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Recently moved computer to new house. When I plugged power cord into socket computer "on" light started flashing rapidly. Can hear fan, monitor indicates no signal and pushing "on" key does nothing. Light just keeps flashing rapidly. It is a Emachine T2042. Any ideas of what is wrong?

Hi and Welcome to BleepingComputer!

Try unplugging the power cord and replugging it back in again and see if this helps to reset the power supply.

Make sure everything is hooked up properly.

I am not sure if this flashing is warning of a un-grounded condition, but this could be the case, your wall outlet or power strip is not wired correctly or there is a ground fault problem, meaning the outlet is not properly grounded to Earth.

Thanks. I'll give those a try. I'm going out there later today. I did try 2 different plug strips and a different power cord. I'll take a test meter too.

Im thinking that something is loose inside as the system was moved recently.

Unplug it and open the case.
Reseat all cables, memory and internal cards.

Thanks, will do.

Brought it home and swapped mobo from old emachine I had did everything but boot. so I'm getting Mom a new mobo & cpu. It's my understanding that since operating system was part of original desktop that I need OEM mobo or new op system.

tcr, on Apr 26 2010, 12:09 PM, said:

From reading your post I believe you are asking if you need to get a new copy of your operating system.

Well I know the Emachine computers come with an OEM copy of windows, so if you changed the motherboard and it is not one from Emachines, then the install will not happen as the installation disk will check for the motherboards chipset string and BIOS code, which has to match.

If you have a motherboard made by another manufacturer, you will need to purchase a retail copy of Windows.

Thanks. That's what I thought. The old chipset id 845G. I found one with 845GL from a emachine but don't know if tha's compatible. You're sdaying any emachine mobo with 845 chipset will do?

tcr, on Apr 26 2010, 07:21 PM, said:

What I am saying is when a computer manufactuerer like Emachines sells computers they burn a copy of the OS they license from Microsoft onto a disk which is designed to install only on one of their computers, there is a motherboard hardware ID built into a motherboard, the Emachines installation disk's software includes a string that orders the motherboard chip to report its HARDWARE ID, if the string does not match, the installation is prevented and an error code is produced on the screen saying you can not install this software.

Most Emachines motherboards have the same hardware ID, so chances are good it should proceed with the install.

This post has been edited by MrBruce1959: 26 April 2010 - 07:53 PM

Thank you very much for the help.

tcr, on Apr 26 2010, 07:46 PM, said:

You're most welcome, that's what we are here for.

Hope everything goes well, if not, you know we're the ones to turn too for answers.