My computer suddenly won't boot up...

[tooDougla]

Good morning.

 

I'm in need of a bit of help, if possible. Yesterday my computer froze up suddenly, and after powering it off and then back on, my computer turns on but won't boot up.

 

I went inside to take look and realized that my only case fan is no longer spinning, however, my cpu fan and psu fan spin just fine. I have troubleshoot the obvious process of elimination technique, although, the first step was removing everything but the SSD to see if it would boot up, to no avail.

 

Now, I wouldn't say I'm a novice, but I'm no expert. So I'm curious to know, is it possible that the case fan (which I've already ordered a replacement) is preventing the pc from booting up? And as far as I know, a PC can run without a case fan, so I'm not sure if it's actually that. There are no beeps when turning on the pc, as well as the motherboard light being green and not orange.

 

Also, I've recently bought a Bluetooth dongle to use with my PS4 controller, so is it anyhow possible that the BT affected my MB in some way?

 

I also don't have spare parts to test, so I'm feeling my best option is to take it to BB (GeekSquad) or Microbytes.

 

[connorkincaid]

2 minutes ago, tooDougla said:

Good morning.

 

I'm in need of a bit of help, if possible. Yesterday my computer froze up suddenly, and after powering it off and then back on, my computer turns on but won't boot up.

 

I went inside to take look and realized that my only case fan is no longer spinning, however, my cpu fan and psu fan spin just fine. I have troubleshoot the obvious process of elimination technique, although, the first step was removing everything but the SSD to see if it would boot up, to no avail.

 

Now, I wouldn't say I'm a novice, but I'm no expert. So I'm curious to know, is it possible that the case fan (which I've already ordered a replacement) is preventing the pc from booting up? And as far as I know, a PC can run without a case fan, so I'm not sure if it's actually that. There are no beeps when turning on the pc, as well as the motherboard light being green and not orange.

 

Also, I've recently bought a Bluetooth dongle to use with my PS4 controller, so is it anyhow possible that the BT affected my MB in some way?

 

I also don't have spear parts to test, so I'm feeling my best option is to take it to BB (GeekSquad) or Microbytes.

 

I don't believe that a case fan or a Bluetooth dongle is creating your issue. What is the most recent change to the PC that you've made? Just the new case fan?

[tooDougla]

I did not think so either, but I needed the confirmation just to make sure.

 

The case fan has not come in as yet. I just ordered it, because as this issue occurred last night and checking inside of my pc, I realized then that my case fan was not spinning. My MB is roughly about 10years old or more (i7 3770 non K). A few months ago I bought a new GPU card as I really needed it, and I've even realized that something of a bronze substance has leaked onto the card. Not a lot, but noticeable enough for me to feel a little concerned that something has leaked and it could happen again. That substance I will assume is the cpu fan, because it's the only thing attached to the MB, above the GPU.

[flaxe]

10 minutes ago, tooDougla said:

I did not think so either, but I needed the confirmation just to make sure.

 

The case fan has not come in as yet. I just ordered it, because as this issue occurred last night and checking inside of my pc, I realized then that my case fan was not spinning. My MB is roughly about 10years old or more (i7 3770 non K). A few months ago I bought a new GPU card as I really needed it, and I've even realized that something of a bronze substance has leaked onto the card. Not a lot, but noticeable enough for me to feel a little concerned that something has leaked and it could happen again. That substance I will assume is the cpu fan, because it's the only thing attached to the MB, above the GPU.

The bluetooth dongle may have conflicted drivers with something in your pc, preventing it from booting, although this is unlikely. Try to reset your BIOS by removing the CMOS battery. 

[Mojo-Jojo]

Usually, only the CPU fan header has protections, where if the plugged-in fan doesn't work, the system won't boot.

 

If your case fan is plugged into the CPU fan header, that might be causing you problems. Otherwise, I wouldn't expect it to.

[flaxe]

3 minutes ago, Flaxe said:

The bluetooth dongle may have conflicted drivers with something in your pc, preventing it from booting. Although this is unlikely. Try to reset your BIOS by removing the CMOS battery. 

Forgot to mention, leave out the CMOS battery for at least 5 minutes. Put it back in after that, and see if your pc posts.

[tooDougla]

1 minute ago, Flaxe said:

The bluetooth dongle may have conflicted drivers with something in your pc, preventing it from booting. Although this is unlikely. Try to reset your BIOS by removing the CMOS battery. 

Hey, Flaxe.

 

Yes, last night I removed the CMOS battery. Not once, but twice, and the second time I kept it removed for longer (10 minutes).

 

It's also quite serendipitous that you mentioned that BT part, because when buying the BT, I came across one with a reviewer stating that, that particular BT he bought somehow locked up his pc (that one I did not buy). But in my head, I was like, maybe that was just coincidental, because how could a BT really lock up your pc, or even to the point that it perhaps bricked it.

[flaxe]

11 minutes ago, tooDougla said:

Hey, Flaxe.

 

Yes, last night I removed the CMOS battery. Not once, but twice, and the second time I kept it removed for longer (10 minutes).

 

It's also quite serendipitous that you mentioned that BT part, because when buying the BT, I came across one with a reviewer stating that, that particular BT he bought somehow locked up his pc (that one I did not buy). But in my head, I was like, maybe that was just coincidental, because how could a BT really lock up your pc, or even to the point that it perhaps bricked it.

