Did I just hose my parents' computer (PART 2)?

Instead of having everybody read through the entire thread I posted here, I thought I would summarize in a new thread -- and then get into my worst fears potentially coming true.

SUMMARY: I unplugged my parents computer tower. Disconnected the mouse, monitor, etc. Removed the case from the side. Blew the dust out of it with an air compressor (low pressure). Reconnected everything and it wouldn't power up at all. There was a clicking noise coming from the power supply. So I ordered a new one. I tried his power supply on my wife's computer. Her computer wouldn't boot with his power supply...so we were HOPING that meant it was simply a bad power supply.

UPDATE: He got the Corsair power supply today. Plugged everything in (24 pin cable to 24 pin receptacle on the MOBO and 4 pin cable to 4 pin receptacle on MOBO -- as well as the power cables for the hard drive and DVD burner). He hit the power switch on the face of the computer and the green light came on (we weren't getting that before with the old power supply). He said a "yellow light" came on (I assume he was referring to the HDD activity indicator light on the front). He said the light on the front of the DVD burner drive also would blink for a bit.

So to me -- that says that the computer is trying to boot...as it usually looks for optical discs/media to boot from...and then the hard drive. However, when the monitor first "wakes up", it says "ACER" or whatever the brand is...but then it goes back to sleep and says "no video signal". He can't screw up where the VGA plug goes -- there is only one place for it to go. And it recognizes when the computer first tries to boot.

He says no fans kick in.

So what else could be wrong with the computer? Any theories?

I'm almost worried now that something else on the motherboard is fried...

It stinks trying to troubleshoot from 1,000 miles away (not that it's any easier for you guys trying to help). I just figured I know basic hardware on a computer. But when it comes to how a computer will act with motherboard or processor damage is beyond me.

Also, if it's totally fried, aren't we almost better off just buying a new tower than trying to replace his motherboard/processor? They don't need anything high end as they don't play video games, don't do any graphics processing or video editing. Just web browsing to check stock quotes/e-mail/facebook for the most part.

That's why I suggested to take out everything and do a bench testing in the old thread to eliminate each individual parts. Chances are something conductive got to a place where it's not supposed to be during cleaning process and the board got damaged on the first power on after that. If your parents have a camcorder/webcam and another computer maybe you can go through troubleshooting with them by skype/video chat.

If the Acer emblem didn't show up and everything else looked good, it would just be a ram problem, but if you are getting that image and there are NO fans at all that come on, then the processor would overheat in 20 seconds or so, and the unit would shut down.
So, is it correct that you do get an image initially, then it goes black?
Is it true that not a single fan comes on, including the fan on the processor?
What about the fan in the power supply? Does it spin?

Quote from RockySosua : If the Acer emblem didn't show up and everything else looked good, it would just be a ram problem, but if you are getting that image and there are NO fans at all that come on, then the processor would overheat in 20 seconds or so, and the unit would shut down. So, is it correct that you do get an image initially, then it goes black? Is it true that not a single fan comes on, including the fan on the processor? What about the fan in the power supply? Does it spin?

The Acer (which is the brand of monitor, by the way...he has a Compaq computer) logo comes on and then shortly after that, the screen goes to black (except for a "NO VIDEO SIGNAL" 'warning'). No fans come on at all from what he said.

The power supply is new and it should work (if nothing else, we're getting lights we weren't getting with his old power supply)...here's the one [newegg.com] he got.

I wonder if the power supply fan doesn't come on because there's not a big enough power load / draw where it even needs to "cool itself". After all, it's one of the super quiet / energy efficient models. Or, if the MOBO isn't pulling any power from the PSU, that the PSU recognizes that and therefore doesn't kick in its own fan.

But yeah, from what understand, no fans of any kind spin.

Quote from teetee1 : That's why I suggested to take out everything and do a bench testing in the old thread to eliminate each individual parts. Chances are something conductive got to a place where it's not supposed to be during cleaning process and the board got damaged on the first power on after that. If your parents have a camcorder/webcam and another computer maybe you can go through troubleshooting with them by skype/video chat.

Bench testing with what? He doesn't have any kind of electrical testing equipment...and we didn't have another computer at his house to just "swap out parts" to try and eliminate faulty products. It was why I had to take his power supply home and test it in my wife's computer to see if it was the faulty item (or one of the faulty items).

And skype'ing/video chat won't be possible as he doesn't have another computer.

If you could double check the fan on the processor, that would be helpful.
If it is spinning, then you only need to reseat the ram.
Remove it, clean it if you can with alcohol or contact cleaner and put it back in.

