Cannot access Desktop Activities

[dibl]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

Nvidia 9600GT is a reasonable graphics card -- I had one for awhile and it worked fine. I would suggest you give this a review: http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3107406.0

Also, to change your wallpaper, you first need to "unlock widgets" with the Cashew. When you are done fiddling with the wallpaper, you need to "lock widgets".

[Don]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

Dibl, I would, but right now I can't get the machine to show anything on the screen. It won't boot, even to a Kubuntu CD. I think (he said with some pride) this may be my greatest screw-up yet. I've reset the CMOS twice, but when I power up the machine, I get nothing but a black screen. Any suggestions?

Most of all, I can't figure out what started this up. I worked on the computer most of the afternoon (actual work for my job) with no problem. All of a sudden: nothing. What was I doing at the time? Trying to get into desktop activities at first. (Then mostly I was cursing.)

I'm just not sure what to try next.

Don

[Snowhog]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

Well, you are going to have to at least get the PC to boot properly. That is won't from a good LiveCD is not a good sign. Are you sure the bios flash went without a hitch? Is this a bios that you know for certain is clean and works?

[Don]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

I haven't (knowingly) done a BIOS flash, unless it was within the command you gave me. Other than that, it should be on the same BIOS as it's been on the last six months.

[Snowhog]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

My bad. You said CMOS and I though Bios. Never mind.

Is this a Desktop PC? If yes, one needs to be thinking loose cable connections.

[Don]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

Perhaps there are, but I can't find 'em. I can try moving the video card to a different slot if you think that may help.

[Don]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

I think I'll give it another shot tomorrow. Perhaps I'll strip it down and rebuild it. You all have a great holiday. Thanks again for the help and the patience.

Don

[Snowhog]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

As to cables, it's the connectors that can become 'loose' These are grey clap-type ends that puncture the ribbon cables. Just unconnect from the board and press tightly on the connectors to maybe reseat the very small needle teeth. Reconnect the cable to the board. Do for each.

As to the video card in a different slot. If you have another slot that can be used, sure, swap over.

[Don]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

Two things have happened this morning, neither of them good. I did check all the cable connections to make sure everything was seated properly. On boot, I got the following:
CMOS Checksum Error
Verifying DMI Pool Data . . .
GRUB loading
error: no such disk
grub rescue>

So I went back and rechecked everything again, replacing the SATA cables for the HDs with new ones. Now when I try to boot, the screen goes to the "This is your motherboard" screen and hangs there. Two other things are going on at the same time. 1) The USB ports are not getting power, and 2) the bank of indicators on the mobo that indicates "NB Phase LED," "DDR Phase LED," and "DDR Voltage LED" and the indicators labeled "Phase LED" are all lit up, and not in good colors either.
Einstein once observed that insanity is doing the same things while expecting different results. Guilty as charged. Any clues about what I should try next?

[Snowhog]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

Not a 'Merry Christmas' as regards your PC.

It is beginning to sound like your PC is, if not dead, in the terminal stages of death. If you have a spare power supply, that would be 'my' next item to swap out. If a replaced power supply doesn't help, then the likely diagnosis is that the motherboard has given/giving up the ghost.

[Don]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

I do have a spare power supply that I can swap in tomorrow or Monday. The motherboard is only four weeks old; I was hoping it would do better than that.
I'll let you know what happens. Thanks again. Enjoy the day.

[Snowhog]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

The motherboard is only four weeks old;

If a replaced power supply doesn't remedy, then given how new the motherboard is, it *should* still be under warranty, yes?

[dibl]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

With the "DDR" error indicators, sounds like a memory test will be in order, if you happen to get it to where it can boot a Live CD.

[Don]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

Weather prevented me from getting to my alternate power supply, so I did some other testing. When I ran continuity tests on the P1 connector (PSU not plugged in for at least five minutes, multimeter set at 200 ohms), I got the following readings for the pins indicated:
1: 66.8
2: 66.8
3: 0
4: 75
5: 0
6: 75
7: 0
8: 1 (first went much higher, but then dropped to 1 and stayed there) gray wire
9: 1 purple wire
10: 1 yellow wires (2)
11: 1 yellow wire
12: 66.8
13: 66.8
14: 1 blue wire
15: 0
16: 1 green wire
17: 0
18: 0
19: 0
20: empty
21: 75
22: 75
23: 75
24: 0

All the zero readings are black (ground) wires, and I think that's what they're supposed to read. All of the double-digit numbers are for various colored wires, and my understanding is that if they're >50, that's good. But none of the sources I've found online have suggested that any pins ought to have readings of 1. Does this suggest that my PSU has gone bad? That wouldn't be terrific, but I suppose it's better than having the mobo die (although both parts should still be under warranty).
Thanks.

[dibl]

Re: Cannot access Desktop Activities

I'm not sure how to interpret your multimeter readings. Here's the "book" answer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX