PC wont POST, any ideas?

[ZrByte]

Got another repair project that has got me stumped.
I was given a machine and told that recently it just randonly stopped working (Black screen, no post). My first thought was that the motherboard was fried so I brought it home to test.
My test machine will not boot with the CPU in, and randomly resets with the RAM in. When I try my test CPU and RAM in the broken machine it just beeps (8 times quickly, stops for about 4 secs then repeats). This confused me slightly as I was sure that if the motherboard was fried I wouldnt even get error code beeps.
The board has no name or anything on it, judging by the cheapo factor about it and all the other parts used in the machine I would guess its a PC-CHIPS mobo, does that shed any light on what the error beeps might mean?

The Damage to the CPU and RAM also seem to suggest to me that its suffered some type of surge, and likeley as a result of this The CPU, RAM & Mobo are probably all dead. However, I decided I'd get a second or third opinion from you guys before I start quoting my friend for new parts.

Sounds very much like the power supply is faulty.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Paul M

Sounds very much like the power supply is faulty.

Faulty as in it surged and fried the components? or faulty as in replacing the psu may restore the system? (Im guessing you meant the first of the two)

Faulty as in spikes causing the random resets etc, and probably finally surged and blew half the board.
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You could replace it and see it it works again, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Paul M

Faulty as in spikes causing the random resets etc, and probably finally surged and blew half the board.
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You could replace it and see it it works again, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Just to be clear, there where two machines, My test machine, and the faulty machine.
My test machine wouldnt boot with the faulty machines CPU in and randomly reset with the faulty machines RAM. This machine runs fine as soon as its normal parts are returned so I doubt the PSU is a problem there. (this is an old'ish Duron compaq presario, probably not the best testbed but its all I have right now).
The faulty machine wont even post, no matter whats inside (I have tried it with the original components, and equivelants from the test machine). This is the one that is making the 8 beeps and not POST'ing.
I know, the way I put it really didnt make that clear I blame the time of the morning it is though we both know I make little sense at the best of times

Ive just had a look at the broken machines PSU and sure enough this is as cheapo as the rest of it so I think you might just be right, So that means I will need to get a new CPU, RAM, Mobo and PSU (hard drive, DVD and Case are fine)

Ah, no, I hadn't actually realised you were referring to two machines.

[zoombini]

Did you try the mobo with another psu?

Also, you have removed all add on boards etc before trying the POST have'nt you?