i inhareted a computer that wont start up. the power switch is messed up so i switched it with the reset button. when i turn it on, the cpu fan spins for 5 seconds then turns off. the light on the mobo comes on also. i think when i start it, it turns off. i know everything but the cpu is good. the video card came out of here and the memory is in this one now. the speaker is connected but there are no beeps. can anyone give me any ideas? thanks

i must add to prevent confussion that i dont know if the cpu is working or not. the computer i am on now aint mine so i cant swap them.

To get a successful post you need Powersupply, Motherboard, CPU, ram, graphics. Disconnect everything else and see if you can get it to post. If you don't have another compatible working system to use as a testbed it isn't possible for an amatuer to work out which of these 5 components is bad, and it could be more than one. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life.

i have all that. i know everything but the mobo and cpu are good. i will try processor in this computer. this one isnt mine so i am very weary of removing anything. besides, they both have slot 1's. would the light still come on if the mobo is fried?

ok, i think i narrowed it down. the psu i use to test it works but its not the best. thats why we bought a new one. but i even tried this new one and nothing. the ram is in this computer. it is showing what it should be so i know it works. the graphics card is the onriginal one from this computer. i switched them. so the one in this is the one from the non working one. it works. the mobo i will try this week. but the cpu works. if not, i wouldnt be typing this right now. i would be putting the p3 back in. so i am pretty shure the mobo. what the heck, i will try it now. and richard59, thank you. without you, i wouldnt have been crazy enough to stay up all night doing this. wish me luck.

well it must be the mobo. the ram, graphics card, cpu, psu all seem to work on this mobo but not that mobo. i got everything hooked up and seated but still the cpu fan started for 5 seconds and stopped. when i started it, the led light turned off. and when the fan stopped, it came back on. is that normal?

Glad you got it narrowed down. Hope you can get a replacement board without it costing too much. As you inherited it anyway a small outlay to get it working will be worth it. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life.