Just, ugh

>
>         Try unplugging the HD or drives and see if it will boot to another
> drive such as a CD or floppy if you have one.  Also watch the power up
> process and make sure the CPU fan is running immediately upon power up.
>   Write back.

I've unplugged component after component, each one, then trying. It
still won't boot up. I believe part of the problem is the heatsink is
not making full contact. And it's getting too heated to run. Looking
at the heatsink, I see 2 of the 4 connector pins are missing one part
of what locks them to the board. Obviously, over the years, I've let
this thing be abused. Now however, how do I replace it. I can bring
it in, hopefully find something that will work. Doing some reading on
the mobo, Zalman is a recommended heatsink. And I can see the local
Fry's has them. If I bring in my old heatsink, that can at least give
a comparison on what Zalman model will work. I have no idea of the
cpu model number anymore. It worked fine for 2yrs, I've simply
forgotten the inner parts of my machine. As it briefly powered on
during the PS swap, I think it had cooled enough to run for a few
seconds. And this recent set of restarting, and removing components
testing, it had cooled again. It allowed a brief boot period then
shut down. Sorry I sound like a dork here, I just simply can't
remember things like I used to. I'm going to try replacing the
heatsink, and go from there
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

> Please do be sure that you have recent copies of any important files
> from your hard drive. If not, your priorities change from getting
> the machine working to making a copy of your hard drive. That's your
> judgment call, no one from here can assess the value of your files.
>
> Good luck.

Thanks, seems I have narrowed it down to a heatsink/mobo issue. I'll
try the sink first, then move to the board, as below/above. Problem
persists no matter what's plugged into the board. While the chip is
'hot', I've no real way to judge it to be fatally hot. Since the sink
is unreliable, I'll start with that, work out to the mobo.
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

atorifan.RemoveThis@yahoo.com wrote:
> So, the cat leapt from my pc case today. While it was on, knocking it
> to the floor. I'm hoping it's a simple fix. Since then, it will
> initially get power, then shut down. I switched power supply, same
> thing. Asus P5LD2 mobo, over 2yrs old, 2mb ram. It's home built, and
> those are all the specs I can remember. Runs xp pro, bout 2g dual
> core by intel. The power on instances last about 2-30 sec. 2-8
> being average. One time it got the drives spinning, and beeped as if
> it was going to log on. This was after I switched to a different
> power supply. I really don't want to take the board out and reseat.
> That might not even be a solution. I reset the ram, and cpu power
> sink, that didn't affect it. At this point, seems like it might be a
> bad mobo, at least a 'now' bad one. Thanks for any help given.

Try unplugging the HD or drives and see if it will boot to another
drive such as a CD or floppy if you have one. Also watch the power up
process and make sure the CPU fan is running immediately upon power up.
Write back.
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

atorifan.RemoveThis@yahoo.com wrote:
>> Try unplugging the HD or drives and see if it will boot to another
>> drive such as a CD or floppy if you have one. Also watch the power up
>> process and make sure the CPU fan is running immediately upon power up.
>> Write back.
>
> I've unplugged component after component, each one, then trying. It
> still won't boot up. I believe part of the problem is the heatsink is
> not making full contact. And it's getting too heated to run. Looking
> at the heatsink, I see 2 of the 4 connector pins are missing one part
> of what locks them to the board. Obviously, over the years, I've let
> this thing be abused. Now however, how do I replace it. I can bring
> it in, hopefully find something that will work. Doing some reading on
> the mobo, Zalman is a recommended heatsink. And I can see the local
> Fry's has them. If I bring in my old heatsink, that can at least give
> a comparison on what Zalman model will work. I have no idea of the
> cpu model number anymore. It worked fine for 2yrs, I've simply
> forgotten the inner parts of my machine. As it briefly powered on
> during the PS swap, I think it had cooled enough to run for a few
> seconds. And this recent set of restarting, and removing components
> testing, it had cooled again. It allowed a brief boot period then
> shut down. Sorry I sound like a dork here, I just simply can't
> remember things like I used to. I'm going to try replacing the
> heatsink, and go from there

If you think the heat sink is not seated securely to the CPU, that is
almost certainly your problem. I believe most CPUs have a circuit that
shuts down power when they get too hot. You sound like you are on the
right track with heat being your problem. Take the part with the broken
tabs with you and I am sure you will find a part to fix it.

