Arch Linux

tadpole cyclist

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Registered: Yesterday

Posts: 5

[SOLVED] Computer dead after system update (& downgrade of VirtualBox)

Hi everyone,

This is my first posting, although I'm using Arch Linux since April 2014 and updating it regularly.

Last friday I updated my system with pacman -Syu, then I rebooted, logged in and started Xfce.
I noticed my usual problem with the compose key not working (I'll open a new thread about that when my computer is working again), so I downgraded xkeyboard-config to the last working version as usual. Then I closed Xfce and started it again.

Now I tried to start VirtualBox. It didn't start, but wrote a few lines of text into the terminal window. It said something, that I should configure something with /sbin/vboxconfig. But I don't have this on my computer. So I searched the forum and found this thread: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=313988
Now I downgraded virtualbox to the version I used before (I always keep the last version of a package in pacman's cache). And because I had to confirm during the update to replace some other virtualbox-package with virtualbox-host-dkms, I downgraded this, too.

I noticed, that during the downgrade the initramfs was rebuilt and a message about UEFI not found (or similar). I didn't care about this message, because I've disabled UEFI Boot in BIOS.

Then I tried to reboot. The usual messages during the shutdown process were printed and after the last messages (watchdog timer not responding (or similar) three times) the screen became black and the monitor went to standby (as usual). But than nothing more happened: no beep, no picture on the screen - only the fans were still spinning.

I waited about one minute, then I tried REISUB and then CTRL+ALT+DEL, but the computer showed no reaction, only the fans were still spinning. So I pressed and holdes the power button. This made the fans stop and since this time the computer is dead. If I press the power button now, nothing happens: neither the fans start to spin nor the computer beeps or shows something on the screen.

I already removed the CMOS battery for some minutes or for some hours and I even replaced it with a new one, but the computer is still dead.

Any Ideas what else I could do?

I think it can't be a mechanical defect with the power button, because first the computer got stuck and then I was able to turn off the fans with the power button. And I suppose the power supply should be OK, too, because the fans were spinning furthermore.

PS1: I noticed the message about virtualbox-ext-vnc on the Arch website, but this package isn't installed on my machine
PS2: Sorry for paraphrasing, but because the computer is dead totally, I'm not able to reproduce the correct messages. (I'm now on a 18-year-old laptop booted with a quite recent Debian live system)

Last edited by tadpole cyclist (Today 18:39:26)

seth

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From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 77,739

Re: [SOLVED] Computer dead after system update (& downgrade of VirtualBox)

If I press the power button now, nothing happens: neither the fans start to spin nor the computer beeps or shows something on the screen.

This isn't a software issue, the problem is going to be either of
* the PSU
* the board
* the power button
* the wall outlet
* the cables and plugs connecting them
(Also long time ago PSUs used to have a physical switch on the back and sometimes people, or their knees, accidentally flipped those )

already removed the CMOS battery for some minutes or for some hours and I even replaced it with a new one, but the computer is still dead.

Is this is a regular ATX system?
Are there any LEDs on the board indicating that its generally receiving any power?

First, physically inspect all connection; plugs, cables, everything - try to reconnect them, esp. the power button and the PSU to the board.
And don't manipulate the system while it's connected to the AC: while usually safe for you - and the board if you got rid of static load - with a broken system there could be almost random voltage anywhere.

Next, do you have spare parts you could cross test?
(First try to test a known good PSU against the problematic board - if there's an issue w/ the PSU it might fuse your spare board as well)

The power button will short two pins on the board (its cable goes there)
If everything looks ok but the system doesn't power up despite there's general power from the PSU, you can try to short those pins w/ a screwdriver (this is a touch and go thing, you don't have to hold it there forever)

nb. that while on an intact board, there's no dangerous current or voltage in that spot, but if anything got fried anything could happen so MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE TO BE ISOLATED FROM THE BOARD, don't touch the blank metal of the screw driver!

If that kickstarts the system there's a issue w/ the power switch, maybe it got stuck?
Have you tried to massage it a bit?

I'll stress that because we don't know the condition of the system, it is pot. very dangerous to manipulate it while connected to the AC, so make a rational decision whether you're comfortable doing this and in doubt ask for help.

---

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tadpole cyclist

Member

Registered: Yesterday

Posts: 5

Re: [SOLVED] Computer dead after system update (& downgrade of VirtualBox)

thanks for the answer so far. I'll try it tomorrow.

