[Jetmech Jr.]

My computer broke down...and I don't know why.

Since 12:00AM, my computers been running JET-Defrag (was at 20% at the time this happened). Well, I woke up this afternoon (slept in, thanks very much) and found that my computer was busted. The Screen was blank (Strangely, the monitor was still on), the Comp was off (Strangely, the "ON" light was still lit), and Nothing I've done is working!

Apart from the damage caused from having the computer shut down while defragging, I have no idea what's wrong, why this happened, and what I can do to fix it (assuming it's fixable).

****, My parents'll probably blame me.

[Bobboau]

well, you don't have to wory about eraseing the hard drive before doing a reformat/reinstall, you seem to have gotten that far already.

hook it up to another computer to see if there is anything salvageable

[Rictor]

Don't worry, it's all part of the plan. The Force works in mysterious ways.

[Kie99]

That's just inappropriate.

How are you even posting on this board Jetmech?

[Jetmech Jr.]

I'm using My dad's computer (He won't mind, seeing as he'll be gone for a week).

However, I'm very limited as to what I can do on it. It's a really freaking powerful machine, but I a) Can't download, b) Can't go to any sites that would put Adware in the System, and c) Can't install any of my games.

Basically, I can browse here, 3 other sites, or play City of Heroes/Warcraft 3. Thats it.

[Unknown Target]

'Twas probably a power outage. Happens all the time with me. You leave your machine running, power outage gets it, then it automatically reboots, which explains why it says it was on (which it was).

[Jetmech Jr.]

My dad's comp and the T.V. didn't go out, nor the lights...

And no, it's STILL in the same condition. The "On" lights for both the Monitor and the Comp are lit, but the Machine ain't runnin...

[Bobboau]

take the hard drive out of the fried machine and put it into the one you are useing, try accessing it, tell us what you discover.

[Jetmech Jr.]

I'm not even close to qualified to do that.

*note to self: Learn how to do that

[Bobboau]

turn them off, open them up, unplug the two plugs from the potentaly broken hard drive, move it into the working machine, and plug the similar looking plugs on the other machine into the open slots, the only fit in the corect position and if the computer was made in the last ten years it should auto-maticly detect and configure the new hardware. if it doesn't then that's a sign that soemthing bad has happened to the harddrive.

[Swamp_Thing]

If he has some kind of virus on the hard drive, there is a chance he passes it on to his father´s PC doing that.
I sugest you unplugg the main power, let it cool off. Then remove the battery from the mainboard to reset the CMOS. Then start it over, step by step.
If you don´t know your way around the insides of a PC, you should leave it well alone, ´cause you risk damaging it even more. Take it to a knowledgeble friend or a repairman.

[Kosh]

If you have no idea how to change out a hard drive, I would not recommend trying to trouble shoot the hardware. Take it to someone who knows what he or she is doing.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Jetmech Jr.
Nothing I've done is working!

A little more info than that is required. What exactly happens when you turn the PC on? (Do you see the PC POST? Does it get as far as telling you to press a key to set up? Does it come up with the windows splash screen then fail?).

Can you boot from your windows CD (Don't reinstall if you can yet!). What OS are you actually running?


We need to know exactly what is failing before we can help. From your discription it could be the Power Supply Unit, motherboard or just a hard drive that is failing.

[Jetmech Jr.]

Originally posted by karajorma


A little more info than that is required. What exactly happens when you turn the PC on? (Do you see the PC POST? Does it get as far as telling you to press a key to set up? Does it come up with the windows splash screen then fail?).

Can you boot from your windows CD (Don't reinstall if you can yet!). What OS are you actually running?


We need to know exactly what is failing before we can help. From your discription it could be the Power Supply Unit, motherboard or just a hard drive that is failing.

Well, I've tried turning it on (Obviously). I've unhooked the cables from my wall (Get this: Even then, the Computer's "ON" light is still on).

Much beyond that, I either

1. Can't do it, seeing as how nothing is working (except the monitor and that Damned "ON" light, which is really beginning to piss me off. Like it's mocking me...)

2. Am not knowledgable enough, and would risk damaging the Computer even further.

I can't open the Disk Drive, I can't open up ANY programs, I can't get that light to TURN OFF. To put it simply, apart from turning the monitor off and on, I can't do anything with it.

The monitor shows a Blank Screen.

[Jetmech Jr.]

My brother woke up this morning, and it seems the Computer is-*gasp*- Working (as a matter of fact, I'm typing on it now)!

Whats more, it seems there is no damage, from either the things I did while it was down, or the whole "Closing out during JET Defrag."

How lucky can ya get?

[Swamp_Thing]

See? It just needed to cool off and empty the capacitors of any residual corrent. That´s why i think you were still seing the light on.
But to be safe, backup your data and after do a defrag of the drive. And keep an eye on it while doing it.