Solved: Emachine will not start

[flying welshman]

I've got an Emachine T2796. I can't get it to start. I've gone to their website, but they weren't any help. I have opened the computer and unplugged and replugged in every cord that I see, but that has not helped. When the computer is plugged in, it makes a buzzing sound. I am pretty sure that it is coming from the power supply. There is also a small green light on the motherboard.

Does anyone have some advice?

 

[win2kpro]

I would take the tower to a repair facility and have them test the power supply. If the power supply tests bad (which I suspect it will) have them "jump" a known good power supply to the motherboard to see if the machine will boot.

eMachines normally used Bestec power supplys, and when they fail, unfortunately most of the time when the power supply fails, it will also "take out" the motherboard.

 

[flying welshman]

OK. I have replaced the power supply. It still won't turn on. I took it to a computer shop, and they also said that it is probably the motherboard. What is the best way to order a new motherboard?

 

[flying welshman]

Actually, I guess my question actually is: how do I find the right motherboard for my computer.

 

[win2kpro]

My records for eMachines indicates the T2796 had an Intel D845GVSR motherboard. That is a socket 478 board, and I feel sure you would not be able to get a direct replacement from eMachines.

If you can't get a direct replacement from eMachines then you would have to try to locate an Intel 845 series motherboard so you could re-use your processor and existing memory. You would also have to purchase a new operating system since the old eMachine recovery disks (if you have them) would not work with a replacement board unless it was a direct replacement from eMachines.

I would do a Google search for an Intel 845 series board (complete board with I/O shield) or you may try an online auction such as eBay.

Even if you find a standard Intel 845 series board, you MAY have to do some re-wiring on the front panel header if eMachines used a manufacturer proprietary pinout.

Since you are dealing with older technology you may be better off just to purchase a new machine rather than expend a couple of hundred dollars on a socket 478 machine.

 

[Drunkbudda]

You need to find the number on your motherboard and do a google search for that number and you will find one alot cheaper than what Emachines wants for it. I will look around and see if I can find anything and post back.

 

[Drunkbudda]

http://parts.emachines.com/moreinfo.asp?product_id=69100
This link is to a replacement board from Emachines but you can find one a lot cheaper. You might check with MSI thats what I did and it was like forty bucks and was the same board.

 

[flying welshman]

Ok. I checked with MSI, but it looks like they sell newer hardware. As for the Emachine website, I would rather get a new computer than spend $200 on a new motherboard. I found a couple motherboards on Ebay.
http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZd845gvsrQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZR40QQ_mdoZ
Do you think that any of them would work?

 

[Drunkbudda]

I think I would check into a doing a upgrade something like a bare bones system. That way you just reuse all of your old drives. I get a lot of parts here http://www.3btech.net/ And I have never had any problems.

 

[flying welshman]

Yeah, I think it would be better to get a good new computer than a bare bones and harvest the old parts.

How likely is it that the motherboard is the problem?

 

[Drunkbudda]

I have used Emachines for several years, because of the low cost and the power supply has died on each one. I think you said you have replaced the power supply and it did not help. I have had one kill the cpu when the power supply died and one that killed the motherboard. But I was able to swap parts between machines and find what was the not working. I think your right in just buying a new machine. Sorry

 

[Rich-M]

You are better off buying new because the other "rub" is if you don't use an eMachine motherboard, then your Windows restore disks will not work either so you will wind up buying a copy of Windows as well.