inherited old(ish) system won't see CD-Rom in drive - Page 3

fiddler · 27th Sep 2007, 11:44 PM

Yes, if randomly booting into XP only once in every 10 or so attempts qualifies to be described as "working" Adrian!

First thing this morning it worked fine, XP downloaded updates, installed them OK but, as usual, on reboot it failed again. It's never restarted when I click XP Restart, not even into that Safe BIOS mode. So I turn off, wait a bit and try again. It appears to like waiting to "cool down" so there's more likelihood of success if I leave it off at the back, wait a bit, turn on at the back, wait a bit, then the front button.
If the BIOS logo appears for only about 0.5 secs I know it'll fail to boot, if it displays for just a bit longer then it boots OK.
The normal POST single beep is always followed, successful XP boot or not, by a fainter shorter beep - I don't know if that is significant.

Sorry this is so boring.

Miles

Adrian Wong · 28th Sep 2007, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiddler

Yes, if randomly booting into XP only once in every 10 or so attempts qualifies to be described as "working" Adrian!

First thing this morning it worked fine, XP downloaded updates, installed them OK but, as usual, on reboot it failed again. It's never restarted when I click XP Restart, not even into that Safe BIOS mode. So I turn off, wait a bit and try again. It appears to like waiting to "cool down" so there's more likelihood of success if I leave it off at the back, wait a bit, turn on at the back, wait a bit, then the front button.
If the BIOS logo appears for only about 0.5 secs I know it'll fail to boot, if it displays for just a bit longer then it boots OK.
The normal POST single beep is always followed, successful XP boot or not, by a fainter shorter beep - I don't know if that is significant.

Sorry this is so boring.

Miles

Woah... That's not good at all. It's like the motherboard isn't stable. Hmm.. From my experience, old systems always have these kinds of problems.

In my father's system, it was due to the memory module's deteriorating contact. All it required was a good jiggle to get it working again. But it sure was a hassle to open up the case everytime it fails to boot.

fiddler · 28th Sep 2007, 05:43 AM

Well I already took out one DIMM to read the spec in case I decide to go for another mobo and can use the exisiting RAM, so I'll do the same with the other, and see if that helps.

Miles

Chai · 28th Sep 2007, 12:27 PM

I honestly suspect the capacitor is causing the problem, even if there's no visible damage on the capacitors.

fiddler · 1st Oct 2007, 03:14 PM

Hey Chai, I just did some googling and learnt about capacitors and symptoms of failing caps. I think you've hit the cap on the head

When I have some time I'll get some new ones and have a go at replacing them

I've managed before to replace an input socket on a guitar amp, and reconnect a power button on a desktop, so know a bit about soldering. Thanks.

Miles

Chai · 1st Oct 2007, 07:28 PM

Capacitor should be quite easy to replace, if you know how to solder.

fiddler · 2nd Oct 2007, 08:27 AM

I think it's sorted guys

I had been using a flat screen monitor (Medion MD9759AH) which is now connected back to my normal computer. I needed an application I'd installed on the "dodgy" system, so dragged out the cumbersome, space-hogging Samsung 957DF monitor that came with it, connected it up, and lo and behold

it booted first go and has since done several normal XP restarts and a power off/on.
So that seems to be the issue. But why?

This flat screen is about the same age as the mobo, so why doesn't the onboard software like it

Miles

Adrian Wong · 2nd Oct 2007, 10:51 PM

Oh.. So it was just a dodgy LCD monitor? Are you connecting both to the same graphics card?

fiddler · 3rd Oct 2007, 11:45 PM

The LCD monitor works fine with my own long-running system Adrian - desktop, XP,P4 2.4GHz, Radeon 9200 SE. The trouble occurred only when I connected the "dodgy" system,
using its own PCI graphics card - Hercules Prophet Radeon 8500.
Thanks again for seeing this through

Miles

Adrian Wong · 4th Oct 2007, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiddler

The LCD monitor works fine with my own long-running system Adrian - desktop, XP,P4 2.4GHz, Radeon 9200 SE. The trouble occurred only when I connected the "dodgy" system,
using its own PCI graphics card - Hercules Prophet Radeon 8500.
Thanks again for seeing this through

Miles

Oh, I see. I suppose you used the VGA port. Hmm.. Not sure why the LCD monitor would affect the system's stability...

