All of the hardware built into the mboard is different. .....
As far as the rebooting is concerned, if it isn't caused by the PS, it is caused by the software.
XP by default will reboot when it encounters critical errors.
To have XP possibly display an error message instead of rebooting:
1. Click Start, and then right-click My Computer. 2. Click Properties. 3. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery. 4. Under System failure, click to clear the Automatically restart check box. 5. Click OK, and then click OK.
Try running the hard drive for a while and see if you get error messages you can investigate and then cure problems.
The hard drive can't be randomly rebooting when you are installing drivers. If you can't get it to stop rebooting in normal mode, try Safe Mode (without command prompt) - if that is stable, you can un-install the old drivers in Add and Remove software, then try normal mode to see if it still reboots .
If it still reboots you will have to run the Recovery procedure for the EMachines software install - if you have no Recovery disks, you will have to try ordering them from the EMachines web site, or forget about using the EMachines software and use a regular OEM XP CD to install XP.
Most of if not all the drivers you need to install are on the EMachines web site - see the links below.
Newest available Intel G845 family drivers: http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr... You need at least the newest graghics driver if you are using the onboard graphics, the newest Application Accelerator (enables the full spped of the hard drive controllers) and the newest INF Update utility.
You MUST uninstall the existing video drivers for the T2824 on the hard drive if you are going to use that drive with the older computer, in Add and Remove Software, and any other software listed there for the original video, BEFORE you install the video drivers. When you install the new video drivers, if you are prompted while booting to install the video drivers, DON'T - Cancel that, go all the way to the Desktop, THEN run the video drivers Install or Setup.
It is also advisable to uninstall any software listed in Add and Remove Software for devices the mboard and system do not have, but that's probably not as critical. .....
Specs (all): CPU: Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 1.50GHz (w/256KB) Operating System: Genuine Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition Chipset: Intel® 845 chipset Memory: 256MB SDRAM Hard Drive: 40GB HDD Optical Drive: Built-in 12x Max. CD-RW Drive; 3.5" 1.44MB FDD Video: NVIDIA® TNT2 M64 AGP with 32MB Sound: Intel® 82801 AC '97 Audio Network: 10/100Mbps Integrated Ethernet Modem: 56K ITU v.92-ready PCI internal Fax/Modem Peripherals: Keyboard, Mouse, Amplified Stereo Speakers (0.6W x 2) Ports/Other: 4 USB ports (2 on front bezel), 2 Serial, 1 Parallel, 2 PS/2, Audio In & Out, 1 Game/Midi, Mic-In & Head Phone jack on front ....
I compared the Downloads for the two models - the drivers for all of the hardware are different.
.....
The mboard for T2584 is a Trigem Seabreeze. (EMachines computers use most Trigem mboards).
Search the web for a motherboard using: T2584 or Seabreeze or Trigem Seabreeze, etc.
e.g. http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/sear... eMachines Seabreeze mboard Manuf Part # MBEM101220SB 101220 102257 102725 2521776 2522196 used in T2742 T2796 T2798 T2824 T2885
I don't know if it is actually an Intel brand mboard with a Trigem bios and model name tacked onto it, but you can go here and take a look at the Intel D845GVSR mboard support info: http://www.intel.com/products/mothe... .....
T2824 Mboard: D845GVSR CPU type: Intel® Celeron® D325 CPU speed: 2.53 GHz
T4150 Mboard: VC31 CPU type: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU speed: 1.5 GHz
In other cases with EMachines computers I've heard about, the mboard was dead but eveything else was okay, but there's no 100% certainty that's your case. If you can take the cpu somewhere and have it tested in another mboard that is advisable.
No mboard manual found yet for the Seabreeze mboard in the T2824. If you get another mboard, carefully make note where everything is connected before you remove the dead mboard.
Your older computer does not use a Trigem mboard like in most EMachines computers use! Full support for FIC VC31:! http://www.fic.com.tw/support/mothe... Manual, etc.! The only thing that is probably different is yours has a EMachines bios version on it! NOTE that there are two mboard versions. If you update the bios you have to use the version for your mboard version if there are separate updates for the two versions. If you use an update for the wring mboard version your mbopard may not boot after you flash the bios, and you may not be able to fix that, at least not without having to get another flash chip already flashed. .................
I ran the long diagnostic test on my hard drive yesterday and everything came out fine. My HD passed the test, and the computer did not reboot itself.
I didn't have time to try turning off automatic reboot and seeing what happens, or to try booting in safe mode, but I will give that a try today and let you know the results.
I have never installed or uninstalled drivers on a computer before, so I want to be sure that I have the right idea before I proceed with that. Based on your advice, I believe that I need to:
a) download and install the three Intel G845 drivers;
b) uninstall the T2824 drivers;
c) download and install all the T4150 drivers listed on their support page (since that is the physical computer I will actually be using).
Is that it, or is the information that follows (regarding motherboards and so forth) also necessary to fix my problem?
I don't really care about the computer with the dead motherboard (the T4150) -- if it's gone it's gone, all I really want is to be able to use just one of the computers for basic computing needs and to retrieve the information on my hard drive.
