PC not starting.

My sister has a PC preloaded with Win98SE and has IE6 &OE6. When she powered
it ON today there was a continuous whining noise from the processor and it
was not booting. The fan is working. What could be the problem and what is
the remedy?

Thanking you
Capt K Ripendran

Capt K Ripendran wrote:

When she powered it ON today there was a continuous whining noise
from the processor and it was not booting. The fan is working.

When you say the fan, do you mean the CPU cooler fan, or the fan that's
inside the power supply?

The CPU itself can't make a whining noise. The CPU fan (or any fan) can
- and with age frequently will.

If both the CPU and power supply fans are spinning (and spinning at what
appears to be the correct speed) but the system is not starting, you
should be seeing the usual boot messages on the screen.

Most likely, the noise you are hearing is from the hard drive,
indicating that the drive has died.

A few weeks ago I had to deal with an NT-4 server that all-of-a-sudden
failed to operate / boot properly (It runs 24/7) and it's hard drive was
making horrible screaming noises.

This was a Western Digital 40 gb drive, made Nov. 2002.

I fixed the problem by swapping the drive's circuit board with another
spare drive of the exact same make and model (and approx. manufacturing
date). No data on the drive was lost.

Any systems that are original win-98 systems are at high risk for
experiencing hard-drive failure, unless they experience extended periods
of non-use (months to years).

Another way to put this is that all hard drives 40 gb and smaller are,
today, at the practical end of their useful life - assuming they are on
at least a few days a week since they were bought.

Capt K Ripendran wrote:

When she powered it ON today there was a continuous whining noise
from the processor and it was not booting. The fan is working.

When you say the fan, do you mean the CPU cooler fan, or the fan that's
inside the power supply?

The CPU itself can't make a whining noise. The CPU fan (or any fan) can
- and with age frequently will.

If both the CPU and power supply fans are spinning (and spinning at what
appears to be the correct speed) but the system is not starting, you
should be seeing the usual boot messages on the screen.

Most likely, the noise you are hearing is from the hard drive,
indicating that the drive has died.

A few weeks ago I had to deal with an NT-4 server that all-of-a-sudden
failed to operate / boot properly (It runs 24/7) and it's hard drive was
making horrible screaming noises.

This was a Western Digital 40 gb drive, made Nov. 2002.

I fixed the problem by swapping the drive's circuit board with another
spare drive of the exact same make and model (and approx. manufacturing
date). No data on the drive was lost.

Any systems that are original win-98 systems are at high risk for
experiencing hard-drive failure, unless they experience extended periods
of non-use (months to years).

Another way to put this is that all hard drives 40 gb and smaller are,
today, at the practical end of their useful life - assuming they are on
at least a few days a week since they were bought.

98 Guy wrote:

Most likely, the noise you are hearing is from the hard drive,
indicating that the drive has died.

I should clarify that you should suspect the power supply first, but if
all fans are spinning properly then the noise is probably coming from
the hard drive if the system is not booting.

If the noise is coming from the fans, noisy fans will not prevent the
system from booting.

Another thing to check is the battery on the motherboard. Most likely
it is dead, and the CMOS/BIOS settings have reverted to default values,
and the system time and date have reset as well.

Replace the motherboard battery (most likely it's type CR2032 - looks
like a big coin like a quarter). You should be seeing a message at
startup wanting you to enter the Bios setup menu and enter new settings.

If you see NO video activity at all - none of the usual startup text
during boot-up, then it's probably the power supply. If you DO see
startup text on the screen, then change the battery and fix the bios
settings IF you are being asked to do so. If none of those two are
occurring, then the hard drive is likely the problem.

98 Guy wrote:

Most likely, the noise you are hearing is from the hard drive,
indicating that the drive has died.

I should clarify that you should suspect the power supply first, but if
all fans are spinning properly then the noise is probably coming from
the hard drive if the system is not booting.

If the noise is coming from the fans, noisy fans will not prevent the
system from booting.

Another thing to check is the battery on the motherboard. Most likely
it is dead, and the CMOS/BIOS settings have reverted to default values,
and the system time and date have reset as well.

Replace the motherboard battery (most likely it's type CR2032 - looks
like a big coin like a quarter). You should be seeing a message at
startup wanting you to enter the Bios setup menu and enter new settings.