Maybe you can try this. Update your graphics card driver... and BIOS, if they have one.

28th Sep 2007, 12:27 PM	#24 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 26,669 Reputation: 3984 Rep Power: 72	I honestly suspect the capacitor is causing the problem, even if there's no visible damage on the capacitors. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

1st Oct 2007, 07:28 PM	#26 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 26,669 Reputation: 3984 Rep Power: 72	Capacitor should be quite easy to replace, if you know how to solder. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

2nd Oct 2007, 10:51 PM	#28 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my BenQ Joybook 7000 notebook! Posts: 29,961 Reputation: 2958 Rep Power: 65	Oh.. So it was just a dodgy LCD monitor? Are you connecting both to the same graphics card? __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? Keep Tech ARP free! Visit our sponsors! We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

27th Sep 2007, 11:44 PM	#21 (permalink)
fiddler Warming up Join Date: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Herts, UK Posts: 111 Reputation: 570 Rep Power: 8	Yes, if randomly booting into XP only once in every 10 or so attempts qualifies to be described as "working" Adrian! First thing this morning it worked fine, XP downloaded updates, installed them OK but, as usual, on reboot it failed again. It's never restarted when I click XP Restart, not even into that Safe BIOS mode. So I turn off, wait a bit and try again. It appears to like waiting to "cool down" so there's more likelihood of success if I leave it off at the back, wait a bit, turn on at the back, wait a bit, then the front button. If the BIOS logo appears for only about 0.5 secs I know it'll fail to boot, if it displays for just a bit longer then it boots OK. The normal POST single beep is always followed, successful XP boot or not, by a fainter shorter beep - I don't know if that is significant. Sorry this is so boring. Miles

28th Sep 2007, 05:43 AM	#23 (permalink)
fiddler Warming up Join Date: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Herts, UK Posts: 111 Reputation: 570 Rep Power: 8	Well I already took out one DIMM to read the spec in case I decide to go for another mobo and can use the exisiting RAM, so I'll do the same with the other, and see if that helps. Miles

1st Oct 2007, 03:14 PM	#25 (permalink)
fiddler Warming up Join Date: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Herts, UK Posts: 111 Reputation: 570 Rep Power: 8	Hey Chai, I just did some googling and learnt about capacitors and symptoms of failing caps. I think you've hit the cap on the head When I have some time I'll get some new ones and have a go at replacing them I've managed before to replace an input socket on a guitar amp, and reconnect a power button on a desktop, so know a bit about soldering. Thanks. Miles

2nd Oct 2007, 08:27 AM	#27 (permalink)
fiddler Warming up Join Date: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Herts, UK Posts: 111 Reputation: 570 Rep Power: 8	I think it's sorted guys I had been using a flat screen monitor (Medion MD9759AH) which is now connected back to my normal computer. I needed an application I'd installed on the "dodgy" system, so dragged out the cumbersome, space-hogging Samsung 957DF monitor that came with it, connected it up, and lo and behold it booted first go and has since done several normal XP restarts and a power off/on. So that seems to be the issue. But why? This flat screen is about the same age as the mobo, so why doesn't the onboard software like it Miles

3rd Oct 2007, 11:45 PM	#29 (permalink)
fiddler Warming up Join Date: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Herts, UK Posts: 111 Reputation: 570 Rep Power: 8	The LCD monitor works fine with my own long-running system Adrian - desktop, XP,P4 2.4GHz, Radeon 9200 SE. The trouble occurred only when I connected the "dodgy" system, using its own PCI graphics card - Hercules Prophet Radeon 8500. Thanks again for seeing this through Miles