Tiikerihai

Member

Registered: 2025-06-25

Posts: 39

Re: [SOLVED] Computer dead after system update (& downgrade of VirtualBox)

This sounds like a dead motherboard or the BIOS got corrupted or something. You can try a different PSU or remove some parts such as graphics card, other expansion cards, SSDs, RAM, bypass the power switch with a screwedriver, etc but ultimately the motherboard should show at least some life (such as spinning up a connected fan, beeps if there's a PC speaker, diagnostic LEDs if they exist), even if it's the only part connected to the power supply. The motherboard being completely unresponsive means it's not doing what it's supposed to.

Last edited by Tiikerihai (Today 12:15:37)

tadpole cyclist

Member

Registered: Yesterday

Posts: 5

Re: [SOLVED] Computer dead after system update (& downgrade of VirtualBox)

The computer is working again

What I did is: remove the PSU connector and the front connectors (power LED, power switch, HDD LED and reset swith) from the motherbord and reconnected them. Than I removed an old graphics card. Now there is a hole in the chassis
Than I reconnected the AC cable, switched on the PSU and pressed the power button. I noticed the fans (CPU and PSU) were spinning. So I connected the monitor and it showed a black screen, that means it got a signal (otherwise it would have stayed in standby mode). I saw the GRUB menu and than arch booting. But I couldn't log in. So I pressed the power button shortly and Arch shutted down. Now I reconnected keyboard, mouse, network and external speakers and pressed again the power button.
Now I was able to login in Arch, so I started Xfce and the webbroser. But I was not able to open the forum because of the wrong time stetting. So I was about writing a short success message on the old laptop, but than I noticed, that the Xfce panel displayes the actual date. And now I'm here.

Before I mark the thread as solved I'll have a look at the BIOS settings.

tadpole cyclist

Member

Registered: Yesterday

Posts: 5

Re: [SOLVED] Computer dead after system update (& downgrade of VirtualBox)

(Also long time ago PSUs used to have a physical switch on the back and sometimes people, or their knees, accidentally flipped those )

I know, but I was always in front of the computer, so I could not have flipped that physical switch.

Is this is a regular ATX system?

It's m-ATX (9.3 x 7.9 in.)

Are there any LEDs on the board indicating that its generally receiving any power?

Although there is an option in the BIOS where I can select between flash and two colors, I don't see any LED on the board. The chassis also has none.

Next, do you have spare parts you could cross test?

unfortunately not, but it's not necessary anymore.

The power button will short two pins on the board (its cable goes there)
If everything looks ok but the system doesn't power up despite there's general power from the PSU, you can try to short those pins w/ a screwdriver (this is a touch and go thing, you don't have to hold it there forever)
nb. that while on an intact board, there's no dangerous current or voltage in that spot, but if anything got fried anything could happen so MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE TO BE ISOLATED FROM THE BOARD, don't touch the blank metal of the screw driver!

If that kickstarts the system there's a issue w/ the power switch, maybe it got stuck?
Have you tried to massage it a bit?

I still don't understand how the power button could be the problem if I used it just a few seconds before to turn off the computer, but anyway, the computer is OK now.

I'll stress that because we don't know the condition of the system, it is pot. very dangerous to manipulate it while connected to the AC, so make a rational decision whether you're comfortable doing this and in doubt ask for help.

That's an important hint. But I have to disconnect the AC cable anyway if I want to work inside the computer, because there is not enough room where it stands normally.

tadpole cyclist

Member

Registered: Yesterday

Posts: 5

Re: [SOLVED] Computer dead after system update (& downgrade of VirtualBox)

This sounds like a dead motherboard or the BIOS got corrupted or something.

I was afraid of this. That's why I told about the UEFI warning, but obviously the BIOS either was not corrpupted or it restored itself during the AC-less time.

cryptearth

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Registered: 2024-02-03

Posts: 2,316

Re: [SOLVED] Computer dead after system update (& downgrade of VirtualBox)

was about to reply: "doesn't sound like hardware defect"
for some reason from time to time the few circuits that are responsible for turning the system and psu on and off can get "stuck" (often in OFF - but sometimes also in ON)
i don't have a specific explanation but the common consent seems to be some capicators not bleeding off and thereby keeping the circuits stuck
removing or replacing the cmos battery doesn't help as long as the system still gets +5Vsb - often helpful: disconnect EVERYTHING - like, really ALL of it - for a few minutes

there's a fun video on YT with a gpu's fan still spinning of a system completely shut off and unplugged from the wall - the solution: it got back-fed via the display cable from the monitor
hence: when someone says "disconnect EVERYthing" - they mean it - as most connections usually carry some +5V in both directions - and as GND and the power rails are usually interconnected throughout a system some back-feed from an external device can keep power circuits stuck

glad to hear it worked out for you