If you see NO video activity at all - none of the usual startup text
during boot-up, then it's probably the power supply. If you DO see
startup text on the screen, then change the battery and fix the bios
settings IF you are being asked to do so. If none of those two are
occurring, then the hard drive is likely the problem.

I meant the power supply fan as I am yet to open the PC to check if the CPU
fan is working or not. If it is indeed the hard disk, then it may be
difficult to get the same make and model in the market today (20GB). It is
probably a Pentium 3! I have to check this. As to your other query, there is
NO video activity at all.. There is NO start up text. However, for what it
is worth, I can put a new motherboard battery and see if it works. In case
it still does not work, I would like to know if a Pentium 3 will take a
60GB or 80GB hard disk?


"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
Capt K Ripendran wrote:

When she powered it ON today there was a continuous whining noise
from the processor and it was not booting. The fan is working.

When you say the fan, do you mean the CPU cooler fan, or the fan that's
inside the power supply?

The CPU itself can't make a whining noise. The CPU fan (or any fan) can
- and with age frequently will.

If both the CPU and power supply fans are spinning (and spinning at what
appears to be the correct speed) but the system is not starting, you
should be seeing the usual boot messages on the screen.

Most likely, the noise you are hearing is from the hard drive,
indicating that the drive has died.

A few weeks ago I had to deal with an NT-4 server that all-of-a-sudden
failed to operate / boot properly (It runs 24/7) and it's hard drive was
making horrible screaming noises.

This was a Western Digital 40 gb drive, made Nov. 2002.

I fixed the problem by swapping the drive's circuit board with another
spare drive of the exact same make and model (and approx. manufacturing
date). No data on the drive was lost.

Any systems that are original win-98 systems are at high risk for
experiencing hard-drive failure, unless they experience extended periods
of non-use (months to years).

Another way to put this is that all hard drives 40 gb and smaller are,
today, at the practical end of their useful life - assuming they are on
at least a few days a week since they were bought.

I meant the power supply fan as I am yet to open the PC to check if the CPU
fan is working or not. If it is indeed the hard disk, then it may be
difficult to get the same make and model in the market today (20GB). It is
probably a Pentium 3! I have to check this. As to your other query, there is
NO video activity at all.. There is NO start up text. However, for what it
is worth, I can put a new motherboard battery and see if it works. In case
it still does not work, I would like to know if a Pentium 3 will take a
60GB or 80GB hard disk?


"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
Capt K Ripendran wrote:

When she powered it ON today there was a continuous whining noise
from the processor and it was not booting. The fan is working.

When you say the fan, do you mean the CPU cooler fan, or the fan that's
inside the power supply?

The CPU itself can't make a whining noise. The CPU fan (or any fan) can
- and with age frequently will.

If both the CPU and power supply fans are spinning (and spinning at what
appears to be the correct speed) but the system is not starting, you
should be seeing the usual boot messages on the screen.

Most likely, the noise you are hearing is from the hard drive,
indicating that the drive has died.

A few weeks ago I had to deal with an NT-4 server that all-of-a-sudden
failed to operate / boot properly (It runs 24/7) and it's hard drive was
making horrible screaming noises.

This was a Western Digital 40 gb drive, made Nov. 2002.

I fixed the problem by swapping the drive's circuit board with another
spare drive of the exact same make and model (and approx. manufacturing
date). No data on the drive was lost.

Any systems that are original win-98 systems are at high risk for
experiencing hard-drive failure, unless they experience extended periods
of non-use (months to years).

Another way to put this is that all hard drives 40 gb and smaller are,
today, at the practical end of their useful life - assuming they are on
at least a few days a week since they were bought.

A 60 or 80Gb disk drive should be no problem. It's not whether it's a P3 or
not, but the capabilities of the BIOS, and that's not likely to be an issue.
Above about 128Gb you will have to make special provisions, and it becomes
much trickier. A faulty CMOS battery will mean that the clock won't keep
proper time and you may need to reinitialise BIOS setup on each startup, but
it's not critical.
--
Jeff Richards
----------------------------------------

"Capt K Ripendran" wrote in message
...
I meant the power supply fan as I am yet to open the PC to check if the CPU
fan is working or not. If it is indeed the hard disk, then it may be
difficult to get the same make and model in the market today (20GB). It is
probably a Pentium 3! I have to check this. As to your other query, there
is
NO video activity at all.. There is NO start up text. However, for what it
is worth, I can put a new motherboard battery and see if it works. In case
it still does not work, I would like to know if a Pentium 3 will take a
60GB or 80GB hard disk?


