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  3. I have an very old HP computer that can not power up now

I have an very old HP computer that can not power up now

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  • S Southmountain

    this desktop was working in year 2001, but could not power up in 2002. Now I get some time to work on this PC and back up some personal data from it. any idea for not powering up? CMOS battery failed?

    diligent hands rule....

    OriginalGriffO Offline
    OriginalGriffO Offline
    OriginalGriff
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    That's far too broad a question for any kind of specific answer: "won't power up" could mean anything. Start with what it does do: Do lights come on? Does it beep? Do you get anything on the display? Does Windows try to load?

    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
    "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

    S 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • S Southmountain

      this desktop was working in year 2001, but could not power up in 2002. Now I get some time to work on this PC and back up some personal data from it. any idea for not powering up? CMOS battery failed?

      diligent hands rule....

      1 Offline
      1 Offline
      1650
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      19 years :laugh: i agree, dropping the HDD into a temporary USB case or different box to retrieve the data might be most practical, unless you have other antique boxes you can scavenge parts from. Ha, you beat out my best roun'toit record. You are correct that the cmos battery will need changing first off. Count beeps if any, note any MB LEDs that light up, then search for beep codes and a MB Manual.pdf for that model. May very likely also need to borrow/swap out the PSU from a different old beater box, before buying a new one. Good luck ~John

      S 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • S Southmountain

        this desktop was working in year 2001, but could not power up in 2002. Now I get some time to work on this PC and back up some personal data from it. any idea for not powering up? CMOS battery failed?

        diligent hands rule....

        J Offline
        J Offline
        Johnny J
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        Southmountain wrote:

        back up some personal data from it.

        If you haven't had any use for the data in 20 years, I'd say it's pretty irrelevant. Leave it and scrap the computer is my recommendation. :doh:

        Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
        Anonymous
        -----
        The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
        Winston Churchill, 1944
        -----
        Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
        Mark Twain

        R Mike HankeyM 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • J Johnny J

          Southmountain wrote:

          back up some personal data from it.

          If you haven't had any use for the data in 20 years, I'd say it's pretty irrelevant. Leave it and scrap the computer is my recommendation. :doh:

          Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
          Anonymous
          -----
          The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
          Winston Churchill, 1944
          -----
          Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
          Mark Twain

          R Offline
          R Offline
          Ron Anders
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          Sorry I guess I have become very laptop centric. You can always take the drive out and use a caddy with a usb to connect the drive as an external disk to your current box. I like this one. [https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-External-Enclosure-Docking-ST0005U-C/dp/B01GF0OYI2/ref=dp\_fod\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B01GF0OYI2&psc=1\](https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-External-Enclosure-Docking-ST0005U-C/dp/B01GF0OYI2/ref=dp\_fod\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B01GF0OYI2&psc=1)

          P S 2 Replies Last reply
          0
          • R Ron Anders

            Sorry I guess I have become very laptop centric. You can always take the drive out and use a caddy with a usb to connect the drive as an external disk to your current box. I like this one. [https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-External-Enclosure-Docking-ST0005U-C/dp/B01GF0OYI2/ref=dp\_fod\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B01GF0OYI2&psc=1\](https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-External-Enclosure-Docking-ST0005U-C/dp/B01GF0OYI2/ref=dp\_fod\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B01GF0OYI2&psc=1)

            P Offline
            P Offline
            Peter_in_2780
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            If the machine is that old, it may very well have PATA/IDE disks, not SATA.

            Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012

            R N 2 Replies Last reply
            0
            • P Peter_in_2780

              If the machine is that old, it may very well have PATA/IDE disks, not SATA.

              Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012

              R Offline
              R Offline
              Ron Anders
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              Open it up and see first. I'll bet it's sata My thermaltake black-x came with an adapter for ide. But it's fiddly.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • J Johnny J

                Southmountain wrote:

                back up some personal data from it.

