Boot Failure

[mgabriel01]

Quote from justrading:

Acer desktop running Windows 7 64-bit. Switched on today, black screens, one long beep and two short beeps.

Loaded recovery disk, does not even spin as far as I can tell.

Had the main board fail after 3 months, replaced under warranty in Jan 2011.

I suspect it is a hardware failure and I'm going to have to take it in because I don't do builds myself. Pain, especially since they usually say 1 week to fix.

Any suggestions / opinions?

And yes, it will be the last Acer I buy. I have been thinking of a custom build so that I can run say 4 monitors, but that will have to wait for now. All the good stuff backed up every day so not too worried, only a ton of bookmarks I could lose.

Its trying to tell you whats broken
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

 

[cdcaveman]

I use acronis to back up computer to separate disk.

 

[bumblebuzzard]

Quote from Scataphagos:

Apparently blown capacitors are often the culprit in such failures. A number of mobo makers now days highlight the "quality of their capacitors". Gigabyte has a line of mobos called "Ultra Durable"... where they mention the "high quality of their components". Don't know if all of it is true or hype, but there's no doubt that cheap mobos contain cheap parts and better mobos contain better parts... reflected in their prices, of course. El-cheapo mobs probably cost the maker $20... workstation mobos even through Newegg are still $160-$260-ish... some gamer boards, $500+. There are at least somewhat valid reasons for the higher prices of better boards. Wouldn't suggest anyone build a computer with a $40 retail mobo and a $15 PSU.

A couple of years ago, a huge number of bad quality electrolytic capacitors got into the market (it's a story all by itself), and they still cause beaucoup problems.

I had a Samsung monitor fail, and that was the problem. Replaced two electrolytics for a couple of dollars and saved a couple of hundred.

So if you feel like fooling with it, it could be worth it.

 

[Scataphagos]

Quote from bumblebuzzard:

A couple of years ago, a huge number of bad quality electrolytic capacitors got into the market (it's a story all by itself), and they still cause beaucoup problems.

I had a Samsung monitor fail, and that was the problem. Replaced two electrolytics for a couple of dollars and saved a couple of hundred.

So if you feel like fooling with it, it could be worth it.

I had a dual oven control panel board fail. Checked on the net... common problem for that model. Apparently heat caused a capacitor to break down.... Imagine that, HEAT... in an oven!

Possible fixes... (1) have a repair service replace the board on site... $600. (2) Replace the board myself with a new board ordered online, $120. (3) Replace the capacitor with one bought at Radio Shack... <$3.00. (Unsolder the old, replace with new, resolder.)

 

[justrading]

Quote from mgabriel01:

Its trying to tell you whats broken
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

1 long 2 short seems to be video failure, but I think this is more than just video. I've had video failure on a laptop before, made all the usual noises but no video. Now the DVD is not working either.

Anyway, will take it in and advise when I know.

 

[Daal]

Quote from Scataphagos:

Apparently blown capacitors are often the culprit in such failures. A number of mobo makers now days highlight the "quality of their capacitors". Gigabyte has a line of mobos called "Ultra Durable"... where they mention the "high quality of their components". Don't know if all of it is true or hype, but there's no doubt that cheap mobos contain cheap parts and better mobos contain better parts... reflected in their prices, of course. El-cheapo mobs probably cost the maker $20... workstation mobos even through Newegg are still $160-$260-ish... some gamer boards, $500+. There are at least somewhat valid reasons for the higher prices of better boards. Wouldn't suggest anyone build a computer with a $40 retail mobo and a $15 PSU.

For these prices it might be better to buy 3 $40 boards instead of 1 high end even if they break every couple years, then replace when they do

 

[justrading]

Quote from Daal:

For these prices it might be better to buy 3 $40 boards instead of 1 high end even if they break every couple years, then replace when they do

I suppose that would depend on how quickly one could get it fixed. Here Acer typically says 1 week, though the last time pleading got it down to 4 days. That was under warranty so perhaps they made the effort out of some sense of pride.

I've long wanted a quality custom build, now I'm contemplating a Dell, not sure OptiPlex or Precision, simply because I could get it faster. I doubt the value for money would be as good as a custom build though.

 

[Pekelo]

Look up the mobo prices on Ebay. Usually you can get one for $120. If so, you can change it for yourself, it is really not that hard. The guy at the shop will ask $60 just to look at it and you will end up paying $300+ for the whole mobo change...

I even changed mobo in a laptop, way more tricky than a desktop, because parts can break easier, but as long as you write down the order and take pictures of the taking apart process, you should be able to put it back together...

 

[sledgeyum]

Figure out what BIOS you had, the Google that plus your beep codes.

Some system check is failing.

Quote from justrading:

Acer desktop running Windows 7 64-bit. Switched on today, black screens, one long beep and two short beeps.

Loaded recovery disk, does not even spin as far as I can tell.

Had the main board fail after 3 months, replaced under warranty in Jan 2011.

I suspect it is a hardware failure and I'm going to have to take it in because I don't do builds myself. Pain, especially since they usually say 1 week to fix.

Any suggestions / opinions?

And yes, it will be the last Acer I buy. I have been thinking of a custom build so that I can run say 4 monitors, but that will have to wait for now. All the good stuff backed up every day so not too worried, only a ton of bookmarks I could lose.