PC crash

[TSD]

I just had a thought, it could be memory. The other geeks might verify, but if the first slot memory is bad I don't think it will boot. If you have multiple memory sticks in there you can pull out the first slot and put a different one in there.



I think the only things you need to post are a motherboard, processor, memory, video.

You are correct. I would try booting with one stick.

 

[TSD]

I'm thinking I'll just buy to computer sans peripherals, and use the LCD monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer ect.. that I already have. That should save me some money. The computer is used for some games, but not much. Mostly home office, internet surfing, movies/videos, music, photos and school work. Doesn't need to be top of the line.



I guess it might be worth it to get a new motherboard and/or graphics card and see if it will boot up 1st. Shopping trip this wekend I guess.



Another question for the geeks. Will replacing the motherboard/graphics card require wiping the hard drive and re-installing the operating system and other software, or is it just plugging in the new hardware and installing/updating the associated drivers?

I would avoid buying anything before you know what the problem is. But, Graphics card, no you dont need to wipe the drive, motherboard yes, I would advise it. (It "might" boot, but I wouldnt recommend it.) You also need to make sure your current ram and processor are compatible with whatever new motherboard you got and whether it will seat in your HP box. Most run of the mill HP, Dell, Gateway etc. Machines use proprietary hardware and form factors, whereas the vast majority of ala carte computer hardware is ATX form factor. I wouldnt trust that any motherboard you bought would fit in the case without checking first.

 

[supraman]

Talked to one if the IT guys here at work and he even said might be the Power Supply. The 12v might work to spin the fans but the 5v might be broken which is why it won't boot

 

[winos5]

I went to the HP support site and there is a list of things to do to trouble shoot it. Seems aimed at determining if it is a monitor, software or hardware problem. Will try to go through and do what I can, then call their support for help or take it somewhere.

 

[winos5]

Just got off the phone with HP support tech geek.



The winner is...





































































































Howcho and "boat anchor" "Bob, tell us what our contestant has one!"



































Seriously, HP wants $60 just to talk with me and do diagnostics over the phone. **** them and their PC engineered to fail 2 years out of the box.

 

[jakobeast]

seriously. **** that.







Buy a new one. You would be better off. I check out a site http://dealnews.com/, They sometimes have good deals on computers. They also will have parts if you are building or want to upgrade crap. They got everything, and it changes throughout the day. I think it finds deal from different sites and shit.



It seems like you don't really do any hard core gaming or super fancy computing. I think what they have there would be fine. I found a nice laptop for 330. Don't need one right now otherwise I would have gotten it.

 

[TSD]

Just got off the phone with HP support tech geek.



The winner is...





































































































Howcho and "boat anchor" "Bob, tell us what our contestant has one!"



































Seriously, HP wants $60 just to talk with me and do diagnostics over the phone. **** them and their PC engineered to fail 2 years out of the box.

what happened to quality support. Back in the mid to late 90's 3 year warranty with unlimited support was the standard. If you needed a new part, gateway back in the 90's would even ship it to you BEFORE you needed to ship the old part back you would ship the old part back in the box they sent you, and if you didnt have the know how to do it yourself they would provide onsite service.



Nowadays its like 300 bucks extra for a warranty and they dont provide onsite support you gotta ship the whole box back to them.



Dude im telling you, smaller online boutiques. They are more pricey, but the quality of the product, service and support cannot be beat by the major brands.



Falcon Northwest, Digital Storm, Maingear and Origin PC come to mind. (alot of their standard PC's probably are more expensive and have more performance than you are looking for but you can customize the price down, and dont hesitate to call them If the configurator isnt meeting your needs if you call im sure they can build what you are looking for).

 

[supraman]

Just got off the phone with HP support tech geek.



The winner is...





































































































Howcho and "boat anchor" "Bob, tell us what our contestant has one!"



































Seriously, HP wants $60 just to talk with me and do diagnostics over the phone. **** them and their PC engineered to fail 2 years out of the box.

I call shenagans how can Howcho be right if the problem was never diagnosed?

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

what happened to quality support. Back in the mid to late 90's 3 year warranty with unlimited support was the standard. If you needed a new part, gateway back in the 90's would even ship it to you BEFORE you needed to ship the old part back you would ship the old part back in the box they sent you, and if you didnt have the know how to do it yourself they would provide onsite service.



Nowadays its like 300 bucks extra for a warranty and they dont provide onsite support you gotta ship the whole box back to them.



Dude im telling you, smaller online boutiques. They are more pricey, but the quality of the product, service and support cannot be beat by the major brands., etc.



Falcon Northwest, Digital Storm, Maingear and Origin PC come to mind. (alot of their standard PC's probably are more expensive and have more performance than you are looking for but you can customize the price down, and dont hesitate to call them If the configurator isnt meeting your needs if you call im sure they can build what you are looking for).

