PC not booting

[Huderon]

A few days ago my wife got the error message "Page setup in non page area " while deleting messages on Hotmail.

Since then the PC won't boot - no beep codes, no bios information on the screen when you turn it on, and it can only be turned off again at the mains.

I have now replaced the motherboard and processor (yes I did rest the BIOS) , put new memory in and nothing has changed. I know power is getting to the board because the processor fan and the second case fan are spinning merrily.

I'm out of ideas .. so does anyone have any thoughts as to what the problem might be ? Oh and before anyone suggests the graphics card, I haven't installed the old one on the new board - about the only original bits attached are the PSU and the disk drive.

[MarkRae]

Hmm... New motherboard and RAM, you say? This is, essentially, a completely different machine. So, I suppose the only things you haven't eliminated are the monitor and the hard disk. Have you tried a different monitor? Does the hard disk actually spin up? Do you have another machine that you could put the hard disk into to see if it's still viable?

[Huderon]

Yes I have tried a different monitor ... the one from the machine I'm using now but with the same result. As for the disk drive - I have hooked it up to this machine and been able to browse it so I'm pretty sure it's OK.

I would expect some kind of Windows error on startup given the change of motherboard and I'd be happy if I could get that far ! Backing up data and reinstalling might take time, but since I can't even get a BIOS display when I turn it on ...

[Vagrant]

That only leaves the PSU then ...

[MarkRae]

You sound as if you understand about computing, so I won't insult your intelligence by asking if you have a backup of the data on the hard disk...

As Vagrant says, there's almost nothing left. I'm wondering if you have a dodgy connection somewhere in the case. New motherboard, new RAM, hard disk isn't corrupt, and the monitor works - starting to run out of things it could be...

[Vagrant]

The fans working says the 12v PSU output is OK - the lower voltages that power the chips probably aren't. Feel the chips on the motherboard - if they are cold, that's probably the problem.

[Huderon]

MarkRae I do have a backup of the data ... a couple of months old, but there isn't much of importance that isn't backed up.

Vagrant, I'll try a new PSU tomorrow. My wife did say something was being noisy when she was using the machine, so perhaps something has gone in it.

Thank you both for your suggestions

[fiesata]

Check all connections on MOBO and particularly check seating of all components - many technicians have been caught out like this