Help! Computer has gone wrong and won't boot - Page 2

**Jism Jim** · March 4th, 2016, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exfarmer

Been getting a message that the checksum doesn't match

As others have said, that's likely to be a RAM problem. Get yourself a boot disk with Memtest86 on it, like Hiren's boot disk. Run memtest, for a few hours if necessary, but it's likely to find a problem very quickly.

After that you can single out which ram chip is the problem, or you simply replace both.

**burpman** · March 5th, 2016, 04:36 AM

Could be a number of things wrong with it: Bad RAM, ancient CMOS/BIOS battery, nominal power supply. It also could be some combo of all of the above. Check to see if the power supply fan is still spinning. If it isn't, that is also a bad sign that the PSU is on its way out. Isolate the RAM first as the others have suggested, replace the battery also if needed and sometimes reseating all the cards too can help. If the RAM is not bad, you will need to isolate the codes which could indicate a problem with the motherboard. Usually, the best thing to do is to remove all but the most necessary cards in the system. If you have onboard video, remove any GPUs too.

**exfarmer** · March 8th, 2016, 05:30 PM

I've been busy for a few days so wasn't able to do anything with the PC but I've now taken the cover off, carefully given it a good clean and checked that the ram was seated properly which it was.

It's a fairly old computer which only has two ram slots and I had a 1gb card in each. Took them both out and put one back into slot one and, so far, the PC has worked.

Managed to get most of my stuff off the hard drive, once that's finished I'll try re-installing the other ram card and see what happens.

At the moment it's working, albeit slowly cause of the lack of ram, so thanks everyone.

**hound dog** · March 8th, 2016, 07:39 PM

This thread reminded me to do what I had planned to do, vacuum the dust out of my computer. It was incredibly noisy, the fan seeming to run at high speed every time I navigated to a new web page. Then life threw me a curve ball with an unanticipated move, and I had been too busy and forgotten my original plan. Thanks to you all for the reminder, much quieter browsing at my desk now.

**exfarmer** · April 3rd, 2016, 11:28 AM

OK, time for an update. I re-installed the second memory card and everything crashed again. The PC wouldn't register that the keyboard, mouse etc.. were plugged into the back and the bleeping started again. Checked the manufactures website but the bleeps didn't appear to be in the list to indicate any particular problem, it was one short bleep after another with the same gap inbetween.

Anyway, I removed the faulty memory card and after several attempts managed to do a new, clean instal of windows 8 using an old disc. After a few hundred updates I got the message of an offer of a free windows 10 upgrade. Installed it and so far everything has been running smoothly. Stopped and started the machine several times with no problems. Need to add a new memory card, only 1gb installed at the moment, but it looks like panic over and the machine lives for a bit longer.

**9876543210** · April 3rd, 2016, 10:36 PM

exfarmer,

OK. The only recommendation I have remaining is to check on the possibility of increasing the RAM to 4 GB. You only have two RAM slots so you'd need two 2 GB RAM chips. Depending, those two RAM chips, if you can find them used, may be pretty cheap. Keep that one bad chip close so you know what kind you need and then either check local computer shops for chips or keep an eye on your local Craigslist. Chips periodically show up on there so you might get lucky. If you do you might wind up keeping the computer longer as it will be a bit snappier than you remember.

Lemo · April 4th, 2016, 12:22 AM

I apologize if I'm repeating what was said before. I only briefly checked previous posts, but I can say, that it is better if two units of memory are of the same maker, model and size. First two parameters are important, third isn't realy.
Don't forget to disconect HDD cables when you experimanting.

Beepcodes - http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm.

**Blue126** · April 29th, 2016, 09:42 PM

This is without doubt a motherboard dying I am afraid to say.

You have done the correct, back up.

Okay, you say Your computer is old, bury it now, old faithful.

Just buy a new one, enjoy

**exfarmer** · April 29th, 2016, 10:16 PM

All still working at the moment, I'm posting from it now. If it lasts another six months I'll be happy.

**palo5** · May 1st, 2016, 11:47 AM

Overheating is a big reason why computers crash. This can be caused by dust in the box and/or defective fans

You can buy cans of compressed air. Get one and clean your machine. Even if that isn't the reason, it won't be wasted money. The experience will teach you something

Take the cover off the machine, and see if of ALL the fans work when you boot. Sometimes they fail, but replacements are cheap (from ca. $10) and you can instal them yourself. Instructions are available on youtube

Intermittent problems are hard to diagnose. If the above does not work, all you can do is switch out part for part (RAM, graphic card etc) and see what does work

If none of the above works longterm, you may have a screwed motherboard, as someone noted above. Your best bet is to give the machine to a specialist, pay his fee, and be prepared to get a new machine

March 8th, 2016, 05:30 PM	#13
exfarmer avvie pic by Estreeter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Essex, England Posts: 13,737 Thanks: 109,422 Thanked 182,658 Times in 13,045 Posts	I've been busy for a few days so wasn't able to do anything with the PC but I've now taken the cover off, carefully given it a good clean and checked that the ram was seated properly which it was. It's a fairly old computer which only has two ram slots and I had a 1gb card in each. Took them both out and put one back into slot one and, so far, the PC has worked. Managed to get most of my stuff off the hard drive, once that's finished I'll try re-installing the other ram card and see what happens. At the moment it's working, albeit slowly cause of the lack of ram, so thanks everyone. __________________ I no longer have time to upload videos, sorry.

