Topic:Computer will not boot Remainpoint:0
   
PostTime:12/16/2008 6:51:19 PM FloorTop
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Hello, I am new to this website, and need some serious help. I have a Gateway GT 5028 that is about a year a half old. I came home today to turn it on, and the only thing that happens is the fans both work, the cd drive lights come on, the power button light comes on, and the orange cpu light comes on. After a few seconds the cd lights flash again, and they repeat this process. The screen, keyboard, and mouse do not work. The monitor stays black the whole time. It has windows xp on it. I got it at Best buy, but it is out of warranty. It seems as if the computer continually restarts?? I have not messed with the insides of computers very much at all, but any help or ideas would be great.

Thanks
 
     
   
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Welcome to Pc-onlinehelp...

Quote:
I have not messed with the insides of computers very much at all
>>EDIT: Sorry--I didn't read that quote carefully--you haven't messed with other computers much. I was wondering more about this one...

Have you added any new hardware or software lately?

Does the lcd on the monitor turn green, stay orange, flash?

None of the lights on the keyboard come on-even a flash?

Any power outages or electrical storms since the computer worked--and was it working properly before this no-boot problem?
 
     
   
Gender PostTime:12/16/2008 8:20:53 PM Point:0 | Floor# 2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Hound
Yes, it could well be video...bad video cards often still allow the lights on the keyboard-numlock, caplock- and the optical mouse to at least flash.

I think your idea would be best first step...
 
     
   
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Thanks for the quick response. The cpu light stays solid orange, the power button stays solid green, and the cd and cdrw drives flash green. There are no cd's in them. I have taken the case apart and it seems as if everything is tight and clean. I also looked for fried capacitors and didnt see any, or smell any hot electric. I hope I have answered your questions so as you might be able to help me get it running again.

I am not sure if the power went out or not, I was at work and came home to it that way. It had never done this before, it always worked very well.

Also, no new hardware or software has been added to the computer. This may sound stupid, but if it were a bad cd drive would that keep it from booting?? If I unplugged the cd drives and tried to start it up would that mess anything up???
 
     
   
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Sounds good. Thanks to all who have helped. I am going to remove the Ram and see what that does. If that doesnt work, then I will try to go about adding a new video card. I will let you all know what happens when I get it all done. Thanks again,
 
     
   
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I have sent you a PM and just realised you are using the monitor on your laptop sounds like a video problem then if your video is not on board(hard wired to motherboard) and seperate like a plug in kind you might be ok check and see if you do post back with reply
 
     
   
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Thanks for the quick response. The cpu light stays solid orange, the power button stays solid green, and the cd and cdrw drives flash green. There are no cd's in them. I have taken the case apart and it seems as if everything is tight and clean. I also looked for fried capacitors and didnt see any, or smell any hot electric. I hope I have answered your questions so as you might be able to help me get it running again.

I am not sure if the power went out or not, I was at work and came home to it that way. It had never done this before, it always worked very well.

Also, no new hardware or software has been added to the computer. This may sound stupid, but if it were a bad cd drive would that keep it from booting?? If I unplugged the cd drives and tried to start it up would that mess anything up???
 
     
   
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Unplugging the cd drives won't damage anything---do you have reason to believe the cd drives might be at fault? (You wouldn't be the first to call them cupholders..._)

I was wondering about the monitor--does the light turn green-or flash?

If more than one stick of ram is present, remove one-leave the one closest to the processor. If still no boot, switch the ram sticks and try again...
 
     
   
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Yes, it could well be video...bad video cards often still allow the lights on the keyboard-numlock, caplock- and the optical mouse to at least flash.
 
     
   
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Hound
The first attachment is what your motherboard looks like. In that view, the memory slots are on the top--they look like the second attachment. Two will be occupied.

Turn off and unplug your computer. Press and hold the power button until all lights go out. Open the case, and touch the steel part of the chassis to discharge any static your body is carrying. Press down on the white tabs on each end of the second memory slot, and pull the stick/card straight out. You should now have one stick in the first slot. No need to put the covers back on yet...Plug in and power up.

If no change, power down, unplug, hold the power button, remove the ram in the first slot, and replace it with the ram you removed the first time. Check the notches on the bottom--the memory stick only goes in one way. Don't force it, but press firmly and straight down (making sure the ends and the bottom are lined up properly. You should hear a click, and the white tabs should pop up and lock. Reboot again.

It sounds like a video problem if he gets all lights from the hard drive down to the cd drives come on and flash. No keyboard and mouse not working because he cant see them with no video.
 
     
   
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ok, I had a few minutes to check my computer out. I removed the Rams one at a time and tried to turn it on, it did the same thing NOTHING. My guess is then that it must be the video card? I checked out the picture of my motherboard and the new video card. I am thinking that the new video card connects into the black clips near the bottom of the mother board? My other question is when I get it in, how do I turn the old video card off, or will the computer just know it and use the new one?

I am very sorry for being ignorant about this stuff, but truley greatfull that you guys are helping me.

Thanks again. I am in the process of ordering the BFG video card

Thanks again
 
     
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