Major Problem: Computer doesn't boot.

I have a computer that has worked for a couple years, but now it doesn't boot anymore. I haven't found I problem like this before because my fans will turn on, but I never get it to boot. I heard one reason could be the video card, because that boots before the BIOS. but I took out the video card, and I get no error beeps. Then I thought I could reset the BIOS by unplugging the motherboard for a while. Tried that, and still nothing but fans.

I can't find anyone with this same problem anywhere so I'm really confused.

While my computer was working, I had this problem, but with a simple off and on with the switch on the Power Supply the computer would start up on the second try ALWAYS. Until a couple days ago.

thanks ahead of time for anyone with help

 

If it helps... I have:

ECE K7S5A mobo
nVidia GeForce 4
and a 400w PSU

 

in order to reset the BIOS you have to reset the CMOS which entales moving this jumper from 1-2 pins to 2-3 pins or whatever, your motherboards manuel will tell you how to do that

when does it lock up? after the post? can you access the BIOS at all? or do you even get anything on screen? ... also what OS do you have?

outside of that it's probably either your RAM or your PSU possibly even your CPU... I'm guessing your PSU is generic .. do you have access to a brand name PSU for testing? also you can test your RAM w/ an app called memtest located in the download area or you can google for it .. boot from the memtest floppy you make then leave the program running for 8 hours or so ... or at least untill you get errors

 

My computer never posts at all. The monitor never gets a signal. I feel it's either the PSU, Mobo, or CPU because when I try booting with no video card, I don't even get any error beeps.

Last night, I tried resetting the cmos and that didn't help.

I use Windows XP and have had it clean from viruses and trojans for over six months now.

 

IMHO ... I'd say that thing is dead ... I would get a barebones kit and salvage what you can(disk drives the video card, etc) from your old PC and rebuild ... course you'd need a new PSU anyway ... so you may want to buy one just to see if that is the issue ..but still would be better to borrow it or use an old known good one

 

while looking for answers last night, I found many complaints that my ECE K7S5A mobo likes to suck power. I heard that the specs for the mobo say it needs a PSU with:
+3.3V@28A
+5V@30A
+12V@15A
mine has the specs:
+3.3V@28A
+5V@30A
+12V@11A
I was wondering how big an effect the low +12V rating has

 

make sure your mobo power plugs are plugged in..

i had that problem and i was freaking out thinkign it was dead...i was puzzled and i was messing around and it turns out the power wasn't in all the way

(which makes no sense cuase it was working for a week before it stopped coming on..)

just a possibility

 

everything is plugged in nicely. yet nothing still.