Hello everyone! The other day I tried editing/copying/etc some movies and after having my computer hang a few very fustrating times when in the process, i suddenly heard a brief burning noise. I was trying to take the important scenes from some xmovies I rented... (I was only after some reference for possible future baby making needs)... in studio8 and then just make one final dvd with all. The point is that something went because the pc was under a lot of load (I too was very excited). Heres the thing: 1- when attempting to turn pc on it only does so for 2`seconds 2- I think power supply is ok 3- when removing memory I hear one long beep...one long beep....etc 4- the only spare something I have is another memory (not sure if its good condition) but when putting this one in the pc stays on (NO beeps at all)....power to hdd ok etc etc 5- ahhh yeah and no video signal 6- I think there was a little (yellow?) light in the mobo next to the ide conn somewhere but does not light up after this incident If my mobo was damaged (no little light anymore) wouldn't it not make beeps if no memory for example? How to know if its the cpu (processor?) Wouldn't mind replacing mobo, chip, etc in another computer but I wish I could keep this pc the way it is so I may be able to continue using the factory restoring cds and not have to activate xp each time! Please help me!!!... and I promise I won't watch any more of those "educational" videos on the computer! ps- don't have a spare pci video card only some agp's but will try to borrow one to check if that's what got damaged. thanks!!!!

mycomputerhatesme, Hmmmmmmm....will try to solve the problems and pin point to the exact location A)Sometimes ,in rare circumstances the CPU tends to fail. B)RAM modules has become corrupted but they still function and gives a lot of errors while loading the PC etc.The sounds that made usually indicates the memory is bad or the memory slots on the motherboard has somefault. C)Try to,if possible,insert a new CPU and check the system.If no sign,replace the video card,still no sign,replace the RAM,again if no sign,replace the motherboard .. which I think is gone as per your statements. D)The LED of your motherboard does not necessarily mean the motherboard has gone,just may be the LED has gone..thats all E)Try to remove all expansion cards example, NIC/LAN card,Modem card,DVB card and all USB's atttached to the system. F)Try to insert your graphic card onto another system and see if it works there.Also try inserting the memory module onto another system and check if the memory modules are good or not.Try to download memtest86,a RAM module diagonistic utility that tells if errors are found on the RAM modules. G)May be power supply, or the power rail on any one of the supplies mmight have short circuited.If possible,try a new power supply. H)Try to reset the Jumpers on the motherboard. I)Remove the CMOS clock and reinsert when the PC is completely shutdown and all poweer cords are removed from the system. Hope the above areas can get you somewhere and slove your problem.. Take care.Post your reply.

lots of advice, heres my 2 cents. A) agreed. B) agreed C) Refer to point E & F D) agreed, but highly not probable. E) start by doing this! F) Good way to start trouble shooting after you have dont E. G) This would fall under part E. H) last ditch effert, usually produces no outcome. I)"Remove the CMOS clock" ummm. sure.......u mean battery? lots of good avice, but I would yank all PCI/IDE/all other connections except vid/cpu/ram/PSU to the mobo. since you yanked the ram and you got beeps, that leads me to think CPU is ok. CPU processes the audio for beep codes on Mobo's. Since you "heard" a noise, look at memory modules for signs of burning. pull em out and look real close. Usually, burnt sounds and smells are from burnt PSU. if your ram checks out, I would start at PSU. PSU units go all the time.

Hello! Thanks for the advice so far! I am looking into this problem again now and saw that I have a built-in graphics card on the mobo but this also produces no signal when plugging monitor there. See, I had bought a better graphics card (pci...no agp here) and was using that. I also tried reseting but when I put the jumper in still can't get signal to monitor....maybe I'm doing the reseting wrong...whats correct way? Will reseting bring everything back to factory and therefore allow me to use built-in grapics which I think I disabled when running ok? I'm trying to get a hold of a similar psu since the ones I have don't have that extra power connector (2 yellows 2 blacks) that feeds the mobo and some new memory (also this is diff to the others I have) and check to see what happens. Thanks again!