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General => Computers / Internet => Topic started by: legendaryone on June 21, 2007, 16:26:58

Title: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 21, 2007, 16:26:58
I shut down my PC as normal last but 10 of so minutes later it switched it self on but there was no picture on the monitor, the LED's on the two DVD drives were flashing on and off and the light around the on/off button aswell. I wasn't able to swith the PC off so i had to unplug. This morning it worked for 5 minutes before i got the blank screen and flashing LEDs. This afternoon i switched on but the keyboard wasn't working and then i got the flashing lights and no picture again. does anyone have any ideas what has happened ? I did install a wireless router on Saturday but that is working fine (i'm using it now) but don't think that has had an affect.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: kenkew on June 21, 2007, 19:37:59
My first thought about it 'Switching itself on' was a hacker or possibly someone accessing your 'puter for music downloads. Then you mentioned the wireless router and I'm thinking outside logging into your broadband connection. First step is always to undo what you did prior to the problem. Go back to wired router and see if if the problem stops. If so, connect it up again and see if the problem returns.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 21, 2007, 20:41:43
Hi Ken, just a quick update now when i switch it on at the plug it starts the blinking lights straight away. I will try what you suggest about the router, i do have it webkey enabled so unlikely someone is using my connection.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 21, 2007, 20:50:25
Tried that Ken but still have the problem :(

Thanks for the advice.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: kenkew on June 21, 2007, 21:51:13
Next step is unplug and reconnect everything...checking that the plugs go fully home in the right slots.
If that doesn't work....press and hold your switch on 'puter button until your 'puter switches off. Fire it up after 30 seconds and you should go into auto HD scan....let it run.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 22, 2007, 07:11:29
Hi Ken, the computer doesn't switch off i have to unplug it no matter how long i hold the on/off switch in  :(  I don't see anything on the screen. I have already uplugged both the hard drives to no avail. I will try unplugging everything but i suspect my problem could be very serious  :'( :'(
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 22, 2007, 12:27:48
Well Ken i am rather thinking that the motherboard may have gone  :'( so that means a new board and processor. I may not be on the site much this weekend because my eldest lad will want his laptop back. But hopefully i can get my spare PC from my mums and use that until i repair my other  :)
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: BAK on June 22, 2007, 12:55:54
from what you have said it does sound like a motherboard problem.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: kenkew on June 22, 2007, 21:38:25
I agree Bak. It seems more a problem with set-up than hardware. At this point I'd certainly not consider replacement motherboard.
Go google, pick up a freeby Computer test to see what shows.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 22, 2007, 21:48:41
How will the test work if i cannot use that PC ?
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: kenkew on June 22, 2007, 23:25:15
I thought you could use it. I was under the impression that it worked but was 'acting-up.' Are you saying it doesn't boot-up?
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 07:04:06
It would work for a few minutes but now it doesn't work at all. I have to switch it on at the mains and i get the blinking lights and a noise straight away. It doesn't even start the boot up routine anymore  :(
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: asbean on June 23, 2007, 15:19:42
Most MBs have flashing lights on them when they're working.  Take the side off and see what's happening when you switch on.  Any chance it could be the hard drive?
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on June 23, 2007, 15:43:26
i had a problem like you describe. It was caused by a USB mouse. With no mouse the computer was OK. With the mouse attached it didn't boot. the problem appeared out of nowhere ie the mouse initially worked fine with the PC. Have you tried unplugging all the peripheral devices?
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 17:12:43
Most MBs have flashing lights on them when they're working.  Take the side off and see what's happening when you switch on.  Any chance it could be the hard drive?

No flashing lights to be seen, and i did unplug both hard drives but still same problem.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 17:14:23
i had a problem like you describe. It was caused by a USB mouse. With no mouse the computer was OK. With the mouse attached it didn't boot. the problem appeared out of nowhere ie the mouse initially worked fine with the PC. Have you tried unplugging all the peripheral devices?

I have unplugged everything and still got no joy.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 17:18:52
Thanks for everyones input, i have know fetched my spare PC so the problem is not so dire anymore, i hopefully wil be able to access the other hard drive and retrieve my data. When i get around to replacing the motherboard i will let you know if has worked.  :)
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: asbean on June 23, 2007, 17:58:10
Good luck !!  ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 18:54:38
Thanks, before getting a new motherboard i think i will replace the battery on it, there only a couple of quid so i figure go for it  ;D
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: asbean on June 23, 2007, 19:10:51
Have you been having problems with the time and date resetting itself?
 ???
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 20:56:52
Have you been having problems with the time and date resetting itself?
 ???


No  :)
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: asbean on June 23, 2007, 21:08:19
So why change the battery?
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 21:25:30
So why change the battery?


I don't know  ;D ;D ;D
I was reading the motherboard manual it mentioned the battery, then i remebered i had just seen some in a shop so i figure i would try it  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: asbean on June 23, 2007, 21:31:20
I've had more PCs than I've had hot dinners and never had to change a bettary.  ???
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: kenkew on June 23, 2007, 21:36:26
Same here, asbean. From the info so far I'd be tempted to take the cover off and check that all the leads are connected. If the 'new' 'puter is working then it's certainly not a modem problem or the connection to it.
Also, sometimes the plug-ins to the puter come loose and plugs don't go fully home.
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: asbean on June 23, 2007, 21:37:51
It's called thermal creep  :)
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 21:55:50
I have had the back off and checked all the cables/connections are seated firmly and none of them were loose, both fans are working fine, there are no dead bugs caught anywhere and it is quite clean inside.
Some years ago my brother had to change the battery in his PC  :)

I'm going to buy the new battery anyway  ;) (there should be a smiley sticking his tongue out  ;D ;D )
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: kenkew on June 23, 2007, 22:13:38
You need to check your tongue connector lead, Legend'....non of your smileys have one.
 :P
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: legendaryone on June 23, 2007, 22:16:10
You need to check your tongue connector lead, Legend'....non of your smileys have one.
 :P


I stand corrected, my excuse is i've had a very tiring day and an even more tiring one awaits me tomorow  :)
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: Melbourne12 on July 03, 2007, 17:08:53
I shut down my PC as normal last but 10 of so minutes later it switched it self on but there was no picture on the monitor, the LED's on the two DVD drives were flashing on and off and the light around the on/off button aswell. I wasn't able to swith the PC off so i had to unplug. This morning it worked for 5 minutes before i got the blank screen and flashing LEDs. This afternoon i switched on but the keyboard wasn't working and then i got the flashing lights and no picture again. does anyone have any ideas what has happened ? I did install a wireless router on Saturday but that is working fine (i'm using it now) but don't think that has had an affect.

Just a thought.  I've seen these symptoms before when the hard disk was very nearly full.  There wasn't enough space for the system to write to as it was shutting down.  Worth a check?  ???
Title: Re: PC acting strange.
Post by: Larkshall on July 12, 2007, 15:29:18
See my comment in Virtual Memory.
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