BSoD has Incapacitated Computer - Cannot Reboot

Writer · 10 Jan 2018

zbook said:

If possible use a camera or smart phone camera to take pictures and post images into the thread.

The capacitors are quite small, about 1/4 inch in diameter and one inch in height. They're about the same size as the pint-sized AAA batteries, which I think are designated E90 batteries. There is not much to see. The corrosion is like what you would see on the end of a corroded battery: light-brown crusting. The insulation of a wire that was in contact with one of the capacitors was charred lightly black. The insulation was not damaged.

Ztruker · 10 Jan 2018

Some people have had success replacing bad capacitors but I have not. I'd either replace the system board or replace the computer. You can get a replacement board for $45. They are easy to replace. The only thing you might have to buy is some thermal paste to use when you transfer the CPU from the old board to the new one.

dell OptiPlex 745 motherboard

At least now you know why it's been acting so weird and getting progressively worse.

Writer · 11 Jan 2018

Thanks for the information about possible bad capacitors.

I might replace the motherboard later on. The computer I bought on ebay should arrive in a couple of days. It has Windows 10, but no word processing software. I'll buy Microsoft Word 2016.

It must have been getting progressively worse as the capacitors were slowly burning out.

Thanks again to you and zbook for all of the suggestions you have made.

If I get any more BSoD alerts, I'll be back to seek advice on how to get rid of them.

Ztruker · 11 Jan 2018

I see Word for $64. Have you ever looked at Open Office or Libre Office? They are Open Software replacements for MS Office. Both are excellent and free and they handle all the various Microsoft formats, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, etc.

I install Libre Office on all computers I sell from my church's Thrift Store.

Writer · 11 Jan 2018

Thanks for the tip about Libre Office; I think I'll give it a try. I checked out their website, and they appear to be a solid organization.

Ztruker · 11 Jan 2018

You're welcome.

Woody72 · 12 Jan 2018

When I was a hardware tech I used to look after about 5,000 Dell Optiplexs, including 745s. The BIOS is years before UEFI, it's a bog standard BIOS. I reckon a motherboard is definitely worth a punt. When attempting to rebuild it, make sure USB sockets are enabled in the BIOS first and then hit F12 when it tells you to. One menu option is along the lines of 'Choose device to boot from'. If you select USB, it should boot from a memory stick. If it doesn't, go back into the BIOS and USB settings area and see if there is a setting that mentions 'legacy'. if there is, enable it. My previous PC wouldn't boot from USB unless it was set to legacy mode for some reason.

Writer · 16 Jan 2018

Thanks for the information and the tips. I might try to rebuild it.

I just bought a refurbished Dell OptiPlex 745 with Windows 10 (Version 1607) and Microsoft Word 2016.

I had it activated yesterday, but I am now having trouble accessing the Internet. I have a thread going on Network called "Problems Accessing the Internet."

If you have any thoughts about that problem, you might give the thread a look.
Thanks again, Writer

BSoD has Incapacitated Computer - Cannot Reboot

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