Here is a link to the MB you said you had.
http://www.directron.com/p5ld2deluxe.html

It says you have a LGA775 Pentium 4 CPU. It might be wise to print out
the page.
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

atorifan DeleteThis @yahoo.com wrote:
>> Please do be sure that you have recent copies of any important files
>> from your hard drive. If not, your priorities change from getting
>> the machine working to making a copy of your hard drive. That's your
>> judgment call, no one from here can assess the value of your files.
>>
>> Good luck.
>
> Thanks, seems I have narrowed it down to a heatsink/mobo issue. I'll
> try the sink first, then move to the board, as below/above. Problem
> persists no matter what's plugged into the board. While the chip is
> 'hot', I've no real way to judge it to be fatally hot. Since the sink
> is unreliable, I'll start with that, work out to the mobo.

You've found the main problem. The heatsink has partially come off and
is not contacting the CPU. Without a heatsink, the CPU will shut down
almost immediately due to overheating. This is built into the CPU and
keeps it from frying under conditions such as yours.

A heatsink is your first priority, and may be the only problem, since
all your symptoms are caused by the dismounted HSF.
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

atorifan.RemoveThis@yahoo.com wrote:

> So, the cat leapt from my pc case today.

Mine tends to leap from something above onto my head while I'm
sleeping. Hasn't done any damage yet, I hope.

> While it was on, knocking it to the floor.

Like from a table to a carpeted floor.

> I'm hoping it's a simple fix.

That might be a problem. You need to hunker down and do it the hard
way IMO.

> I really don't want to take the board out and reseat. That might
> not even be a solution.

Or it might be the solution and you might be wasting your time, and
risking complications, trying to do it the easy way.

Please do be sure that you have recent copies of any important files
from your hard drive. If not, your priorities change from getting
the machine working to making a copy of your hard drive. That's your
judgment call, no one from here can assess the value of your files.

Good luck.
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

> Looking at the heatsink, I see 2 of the 4 connector pins are missing
> one part of what locks them to the board. Obviously, over the years,
> I've let this thing be abused. Now however, how do I replace it. I
> can bring it in, hopefully find something that will work. Doing some
> reading on the mobo, Zalman is a recommended heatsink. And I
> can see the local Fry's has them. If I bring in my old heatsink, that
> can at least give a comparison on what Zalman model will work.

You could just get one of these, but you'd have to take the motherboard
out to get at the back:
www.svc.com/lga775-bolt-th.html
or:
www.heatsinkfactory.com/thermalright-lga775-bolt-thru-kit-p-16470.html

What you do is remove the plastic push pins entirely and replace them
with the spring loaded screws which attach to the backplate.
www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/support/installation/lga775_bolt.htm
I've been putting them on all my builds lately that use the retail HSF.
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

atorifan.DeleteThis@yahoo.com wrote:
>> Please do be sure that you have recent copies of any important files
>> from your hard drive. If not, your priorities change from getting
>> the machine working to making a copy of your hard drive. That's your
>> judgment call, no one from here can assess the value of your files.
>>
>> Good luck.
>
> Thanks, seems I have narrowed it down to a heatsink/mobo issue. I'll
> try the sink first, then move to the board, as below/above. Problem
> persists no matter what's plugged into the board. While the chip is
> 'hot', I've no real way to judge it to be fatally hot. Since the sink
> is unreliable, I'll start with that, work out to the mobo.

Does it stay on long enough to get into the bios and have a look at the
temps?

Funny what can break one though. Last week I fell down half a flight on
concrete stairs while carrying a large PC (Coolermaster Stacker case),
bouced it off the wall in front of me and then I fell on my backside and
ended up with the PC on top of me. I ended up with many bumps and bruises,
the case of the PC looks like its been hit by a tank, but would you believe
the damn thing still works perefectly!

SteveH

SteveH
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

atorifan.RemoveThis@yahoo.com wrote:
> So, the cat leapt from my pc case today. While it was on, knocking it
> to the floor. I'm hoping it's a simple fix. Since then, it will
> initially get power, then shut down. I switched power supply, same
> thing. Asus P5LD2 mobo, over 2yrs old, 2mb ram. It's home built, and
> those are all the specs I can remember. Runs xp pro, bout 2g dual
> core by intel. The power on instances last about 2-30 sec. 2-8
> being average. One time it got the drives spinning, and beeped as if
> it was going to log on. This was after I switched to a different
> power supply. I really don't want to take the board out and reseat.
> That might not even be a solution. I reset the ram,

And video card? checked all the cables?

