Asked to fix a PC today. Switched on comp got a click but no POST, no lights on CDs nor activity light on HDD, fans not spinning no signal to monitor. Checked all cables removed and replaced cables, ram, graphics card etc.. no good. Replaced PSU with new one fans turning, light on front comes on but stays amber(usually turns green with HDD activity) cd lights on and light on motherboard on but red, but still no POST. No signal to monitor(AGP card). This follows some weird activity with electric problems the night afore and the smelling of burning. I have suggested testing all components on another machine because I think the motherboard as fried due to the PSU packing up I hasten to add that the specs for this machine are Athlon 2600+ 512 ram the actual system is by Advent(3214) couldnt get name of motherboard(ran out of time). Then if all componentes are ok go buy a new morherboard if not buy new pc. Any other suggestions will be most welcome. Thanks in advance Locrian If at first you dont succeed. Throw a tantrum and then the PC.

First step in troubleshooting....unplug all devices and strip it down to bare bones.....CPU, mobo, RAM and try booting. If it boots properly, then add one device at a time until you find the one causing the problem. I ran into a similar situation a while back and it turned out to be a bad CD-ROM.

Hi Curt Thanks for reply but I have done all the above mentioned but no joy. Locrian Diminshed responsibillity If at first you dont succeed. Throw a tantrum and then the PC.

Well if you have done what Curt said, and ram. mb and PSU, and cpu won't boot, you need a new mb and it might be cheaper for the client to buy a new system. Buying one part after another, especially with mb and cpu as possibility gets really pricey, and then when you are done if you fix it, you gave him old technology. Buy new, the smell you smell is probably mb toast, and that could easily have "whacked out" everything else.

Thanks Rich Gonna give it another go tomorrow. if that fails then gonna break the bad news. Still, as you say they may as well buy a new system with the latest technos and they get a spare PSU for future use if need be.

Had another go. Tried CPU in another PC works fine. Tried another CPU on PC - still no POST. Tried ram on another PC - works fine. Tried graphics card on another PC - works fine. Tried HDD on another PC - works fine. There is power getting to the fans and the LED light onboard. I think the motherboard is fried possibly the Northbridge chip. Any more suggestion most welcome. PC specs Athlon xp 2600+ 512MB DDram Radeon 9000 128 MB ram 120GB samsung HDD Windows XP home Locrian Diminshed responsibillity If at first you dont succeed. Throw a tantrum and then the PC.

Since you eliminated the drives earlier, you proved it is mb...so you can find another that will use what he has andallow some growth later, or suggest new unit. That is his choice. Any possibility of warranty on mb?