April 3rd, 2016, 11:28 AM	#15
exfarmer avvie pic by Estreeter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Essex, England Posts: 13,737 Thanks: 109,422 Thanked 182,658 Times in 13,045 Posts	OK, time for an update. I re-installed the second memory card and everything crashed again. The PC wouldn't register that the keyboard, mouse etc.. were plugged into the back and the bleeping started again. Checked the manufactures website but the bleeps didn't appear to be in the list to indicate any particular problem, it was one short bleep after another with the same gap inbetween. Anyway, I removed the faulty memory card and after several attempts managed to do a new, clean instal of windows 8 using an old disc. After a few hundred updates I got the message of an offer of a free windows 10 upgrade. Installed it and so far everything has been running smoothly. Stopped and started the machine several times with no problems. Need to add a new memory card, only 1gb installed at the moment, but it looks like panic over and the machine lives for a bit longer. __________________ I no longer have time to upload videos, sorry.

April 4th, 2016, 12:22 AM	#17
Lemo Blocked! Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 587 Thanks: 48,073 Thanked 7,101 Times in 627 Posts	I apologize if I'm repeating what was said before. I only briefly checked previous posts, but I can say, that it is better if two units of memory are of the same maker, model and size. First two parameters are important, third isn't realy. Don't forget to disconect HDD cables when you experimanting. Beepcodes - http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm. Last edited by Lemo; April 4th, 2016 at 12:41 AM..

April 29th, 2016, 09:42 PM	#18
Blue126 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,927 Thanks: 19,029 Thanked 72,076 Times in 1,922 Posts	This is without doubt a motherboard dying I am afraid to say. You have done the correct, back up. Okay, you say Your computer is old, bury it now, old faithful. Just buy a new one, enjoy __________________ Sorry, I can no longer reupload and replace my dead links. Please post a reup request in the Classic Movies Report Thread and include a link to the post with dead links. Thanks.

April 29th, 2016, 10:16 PM	#19
exfarmer avvie pic by Estreeter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Essex, England Posts: 13,737 Thanks: 109,422 Thanked 182,658 Times in 13,045 Posts	All still working at the moment, I'm posting from it now. If it lasts another six months I'll be happy. __________________ I no longer have time to upload videos, sorry.

March 5th, 2016, 04:36 AM	#12
burpman Former Staff Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Burren, Eireann Posts: 4,357 Thanks: 23,600 Thanked 59,786 Times in 4,181 Posts	Could be a number of things wrong with it: Bad RAM, ancient CMOS/BIOS battery, nominal power supply. It also could be some combo of all of the above. Check to see if the power supply fan is still spinning. If it isn't, that is also a bad sign that the PSU is on its way out. Isolate the RAM first as the others have suggested, replace the battery also if needed and sometimes reseating all the cards too can help. If the RAM is not bad, you will need to isolate the codes which could indicate a problem with the motherboard. Usually, the best thing to do is to remove all but the most necessary cards in the system. If you have onboard video, remove any GPUs too.

March 8th, 2016, 07:39 PM	#14
hound dog Vintage Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: West Coast of North America Posts: 1,104 Thanks: 6,453 Thanked 18,732 Times in 1,087 Posts	This thread reminded me to do what I had planned to do, vacuum the dust out of my computer. It was incredibly noisy, the fan seeming to run at high speed every time I navigated to a new web page. Then life threw me a curve ball with an unanticipated move, and I had been too busy and forgotten my original plan. Thanks to you all for the reminder, much quieter browsing at my desk now.

April 3rd, 2016, 10:36 PM	#16
9876543210 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,044 Thanks: 24,638 Thanked 34,288 Times in 4,008 Posts	exfarmer, OK. The only recommendation I have remaining is to check on the possibility of increasing the RAM to 4 GB. You only have two RAM slots so you'd need two 2 GB RAM chips. Depending, those two RAM chips, if you can find them used, may be pretty cheap. Keep that one bad chip close so you know what kind you need and then either check local computer shops for chips or keep an eye on your local Craigslist. Chips periodically show up on there so you might get lucky. If you do you might wind up keeping the computer longer as it will be a bit snappier than you remember.

May 1st, 2016, 11:47 AM	#20
palo5 Former Staff Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 16,579 Thanks: 452,836 Thanked 222,658 Times in 16,567 Posts	Overheating is a big reason why computers crash. This can be caused by dust in the box and/or defective fans You can buy cans of compressed air. Get one and clean your machine. Even if that isn't the reason, it won't be wasted money. The experience will teach you something Take the cover off the machine, and see if of ALL the fans work when you boot. Sometimes they fail, but replacements are cheap (from ca. $10) and you can instal them yourself. Instructions are available on youtube Intermittent problems are hard to diagnose. If the above does not work, all you can do is switch out part for part (RAM, graphic card etc) and see what does work If none of the above works longterm, you may have a screwed motherboard, as someone noted above. Your best bet is to give the machine to a specialist, pay his fee, and be prepared to get a new machine