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non-use of old computers #1027176
08/08/15 11:00 PM
08/08/15 11:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,998
Chicago
oldbroad Online sad OP
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I have a 3 old computers that I have not turned on for over 3 years. My XP which had stopped working, my 98 which did work, and my sister's XP which also did work. Tonight I tried all 3 of them and none of them work.

My XP comes on but that's it. First try gave me a screen that said Dell Dimensions or something. Second try gave me a number which I looked up and seems to refer to my video card which is what I thought was wrong with it when it quit working 3 years ago. I never did get it fixed though. Just tried turning it on for the heck of it.

My sister's XP came on but that's it. Nothing on the screen at all. I heard and felt the fan and the light came on.

My 98 isn't doing anything at all. No lights, no noise, no nothing.

Can this be from not using them for such a long time? (The 2 that had worked.)

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027184
08/08/15 11:32 PM
08/08/15 11:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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It could be that the capacitors went bad.
Or power supplies quit working properly.

Quote:
My sister's XP came on but that's it. Nothing on the screen at all. I heard and felt the fan and the light came on.

That might be due to a weak power supply that failed to initialize the video card at boot. I had that problem with an old Dell. Sometimes if you leave it running a while, maybe 30 minutes, then reboot, it will eventually initialize the video properly, but that doesn't always work.

Quote:
My 98 isn't doing anything at all. No lights, no noise, no nothing.

Make sure that there isn't a toggle switch on the power supply on the back of the computer that you forgot about. (this is something I've done)

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027185
08/08/15 11:50 PM
08/08/15 11:50 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,998
Chicago
oldbroad Online sad OP
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Thanks Jenny100. I might try that with my sister's XP but I think the power button is stuck pushed in. I don't know if it is going to work anyway.

I'll have to check the 98 for a switch and see if that does anything. I'm pretty sure there is one.

When my XP went out you pointed me to a video card on EBay which I actually bought but then never had it installed. If none of these machines are going to work, maybe I should open them up and start tinkering. Maybe I can figure out how to change the video card. Can't hurt the computer any more than it's hurt right now.

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027194
08/09/15 04:18 AM
08/09/15 04:18 AM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,849
Michigan
Geo Offline
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Jenny100,I once tried to fix my neighbors power button that also was stuck in because it was broken in the back.I will tell you I looked all over and could not find a replacement button. My two options were to get a new case and take on a big job,or try and glue the button for a "maybe" type fix. Since he didn't want to purchase a new case we went with the glue fix which ended up working ok by the way. My question is do you know where to find replacement buttons? I tried Newegg and all the obvious places.

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027219
08/09/15 09:53 AM
08/09/15 09:53 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Oldbroad,

It's fine to look inside the case, but be careful about electrostatic damage.
Be sure to ground yourself against a metal part of the case before poking around inside. Even though the computer isn't working, it may only be a matter of replacing the power supply. But while you're in there, check the capacitors on the motherboard. Make sure they have flat tops. They shouldn't be swollen or leaking. This picture shows some swollen ones (the one on the right is OK, but the ones in the front are bulging).
http://www.deadprogrammer.com/photos/bad-capacitors.jpg

Another bulgy capacitor here
http://jimmyauw.com/wp-datajim/personal/39_capsbusuk.jpg

Geo,
It's unlikely you could find a power button for an old computer case.
If you have a name brand computer, you can sometimes (rarely) find a power button for it at eBay by looking up the model of the computer along with the words "power button" or "power switch"

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027240
08/09/15 11:55 AM
08/09/15 11:55 AM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,998
Chicago
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Hm. Looks like some old food cans I found in my pantry not too long ago.

By the way, how exactly do I ground myself? I know it's been addressed before but don't know where to look. I just purchased a new (second) Win 7 computer from Ecollege and am afraid to open it up to take out the foam that is holding things in place.

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027247
08/09/15 12:30 PM
08/09/15 12:30 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100 Offline
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Originally Posted By: oldbroad
Hm. Looks like some old food cans I found in my pantry not too long ago.

By the way, how exactly do I ground myself?

Touch a metal part of the case, like the frame inside the case.
Check #2 here
http://www.wikihow.com/Ground-Yourself-to-Avoid-Destroying-a-Computer-with-Electrostatic-Discharge

If you have an anti-static wriststrap, you can attach the free end to a metal part of the case. Otherwise, periodically touch a metal part of the case to release any static buildup.

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027257
08/09/15 12:59 PM
08/09/15 12:59 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,998
Chicago
oldbroad Online sad OP
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Thank you for the info!

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027260
08/09/15 01:22 PM
08/09/15 01:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 625
Florida
Donald Offline
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It is possible that the cmos battery is dead .This can cause problems with the time and date being so far off that the operating system will not boot or will lock up. Some of the hard drive settings and boot settings may be wrong also if the battery failed.

Re: non-use of old computers [Re: oldbroad] #1027272
08/09/15 03:16 PM
08/09/15 03:16 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 17,998
Chicago
oldbroad Online sad OP
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Thanks Donald!

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