> and cpu power
> sink, that didn't affect it.

I hope you cleaned and reapplied the thermal compound as well...

> At this point, seems like it might be a
> bad mobo, at least a 'now' bad one.

If the case is even slightly misshapen behind the motherboard you can
easily get a short where the metal motherboard mount touches the
motherboard itself.

Ari


--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply
Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant. Please
volunteer to be a marrow donor and literally save someone's life:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

SteveH wrote:
> atorifan.DeleteThis@yahoo.com wrote:
>>> Please do be sure that you have recent copies of any important files
>>> from your hard drive. If not, your priorities change from getting
>>> the machine working to making a copy of your hard drive. That's your
>>> judgment call, no one from here can assess the value of your files.
>>>
>>> Good luck.
>> Thanks, seems I have narrowed it down to a heatsink/mobo issue. I'll
>> try the sink first, then move to the board, as below/above. Problem
>> persists no matter what's plugged into the board. While the chip is
>> 'hot', I've no real way to judge it to be fatally hot. Since the sink
>> is unreliable, I'll start with that, work out to the mobo.
>
> Does it stay on long enough to get into the bios and have a look at the
> temps?
>
> Funny what can break one though. Last week I fell down half a flight on
> concrete stairs while carrying a large PC (Coolermaster Stacker case),
> bouced it off the wall in front of me and then I fell on my backside and
> ended up with the PC on top of me. I ended up with many bumps and bruises,
> the case of the PC looks like its been hit by a tank, but would you believe
> the damn thing still works perefectly!
>
> SteveH
>
> SteveH
>
>

Damn that sounds like something I would do. In fact I have done it. I
hope you're okay.

Bob
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

"SteveH" <steve.houghREMOVE.TakeThisOut@MEblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in
news:yG6lj.81039$c_1.29602@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk:

<snip>

> Funny what can break one though. Last week I fell down half a flight
> on concrete stairs while carrying a large PC (Coolermaster Stacker
> case), bouced it off the wall in front of me and then I fell on my
> backside and ended up with the PC on top of me. I ended up with many
> bumps and bruises, the case of the PC looks like its been hit by a
> tank, but would you believe the damn thing still works perefectly!

I do believe it! Dam PC's survive when they shouldn't and then don't
have the decency to hard fail when they should. Glad to hear you're
alright. Do be careful and take your time.

--
pcbldrNinetyEight
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

Bob M wrote:

>
> Damn that sounds like something I would do. In fact I have done it. I
> hope you're okay.
>
> Bob

Fine thanks now Bob, we did however think I'd broken my thumb at one point.
And my customer was very good about it as well. He was more concerned for me
than the fact I'd just turned his very expensive case into something that
looked like it had come from a car breakers yard!

Thanks
SteveH
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh 

pcbldrNinetyEight wrote:
> "SteveH" <steve.houghREMOVE.RemoveThis@MEblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in
> news:yG6lj.81039$c_1.29602@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk:
>
> <snip>
>
>> Funny what can break one though. Last week I fell down half a flight
>> on concrete stairs while carrying a large PC (Coolermaster Stacker
>> case), bouced it off the wall in front of me and then I fell on my
>> backside and ended up with the PC on top of me. I ended up with many
>> bumps and bruises, the case of the PC looks like its been hit by a
>> tank, but would you believe the damn thing still works perefectly!
>
> I do believe it! Dam PC's survive when they shouldn't and then don't
> have the decency to hard fail when they should. Glad to hear you're
> alright. Do be careful and take your time.

Thanks for the concern. I must admit though, at the time I was more worried
about the damn PC! It was a mobo/cpu/memory/video replacement job in which
I'd had a lot of problems getting the Gigabye board to play nice with the
Patriot memory I'd bought for it. Then I managed to get XP that was already
installed on the HDD's to recognise all the new bits, which was
great-rebuild the Raid1 and job done. So just for good measure (and a bit of
reliability testing I throw it (and myself) down the stairs!

SteveH
 >> Stay informed about: Just, ugh