Help with my friends Pc

[Jam3s-Zer0]

hi, well i was talking to my friend on msn this morning and he said his downstairs pc broke and he didnt know what was wrong.
His pc is a Amd sempron/256mb ram/Geforce fx 5700le on xp home.

He said, "my sister was on the pc and it just turned off and wouldnt turn back on. When i tried to press the on button it would turn on but the monitor wouldnt detect the pc. If i tryed press the on button again to turn it off it wouldnt work and the optical drive wouldnt open."

Any ideas of whats wrong?
Thanks

 

[baronvongogo]

try exchanging the graphics card, if the monitor isn't getting a signal could be that...open the pc up and check all connections. in a Worst case scenario could be the motherboard is dead.

 

[Jam3s-Zer0]

k thanks ill tell him that..anyone other possible problems?

 

[Jam3s-Zer0]

my friend also told me when he tries turn it on and leaves it, it will switch off automaticly after about 5 min.

 

[baronvongogo]

can he get into the BIOS?

 

[Jam3s-Zer0]

ye i think so..

 

[baronvongogo]

ok go into the BIOS and check the CPU temps and fan speed. Also try clicking default options so it sets everything back to its original settings.

 

[Jam3s-Zer0]

well ive just talked to him on the phone and he says he cant get onto anything since the monitor doesnt detect the pc.
Thanks anyway.

 

[baronvongogo]

he`ll have to troubleshoot it, remove all unnecessary devices, cd rom, dvd rom, floppy drive.

try exchanging the graphics card if it still doesnt work then I would think it was a motherboard problem. A capacitor on the motherboard could have died. Does his power supply unit come on? the fans move and make a noise?

 

[Jam3s-Zer0]

ye he says psu comes on for 5 min then turns off and fans come on including graphics card.
Thanks