                If you haven't had any use for the data in 20 years, I'd say it's pretty irrelevant. Leave it and scrap the computer is my recommendation. :doh:

                Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
                Anonymous
                -----
                The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
                Winston Churchill, 1944
                -----
                Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
                Mark Twain

                Mike HankeyM Offline
                Mike HankeyM Offline
                Mike Hankey
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                I agree, what could possibly be relevant after 20 years? Unless games for a retro build?

                The less you need, the more you have. Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load? JaxCoder.com

                N S 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • S Southmountain

                  desktop

                  diligent hands rule....

                  D Offline
                  D Offline
                  Dave Kreskowiak
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  Change out the CMOS, if possible and give it a try to power up. It's likely not going to improve the situation. It's more likely you're got a bad power supply or motherboard, probably due to bad capacitors. If you really need the data, the cheapest way to get it is to take the drive out and put it into an enclosure or hard drive dock for your type of drive. It'll connect to a new machine over USB and you can get the data.

                  Asking questions is a skill CodeProject Forum Guidelines Google: C# How to debug code Seriously, go read these articles.
                  Dave Kreskowiak

                  N S 2 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • D Dave Kreskowiak

                    Change out the CMOS, if possible and give it a try to power up. It's likely not going to improve the situation. It's more likely you're got a bad power supply or motherboard, probably due to bad capacitors. If you really need the data, the cheapest way to get it is to take the drive out and put it into an enclosure or hard drive dock for your type of drive. It'll connect to a new machine over USB and you can get the data.

                    Asking questions is a skill CodeProject Forum Guidelines Google: C# How to debug code Seriously, go read these articles.
                    Dave Kreskowiak

                    N Offline
                    N Offline
                    Nelek
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    Dave Kreskowiak wrote:

                    the cheapest way to get it is to take the drive out and put it into an enclosure or hard drive dock for your type of drive. It'll connect to a new machine over USB and you can get the data.

                    :thumbsup::thumbsup: exactly

                    M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • P Peter_in_2780

                      If the machine is that old, it may very well have PATA/IDE disks, not SATA.

                      Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012

                      N Offline
                      N Offline
                      Nelek
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      Peter_in_2780 wrote:

                      If the machine is that old, it may very well have PATA/IDE disks, not SATA.

                      I still have a working USB 1.0 case from 2004 / 2005. The 32 GB HDD inside (an old seagate) is still working :)

                      M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                      P 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                        I agree, what could possibly be relevant after 20 years? Unless games for a retro build?

                        The less you need, the more you have. Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load? JaxCoder.com

                        N Offline
                        N Offline
                        Nelek
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        Mike Hankey wrote:

                        I agree, what could possibly be relevant after 20 years?

                        I saved the data of my father-in-law after an issue with an indian call center with an aprox. 12 years old 32 Bit version of FileScavenger. Some old tools are priceless.

                        M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                        Mike HankeyM 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • N Nelek

                          Mike Hankey wrote:

                          I agree, what could possibly be relevant after 20 years?

                          I saved the data of my father-in-law after an issue with an indian call center with an aprox. 12 years old 32 Bit version of FileScavenger. Some old tools are priceless.

                          M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                          Mike HankeyM Offline
                          Mike HankeyM Offline
                          Mike Hankey
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          Awesome, definitely worth salvaging. Good luck

                          The less you need, the more you have. Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load? JaxCoder.com

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • D Dave Kreskowiak

                            Change out the CMOS, if possible and give it a try to power up. It's likely not going to improve the situation. It's more likely you're got a bad power supply or motherboard, probably due to bad capacitors. If you really need the data, the cheapest way to get it is to take the drive out and put it into an enclosure or hard drive dock for your type of drive. It'll connect to a new machine over USB and you can get the data.

                            Asking questions is a skill CodeProject Forum Guidelines Google: C# How to debug code Seriously, go read these articles.
                            Dave Kreskowiak

                            S Offline
                            S Offline
                            Southmountain
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            good info! thank you!

                            diligent hands rule....

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                              That's far too broad a question for any kind of specific answer: "won't power up" could mean anything. Start with what it does do: Do lights come on? Does it beep? Do you get anything on the display? Does Windows try to load?

