[clug] Any ideas on what to look for to get an old PC running?

[Rodney Peters]

You don't say whether this PC has ever worked for you.  Is it an acquired unit 
of unknown status ?

P4 can require > 12 A @ 12 V.  Check that the PS has at least this rating.  
Disconnecting all drives might assist initially.  Also disconnect all IDE 
cables - some mobo will fail to power up if these are connected wrongly.

Brief, transient power up can be an indicator of inadequate PS or of a short 
from mobo to case somewhere.


Rod

 On Monday 22 December 2008 15:25:43 linux-request at lists.samba.org wrote:
> Re: [clug] Any ideas on what to look for to get an old PC running?
>  From: jhock <jhock at iinet.net.au>
>  To: henman at pobox.com
>  CC: CLUG List <linux at lists.samba.org>
>
> Hi,
>
> Some more info below:
>
> Some times, if I disconnect the power to the mother board and then plug
> it back in, the power light comes on the front of the machine.
>
> Multi-meter indicates that power seems to be getting to the mother board
> and the power switch.
>
> On Mon, 2008-12-22 at 10:08 +1100, Chris Henman wrote:
> > John,
> >
> > When you say "nothing happened" what exactly did NOT happen ?  Any
> > lights? Any exhaust fan starting ?  Any "beeps"; they are usually a
> > message, like Morse code.
> > Have you tried another power cord ?
>
> OK.
>
> >   Monitor OK ?
>
> OK.
>
> > How long has it been out of service?  
>
> 5 months.
>
> > Have you checked the CMOS battery
> > if it still uses battery CMOS backup?  Usually a CR 20xx or something.
>
> Battery OK. 3v output
>
> > Just a few thoughts I would try.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Chris Henman
> >
> > jhock wrote:
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > Thanks to Ian (I love this list. It's so helpful) I have a power cord
> > > for my old PC (MISI Pentium 4).  I have now unpacked it all from
> > > storage however, when I switched it on nothing happened.  I don't want
> > > to spend too much effort on it because I hope to soon get an Eee PC 10
> > > with LINUX (Once they are available in Australia) but I thought that I
> > > could use this one as a proxy, print server, game machine for my five
> > > year old, wireless modem firewall or something.  (I prefer to reuse
> > > than recycle. Its more energy saving.)
> > >
> > > I was wondering if anybody has any advice on how to get it to work. EG.
> > > is there likely to be a fuse inside, is there an area which I should
> > > "jiggle" when I open it, is there a good spot to bang it like they do
> > > on TV (Fonze type thoughts here)?  ;--)
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for any help.
> > >
> > > John