Alright if CMOS didn't work, then you could try to unplug your motherboard 24 pin power connector, and then plug it back in immediately after. I remember when my PC wouldn't boot, I did this randomly and it started to boot again. If this hasn't worked either, I would unplug and replug every single connector and device in your pc.

 

Again, if these don't work then we can probably say that your hardware has failed, and needs a replacement. Try to start with the cheapest option, going up to the most expensive. I would start by replacing the CMOS, then the RAM, then PSU, then the CPU, then the motherboard. However, seeing as you have a 10 yr old CPU and mobo; if it comes to the point where you need to replace either the CPU or motherboard, I would just buy a new system as upgrading the CPU most likely requires upgrading the mobo.

 

But if you're content with the pc you have now, you can just order the same exact parts in your current pc.

[tooDougla]

4 minutes ago, Mojo-Jojo said:

Usually, only the CPU fan header has protections, where if the plugged-in fan doesn't work, the system won't boot.

 

If your case fan is plugged into the CPU fan header, that might be causing you problems. Otherwise, I wouldn't expect it to.

Hey, Mojo.

 

Case fan is plugged into my MB where it says CHA_Fan. This fan, like the MB, has never been replaced. This will be me replacing the case fan for the first time in almost 10 years of use.

 

Only things ever replaced to have a better quality of life for my gaming pc was RAM sticks, GPU and PSU. I for some reason I doubting it's either of those 3 things. Again, though, I'm no super expert so I could just be clueless that those thing could run fine and still be the culprit.

[tooDougla]

6 minutes ago, Flaxe said:

Alright if CMOS didn't work, then you could try to unplug your motherboard 24 pin power connector, and then plug it back in immediately after. I remember when my PC wouldn't boot, I did this randomly and it started to boot again. If this hasn't worked either, I would unplug and replug every single connector and device in your pc.

Yes, sir. I also did that and plugged it right back in. Not sure if I should have unplugged it for a prolonged time, but judging by your " replug immediately", prolonged time probably wouldn't have mattered as well.

[flaxe]

5 minutes ago, tooDougla said:

Hey, Mojo.

 

Case fan is plugged into my MB where it says CHA_Fan. This fan, like the MB, has never been replaced. This will be me replacing the case fan for the first time in almost 10 years of use.

 

Only things ever replaced to have a better quality of life for my gaming pc was RAM sticks, GPU and PSU. I for some reason I doubting it's either of those 3 things. Again, though, I'm no super expert so I could just be clueless that those thing could run fine and still be the culprit.

If you have spare RAM you know for sure works, remove your current RAM and put the spares in and see if that boots.

[Mark Kaine]

29 minutes ago, tooDougla said:

did not think so either, but I needed the confirmation just to make sure.

well did you remove the Bluetooth dongle?

 

if that was an issue removing it would likely fix it.

 

of course the fan might not even be broken,  could be something with the motherboard instead, difficult say without testing it out.

[tooDougla]

3 minutes ago, Flaxe said:

If you have spare RAM you know for sure works, remove your current RAM and put the spares in and see if that boots.

No spare RAM laying about. When I've replaced the RAM before, it was to replace the ones that eventually became defective. However. Back then, I knew it was something because my PC would beep when trying to boot up. In this case, there are no beeps whatsoever and Mobo light is green and not orange.

[tooDougla]

6 minutes ago, Mark Kaine said:

well did you remove the Bluetooth dongle?

 

if that was an issue removing it would likely fix it.

 

of course the fan might not even be broken,  could be something with the motherboard instead, difficult say without testing it out.

Hello, Mark. Indeed I removed the BT dongle, ha ha. I mean, as I stated previously, I'm no super noob so that was part of the process of elimination. The only things I can't currently process of eliminate are the PSU, Mobo. However, could it really be the PSU if when the PSU turns the computer on and fan/speed runs as normal?

 

P.s. While it may seem redundant to come here and ask for assistance after trying these tactics, I just wanted to see if there was something I could be missing before going out and spending money on a new MB/CPU. This PC has held me down for so long, even being to play certain AAA games at remarkably good frames after upgrading my RAM sticks and GPU. I mean, we are talking about an old 3770 (which was Supreme for it's time). But I completely understand that hardware is complex and obviosuly doesn't run forever. It just really sucks that one minute I'm in a Fortnite match with my brother and then bam, something goes wrong and computer no longer boots after being turned on. I use my PC for work and now I may have to dish out for expensive parts (during Cov) as opposed to something inexpensive.

[Mark Kaine]

2 minutes ago, tooDougla said:

The only things I can't currently process of eliminate are the PSU, Mobo. However, could it really be the PSU if when the PSU turns the computer on and fan/speed runs as normal?

yeah, can be psu, but I kinda suspect the mobo, 10 years+ is kinda old, depending on the quality especially.  

 

if you can swap it out.

[tooDougla]

5 minutes ago, Mark Kaine said:

yeah, can be psu, but I kinda suspect the mobo, 10 years+ is kinda old, depending on the quality especially.  

 

if you can swap it out.

Then I'll have no choice but to replace that. I very much appreciate yours and everyone else's replies to my dilemma, truly.