                              "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                              S Offline
                              S Offline
                              Southmountain
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              no any light, no any beep

                              diligent hands rule....

                              OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • 1 1650

                                19 years :laugh: i agree, dropping the HDD into a temporary USB case or different box to retrieve the data might be most practical, unless you have other antique boxes you can scavenge parts from. Ha, you beat out my best roun'toit record. You are correct that the cmos battery will need changing first off. Count beeps if any, note any MB LEDs that light up, then search for beep codes and a MB Manual.pdf for that model. May very likely also need to borrow/swap out the PSU from a different old beater box, before buying a new one. Good luck ~John

                                S Offline
                                S Offline
                                Southmountain
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                I moved from east coast to west coast....

                                diligent hands rule....

                                E 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • R Ron Anders

                                  Sorry I guess I have become very laptop centric. You can always take the drive out and use a caddy with a usb to connect the drive as an external disk to your current box. I like this one. [https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-External-Enclosure-Docking-ST0005U-C/dp/B01GF0OYI2/ref=dp\_fod\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B01GF0OYI2&psc=1\](https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-External-Enclosure-Docking-ST0005U-C/dp/B01GF0OYI2/ref=dp\_fod\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B01GF0OYI2&psc=1)

                                  S Offline
                                  S Offline
                                  Southmountain
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  thanks for the link!

                                  diligent hands rule....

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Mike HankeyM Mike Hankey

                                    I agree, what could possibly be relevant after 20 years? Unless games for a retro build?

                                    The less you need, the more you have. Why is there a "Highway to Hell" and only a "Stairway to Heaven"? A prediction of the expected traffic load? JaxCoder.com

                                    S Offline
                                    S Offline
                                    Southmountain
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #21

                                    you are right: games:)

                                    diligent hands rule....

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • S Southmountain

                                      no any light, no any beep

                                      diligent hands rule....

                                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                                      OriginalGriffO Offline
                                      OriginalGriff
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      First premise then is dead PSU or blown fuse. If you have a multimeter, I'd start by disconnecting all the PSU cables and checking the 5V and 12V rails. Nothing there means the PSU is dead or the plug fuse (if fitted, they are in the UK) is blown. If that shows good values, then the motherboard is fried and I'd try a USB IDE/PATA/SATA/ disk reader to see if it's still alive - I'd not connect it directly to any computer I actually liked, which is why I have one of those readers ... they are pretty cheap from Fleabay / Hamazon.

                                      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                                      "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                                      "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                                      S L 2 Replies Last reply
                                      0
                                      • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                        First premise then is dead PSU or blown fuse. If you have a multimeter, I'd start by disconnecting all the PSU cables and checking the 5V and 12V rails. Nothing there means the PSU is dead or the plug fuse (if fitted, they are in the UK) is blown. If that shows good values, then the motherboard is fried and I'd try a USB IDE/PATA/SATA/ disk reader to see if it's still alive - I'd not connect it directly to any computer I actually liked, which is why I have one of those readers ... they are pretty cheap from Fleabay / Hamazon.

                                        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!

                                        S Offline
                                        S Offline
                                        Southmountain
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        Got it! Thank you OG!

                                        diligent hands rule....

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • N Nelek

                                          Peter_in_2780 wrote:

                                          If the machine is that old, it may very well have PATA/IDE disks, not SATA.

                                          I still have a working USB 1.0 case from 2004 / 2005. The 32 GB HDD inside (an old seagate) is still working :)

                                          M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

                                          P Offline
                                          P Offline
                                          Peter_in_2780
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          I still have my old Dell Pentium-something tower that came with Windows ME (ptui ptui ptui). Late 2000. Installing XP when it appeared the next year was a lifesaver. Under a hundred gigs of 5.25 HDD, 3.5 and 5.25 floppies, CD... I think I stretched the RAM to 256MB. I upgraded the dialup modem to 56kbps. Ah, the good old days....

                                          Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012

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