I got an old computer from a friend thinking it would be a good intro to computers for my mum. It's been lying collecting dust for a couple of years and when i switched it on the lights flickered for a bit then gradually fizzled out.
It continues to do this but the lights seem to be stayin on a bit longer although the machine never properly powers up. I've tried blowing the dust out of it with a hairdryer!
Are there any other things i could be doing to help restore it to life or should i put it in the bin? It had been working fine by all accounts before its final switch off.
2007-02-18 20:42:12 · 17 answers · asked by laughingspam 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
I would start by replacing the power supply, and if that didn't work, I'd probably bin it and buy a new one. The cost of repairing all the components would probably be more than the cost of a new PC, specially if you've got to search for old parts.
2007-02-18 20:46:50 · answer #1 · answered by Jimwon 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first thing I would have done is take it back to that guy/girl you call a friend, if he/she sold you a faulty cmputer as working. Though for a todo now, its probably not worth bothering about, because the hardware is well out of date now, and intergrating it with new parts could cause you more problems. You best bet is to buy a new computer, used systems are a cheap option if you cant aford a new computer, though you have to take it on board that old systems simply dont perform they way they do when they are new, for a variety of reasons.
2007-02-20 05:04:58 · answer #2 · answered by gerard mcmanus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't KNOW! I had an old laptop that had been sitting around. I tried firing it up just before selling it and had a similar experience. Turns out I had left it in hibernate mode. I left it on and over several hours I was able to get to the start menu and eventually restart it and then it was fine. And sold. I have assumed there was some small internal battery I had allowed to drain....
2007-02-18 20:52:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's been covered in dust, try taking the cover off the pc. You'll probably see that the processor fan is covered in it. If you clean all of the dust off it, it might work again. You'll probably be best using a can of compressed air to blow the dust away.
2007-02-19 00:26:21 · answer #4 · answered by matthewdwhalley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Several people had good answers, but toria's was the most complete. If it costs much more than 100 US Dollars (sorry--I don't know what that equates to in English Pounds) to fix, it probably would be better to get a new computer alotgether.
2007-02-18 20:57:27 · answer #5 · answered by Gee Wye 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes sure! seems to be good working computer
There are two chances,
1. RAM and 2. Monitor
1. Pick up the RAM from its place and clean it and replace it in same place
2. Change the monitor and connect it to another PC now you can see which is problem
2007-02-18 20:44:29 · answer #6 · answered by JJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great idea for mum, sorry it isn't working out yet!
I'd be inclined not to waste good money on it, it'd probably work out cheaper to entrust it to a good local PC shop to have them quickly go through it. Explain what you're doing & that you don't want to spend a fortune. It's easy to run tests in a resource-filled workshop, a lot easier than guessing . . .
2007-02-18 21:00:22 · answer #7 · answered by champer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok have you checked the power supply unit? does the fan whirr round? does anything come up on the screen? does it do a self test? does it beep on start up, is the hard drive making any sound? maybe replace the battery in the mobo and see if that helps... make sure everything is seated in properly on the mobo...it's hard to know whats wrong with it without having more infromation
2007-02-18 20:49:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it has sat around for that long then I would try another CMOS battery in the motherboard, look for a round battery on the motherboard its the size of a five pence here in UK, get hold of a new one then try and boot it up again. Good luck.
2007-02-18 22:16:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sound like its knackered
there must be a short somewhere or the power supply has gone, if it doesnt boot to the BIOS, and is an old PC, then parts will be hard to find and probably best to get a new machine
hope that helps
2007-02-18 20:54:59 · answer #10 · answered by robbo1974 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