"a) download install the three Intel G845 drivers;
b) uninstall the T2824 drivers;
c) download and install all the T4150 drivers listed on their support page (since that is the physical computer I will actually be using).
"Is that it, or is the information that follows (regarding motherboards and so forth) also necessary to fix my problem? "
Download the three Intel G845 drivers. Don't install all of them at that point. The INF Update Utility can be installed at any time, then you install the Application Accelerator, but if there is already an entry for an Intel Application Accelerator (IAA) in Add and Remove Programs, Un-install that first before you install the same from the web site. Before you install the video drivers, you MUST Un-install all entries in Add and Remove Programs to do with the previous video - the display drivers, and anything else that is obviously for the previous video (usually for Intel video there isn't much there accept the display drivers). That should set the Display Adapter in Device Manager to a basic VGA adapter of some sort, but you may have to reboot for it to be set that way. If you still see a listing for the previous display adapter in Device Manager after you un-install drivers and re-boot, Un-install that entry. THEN you can install the video drivers from the website - use the Install or Setup program that comes with the drivers. If Windows prompts you to supply the location of drivers for the video while booting, Cancel that and use the Install or Setup that comes with the drivers.
Uninstall the T2824 drivers for devices that obviously are not on your T1450 computer in Add and Remove Programs. See the T2824 downloads at the support link above if you're not sure which ones. If Windows prompts you to supply the location of drivers for the devices while booting, Cancel that.
Download the downloads available for the T1450, keeping in mind you don't need the same ones you got from the Intel site (the Intel ones are newer if newer versions are available, and the downloads are for what cards, ertc., were originally installed on the computer - if any cards have been changed, you will need to find the drivers for those separatly if Windows didn't auto find suitable drivers.
Install the drivers for the T1450 devices. You may have to execute the downloaded file to have it expand its contents, or the download may be a .zip file you have to extract the contents of, then run a Setup or Install, or the Setup or Install may start automatically. ...........
I provided the info about the mboards and their manuals because it's often the case EMachines computers use Trigem brand mboards that are difficult or impossible to find manuals for or further information about how you can upgrade them. In this case the mboard in the T1450 is a FIC mboard, and if I am correct about the T2824, it uses an Intel brand mboard - D845GVSR - that has a Trigem or EMachines bios on it. If the latter is the case (see the link above to the info about D845GVSR) and the mboard is identical, or identical except some features are not on it, that opens up the possibility of more sources for a cheap replacement mboard for the T2824 - you can search for a D845GVSR as well rather than just a Trigem Seabreeze or T2824 mboard. Intel brand mboards are commonly used in other brand name system models, the only difference being the bios version is for the brand of system, and the mboard may not have all the features installed the Intel brand model does. Sometimes the Intel mboards are the same as Intel models as this case appears to be, which means you can use the Intel manual and support info; sometimes the Intel brand mboard is OEM only and they don't have an equivalent Intel model, and you have to rely on the brand name web site to provide info about the mboard - that can be a problem.
Thank you, once again, for all the incredible advice. I booted my computer in Safe Mode and was able to correct some errors and automatically install some software, which then prevented the PC from rebooting itself. From there, I went step by step through your post in Response 10 and completed all of the tasks listed there.
After doing all that, I rebooted by computer and...success! My T4150 is now up and running without problem, and I have been able to retrieve all of the programs and data on my old hard drive. What a relief!
I have decided to use your advice to seek out a replacement motherboard for the T2824 (I didn't realize how cheap they were), but I'm a bit busy at the moment, so that won't happen for a few months. Therefore, you can close up this topic if desired.
Thanks again, I really appreciate your time and knowledge.
Hi, I have a similar problem with emachines H2742. I can not even find this model on emachines site. I replace the PS, green light on m/b comes on. Press power and nothing, no fan, no lights. It seems it has Intel D845GVSR m/b. any idea?
You should really have started a new thread, but here goes....
If you want to take a chance and spend a total of up to $200 or so on this computer, there's a good chance it will work fine with a new PS and a used mboard. DO NOT buy a Bestec brand power supply as a replacement, or you could have the same situation - a dead computer - not long into the future.
The emachines web sites aren't so good for information about older models. A good third party site for emachines computers is here: http://www.emachine-upgraders.info
Europe (Denmark/France/Finland/Italy/Norway/Spain/Sweden) models:
eMachines 4250 D845GVSR Intel® Celeron® D 345 3.06 GHz eMachines 4260 D845GVSR Intel® Celeron® D 345 3.06 GHz .....
You can search the web for a mboard for any of the above emachines models, or for an emachines D845GVSR, which in both cases will have the emachines bios version on them. It is preferable to get one with a emachines bios version if you are still using the software that came installed on the emachine - the reason for that is you may not be able to re-install the emachines original software if the bios is not an emachines version. If you are no longer using the original emachines software that came with the computer, you can search for any Intel D845GVSR mboard, preferably with an Intel bios version, and it will work with your cpu, ram, etc.
You MAY have to flash the bios for your cpu to be recognized.
E.g. mboard here for $129, with emachines bios version: Ignore the link to replace the power supply with a non-Bestec one $59 (beware: 30 day warranty) http://www.skyline-eng.com/catalog....
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