Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

Hi everyone at Daniweb !!

I have an Emachine W3611, Windows Vista Basic, 2GB of RAM and a 3.0GHz processor.
I believe it took a lightning stike, not too long ago. It doen't want to boot up. Sometimes it would start running but then shut off after a few seconds. Nothing apears on the monitor, and it's a different monitor that I know works. So I guessed it to be a motherboard. I tried a different power supply and got the same results. I ordered a motherboard off of Ebay and installed it but I get the same results. Would you say that it's the processor ? The processor # is SL9KG

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Dani AI

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A concise, safe troubleshooting plan for a system that powers fans but never posts. This builds on points from , answers 's RAM prompt with practical tests, and expands on 's reminder that multiple parts can fail after a surge.

Start with a bench test (do this before installing any replacement board): work on a nonconductive surface, unplug mains while you rewire, remove drives and peripherals, and reduce the system to the minimal parts needed to POST — motherboard, CPU with cooler, one known-good RAM stick, PSU, and a video device (onboard or a known-good card). Attach a small PC speaker to the front-panel header and power the board by shorting the power pins if needed. One stick in the primary slot removes many variables and makes beep codes or LED POST indicators readable.

Do straightforward electrical and visual checks: use a PSU tester or multimeter to confirm +12V, +5V and +3.3V under load; look for burned areas, bulging or leaking capacitors, blown fuses or damaged MOSFETs near the CPU power area; check the CPU socket for bent pins; clear CMOS (battery or jumper) before retesting. Move the single RAM stick through every slot to rule out a bad DIMM or slot. If you get beep codes or POST LEDs, consult the motherboard manual for the code meaning.

If a known-good PSU and the minimal bench setup still yield no POST and no speaker beeps, the failure is most likely the motherboard or the CPU. Used replacement boards can arrive dead-on-arrival, so insist on tested/returnable parts or borrow known-good components for comparison. A POST diagnostic card or a technician with test gear will shorten diagnosis. Finally, replace or upgrade surge protection and consider a UPS to reduce the risk of future lightning-related damage.

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Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

I got a new power supply and a CPU. I hooked it all up and the only thing that happends is the fans spin. I think it's the motherboard.....what do you think ?

Member Avatar for compuchip

have you changed the ram?

Member Avatar for Tumbleweedracef

Yes, but that did the same thing. I got another ,(used), board in but it was bad. I sent it back to where I bought it from and am waiting for a replasement board.

Member Avatar for PcTestCard.com

If you believed that the lightning damamged your PC, there are many parts could be faulty.

Mobo and PSU is the best part to start with, but VGA RAM CPU could be the faulty part as well.

Good luck on your new mobo.

Hope this helps!
Bill

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