I inherited an Asus tower from my father and haven't been able to get it to POST yet. It has a Core 2 Duo, a 500GB hard drive, and floppy and DVD drives. He used to play Age of Empires on it.
Does that narrow down its age, and where should I start with the POST problem?
Core 2 Duo launched in 2006, so the processor points to that era or later. The 500GB drive also fits the Vista-era timeframe, but neither part tells you exactly when the whole PC was built or bought. Drives and other components can be replaced.
Look for model numbers or date labels on the case, motherboard, and hard drive. The exact processor model might help narrow it down too, once you can identify it.
A dead CMOS battery is worth considering on an old machine, but it usually won't prevent POST by itself. A reset clock or lost BIOS settings would be a stronger clue that the battery needs replacing.
For the no-POST problem, first check whether the fans spin, whether there's any display output, and whether you hear beep codes. With the power disconnected, check that the power and memory connections are seated. Those observations will help narrow down what to test next.
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x81+hinge.407:
It would also help to know whether the machine powers on at all, or powers on but never shows anything on screen.