Profit margins are tighter, so the ease of getting repalcement parts is tougher. The boutiques charge your more to pay for that service in advance. Personally I do not think it is worth it as many will never need to cash in on it. And really, they are crazy over powered for those that are not hard core gamers.





Winos - Call them back and fight the $60 charge, if the push ask for a supervisor they will relent. Do it all the time with the stuff we have out of warrenty. Just have to be polite and patient. Also, if the computer is two years old and from HP, you should still have some type of first check warrenty coverage.



Also, and just basing on the info you have provided and I have skimmed, I wonder if it is the power supply. Seems to fit that profile.



Might also be worth looking for a local HP authorized dealer (not named Best Buy), and see what they can do for you. Small shops are fine, and they may do the quick t/s scan for free or at least cheaper that $60.

 

[Tater]

If you have a keyboard/mouse...already, you could just buy the box cheap from NewEgg or Tiger Direct.

 

[winos5]

It came with one year warranty out of the box. Over/above that I would have had to pay when I registered it.



Haven't decided what to do just yet, but the more I think about it the more sledge hammer in the middle of my back acre sound appealling (followed by a bonfire).

 

[winos5]

Tater, I plan on just getting the "box" and using what I already have for the peripherals.

 

[MassHavoc]

It came with one year warranty out of the box. Over/above that I would have had to pay when I registered it.



Haven't decided what to do just yet, but the more I think about it the more sledge hammer in the middle of my back acre sound appealling (followed by a bonfire).

If you have a really long extension cord and an old microwave... I'd suggest having a little fun with your hard drive. After you put it in a different machine and back it all up as I believe from what I've read here, that ain't the problem. HD + Microwave = FUN

 

[winos5]

One last update. The wife reminded me that we had some pretty decent thunderstorms aboot 3-4 days before my PC crashed. Wonder if a power surge got it despite my surge protector

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

If you have a really long extension cord and an old microwave... I'd suggest having a little fun with your hard drive. After you put it in a different machine and back it all up as I believe from what I've read here, that ain't the problem. HD + Microwave = FUN

You can get he same effect with real CD's and keep the art created along with the microwave. But HD's are fun too!

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

One last update. The wife reminded me that we had some pretty decent thunderstorms aboot 3-4 days before my PC crashed. Wonder if a power surge got it despite my surge protector

Possible, if you have a real cheap surge protector and could of quick and strong up/downs will kill something in the system.

 

[R K]

Possible, if you have a real cheap surge protector and could of quick and strong up/downs will kill something in the system.

It's a Pavillion, that's what they do. That's why I don't sell them. HP "business" side machines while still having issues from time to time usually come with a 3 year on site warranty. Whether it be an 8000, 8200 or the professional "Z" series.



Wino you will either have to have someone look at it, determine if it's hardware related, IE Drives, Memory, or board, and then see if they can acquire the HP service part. Or you can consider it a boat anchor and look for a new machine.



Who'm ever diagnoses it will one have to fix it, then reformat it, and then find all the existing drivers on HP, since most machines no longer come with an OEM boot disk any longer. It's a real pain in the ass.



I will put some decent machines on here for you to consider when I get into the office tomorrow. 6-800 range with 3yr support, on site, without purchasing the carepack.



My public service announcement for the day, DO NOT BUY HOME MACHINES from HP. IE Pavillions. There is a reason they are Home/end user machines and no network manager would actually put them on their network.

 

[supraman]

One last update. The wife reminded me that we had some pretty decent thunderstorms aboot 3-4 days before my PC crashed. Wonder if a power surge got it despite my surge protector

If your surge protector costs less than 50.00 it is just a power strip. Dont care what the box says and that it has a reset button. The only ones that work are 50 bucks and up

 

[R K]

If your surge protector costs less than 50.00 it is just a power strip. Dont care what the box says and that it has a reset button. The only ones that work are 50 bucks and up

Not entirely true.



http://www.mnjtech.com/UI/ProductCatalog/ProductDetail.aspx?productId=430284



http://www.mnjtech.com/UI/ProductCatalog/ProductDetail.aspx?mfgPartNumber=P11VT3&backButtonDisplay=false



http://www.mnjtech.com/UI/ProductCatalog/ProductDetail.aspx?mfgPartNumber=BC350&backButtonDisplay=false



Now if you are going to spend 7-10 on just basic surge protectors you are about 50/50 it will blow first.

 

[TSD]

Possible, if you have a real cheap surge protector and could of quick and strong up/downs will kill something in the system.

Surge protectors dont protect you from surges in the cable line though. If you arent wirelessly using internet, you could get hit with a surge there too.