When I say we had to take them apart, I mean that the network was
disconnected. We have one open at the church that has had the push-button
disconnected, but it seems to function fine. I have another 6 unopened
machines to disassemble to check connections, but none of them boot, post,
or even respond to the push button to start the computer. We have two opened
and are fooling with them, as test beds.

The boards are ATX, and the power supplies are ATX. One day they booted so I
could check out what was in them, then the next time we tried to turn them
on, absolutely nothing! All within a month of each other failing. Voltmeter
reading say the power supply (when turned on) is ok. However, the board
refuses to "wake up."

Paul Pullen
[log in to unmask]

> Date:    Mon, 25 Feb 2002 17:00:07 -0500
> From:    joseph marty <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: PCBUILD Digest - 21 Feb 2002 to 22 Feb 2002(#2002-54)
>
> When you took them apart, did anyone change or disconnect the computer's
> power on button from the mobo?  You need to see if those wires are
> properly connected in each machine.  If they are not correctly connected
> you will not be able to turn the machine on.  If you have the mobo manual
> you'll be able to see the positive and negative posts for the connection.
> I had this same problem, and all that was wrong is that I had incorrectly
> plugged the power button wires, the HDD LED wires, to the mobo.  The mobo
> appeared completely dead except the fans worked.  These are ATX mobos and
> ATX power supplies, right?
>
> >Tom,
> >
> >The computers were originally networked. We have had them apart now, and
> I
> >find I am able to fire up the power supplies by connecting pin 14 to pin
> 15
> >on the ATX Power supply connectors. The machines still will not boot at
> all.
> >There is no post, and the ONLY LED that lights is the one mounted on the
> >mother board. We have come to the conclusion that we have all eight
> mother
> >boards dead. The machines do not turn on any of the front panel lights at
> >all.
> >
> >If the machines would work at all, we could reinstall the OS, but with no
> >response at all, we are dead in the water.
> >
> >When I got the power supply working on Saturday, a quick check told me I
> had
> >proper power from all leads, but still a dead board. When checked, the
> Power
> >On lead had 4 volts, but when connected to a ground lead, the power
> supply
> >immediately came alive. Still no lights on the front panel, no post. The
> CPU
> >fan started running immediately. Nothing else I could see.
> >
> > What could possibly cause that, and in multiple machines? What are the
> >possibilities of a run of bad mother boards?
> >> ----------
> >>
> --
>
>
>
>
The computers are locked in a room with limited personnel haveing access to
it. Checking the 110-220 volt switch is a good idea, but I would think if we
did "force" the power supply to start, we would see half voltages. But we
are seeing 3.3, 5.0, 12 volts, etc, from the power supply. That leads me to
believe that the "prankster" is not the reason for this. If security were
not as tight as it is, it would be possible.


> Date:    Mon, 25 Feb 2002 18:10:24 -0500
> From:    Tom Turak <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: PCBUILD Digest - 21 Feb 2002 to 22 Feb 2002 (#2002- 54)
>
> Make sure the voltage slides on the rear of the power supplies is set to
> the
> current in your area.  Once a whole shipment of computers all appeared
> dead
> until someone noticed and reset them all to 110, after which they all
> promptly booted.  If your computers were not in a secure area, you may
> have
> a mischievous prankster, too.
> Tom Turak
>
>

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