"98 Guy" wrote in message ...
Capt K Ripendran wrote:

When she powered it ON today there was a continuous whining noise
from the processor and it was not booting. The fan is working.

When you say the fan, do you mean the CPU cooler fan, or the fan that's
inside the power supply?

The CPU itself can't make a whining noise. The CPU fan (or any fan) can
- and with age frequently will.

If both the CPU and power supply fans are spinning (and spinning at what
appears to be the correct speed) but the system is not starting, you
should be seeing the usual boot messages on the screen.

Most likely, the noise you are hearing is from the hard drive,
indicating that the drive has died.

A few weeks ago I had to deal with an NT-4 server that all-of-a-sudden
failed to operate / boot properly (It runs 24/7) and it's hard drive was
making horrible screaming noises.

This was a Western Digital 40 gb drive, made Nov. 2002.

I fixed the problem by swapping the drive's circuit board with another
spare drive of the exact same make and model (and approx. manufacturing
date). No data on the drive was lost.

Any systems that are original win-98 systems are at high risk for
experiencing hard-drive failure, unless they experience extended periods
of non-use (months to years).

Another way to put this is that all hard drives 40 gb and smaller are,
today, at the practical end of their useful life - assuming they are on
at least a few days a week since they were bought.

Capt K Ripendran top-posted:

I meant the power supply fan as I am yet to open the PC to check
if the CPU fan is working or not.

So you are saying that the noise you are hearing is coming from the
power-suppy fan (or from inside the power supply) ?

there is NO video activity at all.. There is NO start up text.

The problem is almost certainly the power supply.

The only way you can tell where the noise is coming from is by taking
the cover off the computer. You should do that, and disconnect the
cables going to the hard drive (power cable and data cable). Try
turning the machine on one more time after doing that. The hard drive
might have died in such a way as to put a load on your power supply and
prevent the motherboard from booting up. Disconnecting the hard drive
would remove the load and allow the motherboard to boot. If you still
hear a noise and you get no video after turning it on, then the power
supply is the problem.

Replacement power supplies can be VERY inexpensive - usually $30. But
that's if the computer is NOT a name-brand like dell, HP, compaq, etc.
Reason being that name-brand PC's tend to size their internal components
in non-standard or custom ways. Unlike other components (floppy, CD,
hard drives), power supplies come in many different form factors. The
$30 power supply you could buy from the local discount computer parts
store will likely not physically fit inside a name-brand PC.

Don't mess around with different hard drives or motherboard battery at
this point. The problem is the power supply if you're not seeing any
text on the screen. Don't try turning on the machine again. The power
supply is not putting out the correct voltages and you might dammage the
motherboard - it might be dammaged already.

Your best course of action at that point is to remove the power supply
and take it to your local computer parts store(s) and show it to them
and ask if they have a replacement of similar physical size.

Capt K Ripendran top-posted:

I meant the power supply fan as I am yet to open the PC to check
if the CPU fan is working or not.

So you are saying that the noise you are hearing is coming from the
power-suppy fan (or from inside the power supply) ?

there is NO video activity at all.. There is NO start up text.

The problem is almost certainly the power supply.

The only way you can tell where the noise is coming from is by taking
the cover off the computer. You should do that, and disconnect the
cables going to the hard drive (power cable and data cable). Try
turning the machine on one more time after doing that. The hard drive
might have died in such a way as to put a load on your power supply and
prevent the motherboard from booting up. Disconnecting the hard drive
would remove the load and allow the motherboard to boot. If you still
hear a noise and you get no video after turning it on, then the power
supply is the problem.

Replacement power supplies can be VERY inexpensive - usually $30. But
that's if the computer is NOT a name-brand like dell, HP, compaq, etc.
Reason being that name-brand PC's tend to size their internal components
in non-standard or custom ways. Unlike other components (floppy, CD,
hard drives), power supplies come in many different form factors. The
$30 power supply you could buy from the local discount computer parts
store will likely not physically fit inside a name-brand PC.

Don't mess around with different hard drives or motherboard battery at
this point. The problem is the power supply if you're not seeing any
text on the screen. Don't try turning on the machine again. The power
supply is not putting out the correct voltages and you might dammage the
motherboard - it might be dammaged already.

Your best course of action at that point is to remove the power supply
and take it to your local computer parts store(s) and show it to them
and ask if they have a replacement of similar physical size.