Well, I'm not sure about the AMD burning easy. I know they do run hot. I'm a
100% AMD guy and currently running a 1.4 T-Bird at 1.8GHz 166 FSB @ 57
degrees C. AMD burn out at about 70C. I doubt it's a virus in the bios,
doesn't seem likely. I would triple check the video card is in the AGP/PCI
slot tightly (can't count the number of times I didn't have the AGP all the
way in the slot). Also give the CPU a nice wiff, does it smell burnt now?
I've had your friend's problem before and it could be so many diffrent
things. Before giving up try booting the system bareboned (only 1 ram stick,
MB, CPU, and video card). If your friend is using his only case with the new
mb/cpu make sure the power supply is big enough.
Possible Problems:
1.) Video card not setted properly
2.) Not enough watts from power supply (wouldn't boot at all, no fans)
3.) Bad RAM (normally beeps on boot, but never know with ram)
4.) CPU fryed (Preocessor's don't fry easy, even without thermal paste the
system sould of shut down at 60-70 degrees c to provent this, but it does
happen)

AMDs are cheap, you can pick one up off newegg.com for about $40 for a AMD
XP 1700+ 1.2GHz.

-Justin Marzello
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michele" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 7:31 AM
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] No display/Dead processor?


> Thanks for the reply, I was pretty sure about the thermal paste issue.
> The shame about this is, he says he replaced the motherboard and processor
> recently. (Not sure how long ago recently is though).
> I asked him why he replaced it, as he said it was all working fine, and he
> said it was because he had sent the computer away to be tested for faults.
> (apparently, he has a clause in his guarantee which allows free testing,
the
> system is 3 or 4 years old. However, he is not entitled to free repairs,
> just a diagnosis)
> When the computer was returned to him, he was told the motherboard was
> warped, so to save money (?), he changed the motherboard himself, and went
> on to install a compatible processor.
> (Am I right in thinking heat could be a possibility in causing a warped
> m/b?)
> I'm told all was working fine until recently when he got a blank screen
and
> then it wouldn't reboot. From what he said, (I have trouble with his
> accent), he was either in the process of reloading windows, or had
recently
> reloaded it.
> I tried a combination of things, including removing every thing including
> ram. Still nothing, although it does power up every time. It sounds very
> promising to start with, but then gets to the part where the display
should
> be appearing on the screen, and then you can actually hear it dying out.
The
> power supply stays on.
> With the floppy drive connected, it doesn't even try to read from it, so
it
> seems as though it's a processor issue.
> I am considering the possibility of another suggestion given to me, that
it
> could be a virus in the bios.
> I am suspicious of the fact that no thermal paste of any sort had been
used
> as well. I did ask him if he had noticed any types of burning smell, and
he
> said there was an electrical smell shortly before it died, so that could
> possibly be it.(Whether it was the type of smell you get with new parts,
or
> a proper burning smell I can't determine)
> You mention AMD processors have a reputation for frying easily. I couldn't
> swear to it, (because I've opened up a few different computers since that
> one), but it could well have been an AMD pro.I don't remember.
> It has been a bit of a guessing game with this one, but hopefully I've
> thought of everything. I would feel terrible if I suddenly thought of
> another explaination in a week or two which could have saved him alot of
> money.
> Thanks again.
> Michele Sayer
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dean Kukral" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 1:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] No display/Dead processor?
>
>
> > It looks like you have assessed the situation as best you can.  AMD
> > processessors have a reputation for frying easily.  (Sometimes the
> > cpu looks burnt.)   If the mb, cpu, memory, video card and cables, and
> power
> > supply are all working okay and corrected properly,
> > you should be able to get to the bios display.  (Provided everything
else
> is
> > not connected.  I worked on a computer once that had a
> > bad floppy and it was somehow able to keep the system from running.)  I
> > think that if the memory is bad or the video card has a problem,
> > then you should get beeps, but I cannot say this is always the case.
> >
> > You have run into one of the major problems of do-it-yourself upgrades.
> > When something goes wrong on the basic parts, it is difficult
> > to find out exactly which part is bad.  The pros can try swapping parts,
> but
> > you cannot.
> >
> > If the motherboard is over a year old, I suggest just replacing the
whole
> > mb/cpu/memory combination with a new set.  I have found from
> > hard experience that buying parts one at a time can get expensive and
> > frustrating.  And you end up with an old system for your
> > money and effort.
> >
> > And be sure to use thermal paste!
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > Dean Kukral
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Michele" <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 8:52 PM
> > Subject: [PCBUILD] No display/Dead processor?
> >
> >
> > Hi, has anyone got any suggestions for this one?
> > A friend of mine has a system (sorry, can't remember the details of it)
> > which he says  was working fine until suddenly he got a blue screen and
it
> > shut down.
> > He had apparently changed the processor recently, but it had all been
> > working fine for some time. (How long, I'm not sure)
> > When I tried to start the system, it powers up fine, and sounds as
though
> > it's going to start, but then does nothing.
> > There is no bios display on the screen, and it doesn't try to access the
> > floppy drive. There is power going through the m/b.
> > The video card is fine.
> > I've tried removing everything and restarting with only the videocard
> > connected. there are no beeps.
> > My guess is that the processor has died.
> > On quizzing him, I get the feeling that when he installed the new
> processor
> > and heatsink, he didn't use any thermal paste, because he had never
heard
> of
> > it.I thought thermal paste of some sort was a must.  Would that cause it
> to
> > overheat and blow? I would have thought it would have. Doesn't the
thermal
> > paste help the heatsink draw the heat from the processor?(which in turn
> gets
> > cooled by the fan?)
> > Can someone confirm please that if the processor is working ok, and the
> m/b
> > is ok (which I think it is), there would be a display.(with the video
card
> > connected of course)
> > I've advised him to begin the process of elimination by buying a new
> > processor, but I do want to be sure.
> > Is there a way of testing a cpu? I didn't have one handy at the time
which
> > would fit in his particular socket on the m/b.
> > This is not a really urgent issue, more curiosity than anything else.
> > Thanks in Advance
> > Michele Sayer
> >
> >             Do you want to signoff PCBUILD or just change to
> >                     Digest mode - visit our web site:
> >                    http://freepctech.com/pcbuild.shtml
>
>             Do you want to signoff PCBUILD or just change to
>                     Digest mode - visit our web site:
>                    http://freepctech.com/pcbuild.shtml

               The NOSPIN Group Promotions is now offering
              Mandrake Linux or Red Hat Linux CD sets along
             with the OpenOffice CD...  at a great price!!!
             http://freepctech.com/goodies/promotions.shtml