PS: If it has a graphics card and onboard graphics, then it is possible that he plugged the monitor into the wrong place.

Quote from RockySosua : If you could double check the fan on the processor, that would be helpful. If it is spinning, then you only need to reseat the ram. Remove it, clean it if you can with alcohol or contact cleaner and put it back in. PS: If it has a graphics card and onboard graphics, then it is possible that he plugged the monitor into the wrong place.

I'm 99.9% sure it was just integrated graphics. I'm also 99.9% sure it only had the one VGA output. He even said there was only "one 'screwdown' type input" -- which would be the VGA port.

I'll call him and double check on one spinning...but I'm pretty sure he said NO fans were spinning.

Quote from TheEdge : Bench testing with what? He doesn't have any kind of electrical testing equipment...and we didn't have another computer at his house to just "swap out parts" to try and eliminate faulty products. It was why I had to take his power supply home and test it in my wife's computer to see if it was the faulty item (or one of the faulty items). And skype'ing/video chat won't be possible as he doesn't have another computer.

No need to get annoyed to the person who tries to help if you didn't even bother to review my post in the previous thread. What you want to achieve here is difficult as you try to troubleshoot remotely. May this be a good lesson for you.

Quote from TheEdge : Instead of having everybody read through the entire thread I posted here, I thought I would summarize in a new thread -- and then get into my worst fears potentially coming true. SUMMARY: I unplugged my parents computer tower. Disconnected the mouse, monitor, etc. Removed the case from the side. Blew the dust out of it with an air compressor (low pressure). Reconnected everything and it wouldn't power up at all. There was a clicking noise coming from the power supply. So I ordered a new one. I tried his power supply on my wife's computer. Her computer wouldn't boot with his power supply...so we were HOPING that meant it was simply a bad power supply. UPDATE: He got the Corsair power supply today. Plugged everything in (24 pin cable to 24 pin receptacle on the MOBO and 4 pin cable to 4 pin receptacle on MOBO -- as well as the power cables for the hard drive and DVD burner). He hit the power switch on the face of the computer and the green light came on (we weren't getting that before with the old power supply). He said a "yellow light" came on (I assume he was referring to the HDD activity indicator light on the front). He said the light on the front of the DVD burner drive also would blink for a bit. So to me -- that says that the computer is trying to boot...as it usually looks for optical discs/media to boot from...and then the hard drive. However, when the monitor first "wakes up", it says "ACER" or whatever the brand is...but then it goes back to sleep and says "no video signal". He can't screw up where the VGA plug goes -- there is only one place for it to go. And it recognizes when the computer first tries to boot. He says no fans kick in. So what else could be wrong with the computer? Any theories? I'm almost worried now that something else on the motherboard is fried... It stinks trying to troubleshoot from 1,000 miles away (not that it's any easier for you guys trying to help). I just figured I know basic hardware on a computer. But when it comes to how a computer will act with motherboard or processor damage is beyond me. Also, if it's totally fried, aren't we almost better off just buying a new tower than trying to replace his motherboard/processor? They don't need anything high end as they don't play video games, don't do any graphics processing or video editing. Just web browsing to check stock quotes/e-mail/facebook for the most part.

Does the video card have an additional power connection?

Quote from teetee1 : No need to get annoyed to the person who tries to help if you didn't even bother to review my post in the previous thread. What you want to achieve here is difficult as you try to troubleshoot remotely. May this be a good lesson for you.

I wasn't "annoyed" with anyone. I was simply asking a question / requesting clarification.

Quote from drherdman : Does the video card have an additional power connection?

No, it doesn't.

Were you able to find out if the CPU fan turns when the PC is turned on?

Quote from TheEdge : I wasn't "annoyed" with anyone. I was simply asking a question / requesting clarification. No, it doesn't.

I would uuhook all the cable except the power the motherboard 4 prong and re-seat the vidoe card (maybe look in the slot for to make sure no dirt in it. then power the machine up to see if it posts to the bios.

Quote from drherdman : I would uuhook all the cable except the power the motherboard 4 prong and re-seat the vidoe card (maybe look in the slot for to make sure no dirt in it. then power the machine up to see if it posts to the bios.

It's my understanding that the PC has no dedicated GPU.

Quote : I'm 99.9% sure it was just integrated graphics. I'm also 99.9% sure it only had the one VGA output. He even said there was only "one 'screwdown' type input" -- which would be the VGA port.

Ok then it makes it simple plug in just the 2 power connections and see if it posts.