red blinking light on tower

[RoaminRed]

Originally Posted by Ronzou

It's easier for me and more fun to try with NO info and work backwards. Then to think I have to know everything to get it working.

How is merely asking for a model# and for the indicative number of flashes having to know "everything"? I work like a tech, which means I want some minimal information before I tell someone to start pulling the guts out of their system.

The OP obviously isn't that technologically talented, which means if I tell him or her to pop the box and start removing things, there's a good chance that he or she will cause more damage than good.

Besides, your way is going to take more time, and leave the OP without a system for a longer period of time.

[Radek]

Originally Posted by Ronzou

You mean HER, right?

Why does everyone assume everyone is a guy?

Besides, if it is not powering up, you should try start with the bare minimum devices. If that doesn't even happen, then, you can rule it down to the motherboard or the power supply, test another power supply, if it doesn't power up still, that's when I'd say a dead board.

It's easier for me and more fun to try with NO info and work backwards. Then to think I have to know everything to get it working.

Roamin has it right.

If we can get the model, we can do a number of different things.

a) Determine a POST code. It could be unseated RAM due to travel? Its the easiest way to START the diagnostic process.

b) Determine if the system has a specific problem. Someone mentioned HPs and southbridges. Perhaps this is the case for this model and its toast.

Because the OP is usually NOT tech savvy, hence why they are in this forum, and since generally people I have the misfortune of letting slip that I'm a tech are not tech savvy... I prefer to not try to walk them through opening their case, making sure they're statically discharged, removing things, replacing things, putting thermal grease on, etc.

Yeah yeah, a lot of that can be pointless. But I cannot count the number of times people ask me for help, disregard it and then complain more. (Please see my RANT: somewhere around page 2 or 3).

However, this thread isn't for a tech v tech brawl. So, back to subject:

OP, What model of compaq is it? On the front might be a model number, otherwise usually the side or back has a stick listing identifying info.
(If it has a Windows XP or 2k logo, don't post that Serial Number, just a heads up)

Also, the monitor on the system. When its on, and doesn't have anything to show, most monitors go into a 'standby' mode. And their power light turns yellow instead of green. Or whatever color.

Anyway, if your monitor does do this (changes based on signal feed) does it try to turn on at all or do ANYTHING? As simple as changing how black it looks, or the light changing color?

Answers to these help us narrow down what stage of the boot up process the PC is failing during.

[kiki8981]

i have a compaq computer and i was moving my room around my computer would not start ater that =/ my mom had the same problem with her computer she took he small battery form he inside of the tower out and the computer ran fine still is..now my computer how ever we did the same thing and now wen we yurn it on it shows the green light then keeps flashing red is the battery bad or is the computer just not goin to work again??

[Lucky Ali]

I have an HP Compaq PC. A d530s running Windows XP Professional.
When I turn the PC on, the power light flashes red 4 times (1 red flash per second). Pauses ~3 seconds and repeats the red flashing.
Just trying to find out what problem that indicates.
Thank you,
Don O'Neil

[bs13690]

HP Compaq Business Desktop d330 and d530 - LED / Beep Codes - c00274415 - HP Business Support Center

For future reference, you are better off opening a new thread than adding to an old one.