I came back home after being a day away, and my PC doesn't turn on. Nothing happens when I press the button, except seeing a fan try to start up for a second, and then stop. I could try starting the PC directly from a motherboard, but that would violate my cardinal rule of never touching the inside of PC with the power plugged in (and given the fan behavior, it probably won't change anything. Any ideas what may be fucked?
Quote from: DGuller on January 01, 2013, 10:10:04 PM
I came back home after being a day away, and my PC doesn't turn on. Nothing happens when I press the button, except seeing a fan try to start up for a second, and then stop. I could try starting the PC directly from a motherboard, but that would violate my cardinal rule of never touching the inside of PC with the power plugged in (and given the fan behavior, it probably won't change anything. Any ideas what may be fucked?
I take it you don't have an internal speaker hooked up? It sounds like it's failing POST. It could be the RAM, it could be the video card, it could even be certain kinds of faults with the power supply, but without a beep code, I wouldn't know where to start.
Also, that's an interesting cardinal rule you've got; you're better off working with it plugged in than not- if you keep a hand on the metal edge of the case that way, the power cord actually grounds the metal rim, which means you're grounded while you're in contact.
I honestly can't see how I'm better off doing something that has a chance of electrocuting me, as opposed to not doing it.
I guess this is one of those problems that I really need to consult Google for. Usually Languish manages to cut straight through BS and point me to a solution, but in this case there just doesn't seem to be much to go on. The whole thing literally tries to work for a quarter of a second and then dies silently.
DSB's advice is as bs free as you'll ever get it. If it doesn't boot then you need to check your motherboard for error codes. Some boards beep codes, some has a small LCD display. The codes will tell you where the computer failed to post. If it doesn't even give an error code then it's probably the PSU.
I would agree that it's most likely the PSU.
Quote from: DGuller on January 01, 2013, 10:45:00 PM
I honestly can't see how I'm better off doing something that has a chance of electrocuting me, as opposed to not doing it.
No one is getting electocuted on the output side of a computer PSU. Unless you have a like a 0 ohm resistance in your hands.
Is there any way to test the PSU? After the motherboard, it's the biggest PITA to physically replace, and I wouldn't want to start buying new components without knowing which one I need to replace.
Quote from: DGuller on January 02, 2013, 11:17:26 AM
Is there any way to test the PSU? After the motherboard, it's the biggest PITA to physically replace, and I wouldn't want to start buying new components without knowing which one I need to replace.
:huh:
I've fairly allergic to fiddling on the inside of my computer, but even I managed to replace a PSU once. It was quite easy - one of the easiest swaps you can make in fact.
One way to test is to swap out the PSU for another one (or put your current PSU into another computer) that I'm aware of. If you have an older system sitting in a closet that might be the way to go.
Quote from: Barrister on January 02, 2013, 01:27:51 PM
Quote from: DGuller on January 02, 2013, 11:17:26 AM
Is there any way to test the PSU? After the motherboard, it's the biggest PITA to physically replace, and I wouldn't want to start buying new components without knowing which one I need to replace.
:huh:
I've fairly allergic to fiddling on the inside of my computer, but even I managed to replace a PSU once. It was quite easy - one of the easiest swaps you can make in fact.
One way to test is to swap out the PSU for another one (or put your current PSU into another computer) that I'm aware of. If you have an older system sitting in a closet that might be the way to go.
I'm saying that because PSU connects to ten different things, and some of the old-style connectors are incredibly difficult to line up before they're able to click.
Quote from: DGuller on January 02, 2013, 02:06:34 PM
Quote from: Barrister on January 02, 2013, 01:27:51 PM
Quote from: DGuller on January 02, 2013, 11:17:26 AM
Is there any way to test the PSU? After the motherboard, it's the biggest PITA to physically replace, and I wouldn't want to start buying new components without knowing which one I need to replace.
:huh:
I've fairly allergic to fiddling on the inside of my computer, but even I managed to replace a PSU once. It was quite easy - one of the easiest swaps you can make in fact.
One way to test is to swap out the PSU for another one (or put your current PSU into another computer) that I'm aware of. If you have an older system sitting in a closet that might be the way to go.
I'm saying that because PSU connects to ten different things, and some of the old-style connectors are incredibly difficult to line up before they're able to click.
I've only ever replaced one PSU ever but that involved unplugging the cables from the PSU, not keeping the cables connected to the PSU, IIRC.
Unfortunately, I threw out my old PC in the move. It didn't occur to me to save the power supply for such an occassion.
I think my plan is to order the new power supply, and see if it fixes it. I suspect it won't, which would leave mobo as the only other suspect. Any other failure would at least make mobo tell me something. If that's the case, I may as well use the opportunity to build a new PC, and I'll already have PSU for it. No sense in replacing mobo on a 3.5 year old PC, especially since that would also require getting a new Windows key.
I had a PSU fail on me once and I ordered a new one following this exact same line of reasoning. It turns out the PSU was indeed the problem, so no need to go any further with the upgrade that time.
When your PSU failed, did it fail completely? The reason I'm doubting PSU is that it is clearly providing some juice. The fans are spinning for a very little while, and the mobo light is on.
Why not just take it to a shop and have a certified tech look at it?
Quote from: DGuller on January 02, 2013, 11:45:46 PM
When your PSU failed, did it fail completely? The reason I'm doubting PSU is that it is clearly providing some juice. The fans are spinning for a very little while, and the mobo light is on.
I don't recall for sure now, but I think that's what was happening in my case too.
A PSU saldom fails completely. If you want to _know_ then you'll need to unplug all power connectors from the PSU and hotwire it (shortcut pins 15 and 16). Basicly you're tricking the PSU into thinking the computer is up and running. You can then measure the 3.3V, 5V and 12V cables with a simple multimeter.
I had this problem once with a brand new computer. Turns out that due to shoddy workmanship, they had set up the motherboard so that it wasn't insulated from the case. Any time the case staticed with the environent or my body, it fried the motherboard.
Quote from: Neil on January 05, 2013, 09:32:55 AM
set up the motherboard so that it wasn't insulated from the case
Yeah, I bent a small spacing myself once inserting a new stick of RAM. It caused me quite a headache so this is always the first thing I think of when seeing a problem like this. He said he hadn't touched the thing though...
FFS, disconnecting all the connectors is a bigger pain in the ass than even I expected. The 24 pin connector eventually gave up, but the fucking 8 pin connector just won't budge at all. I fear that if I pull any harder, I'll just rip out the mobo socket. It doesn't help that for some inexplicable reason, they put the socket in the tightest place possible.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I put the flathead screwdriver between the connector and the clip, and twisted it. One of the clips finally snapped off, and the connector was freed.
Whew, it was the PSU. That almost makes the torture worth it.
Quote from: DGuller on January 08, 2013, 09:29:52 PM
Whew, it was the PSU. That almost makes the torture worth it.
me = genious
Languish comes through yet again.
Did they glue it on there? Usually a fair bit of jiggling it does the trick! :D
Quote from: Vricklund on January 11, 2013, 06:57:08 AM
Did they glue it on there? Usually a fair bit of jiggling it does the trick! :D
This was a PC I built myself, so no, they didn't. :P The problem was that the two connector clips were overly tight, coupled with virtually no working space. I just couldn't keep both clips open enough and pull at the same time, there wasn't enough space to do these finger acrobatics. When I snapped off one of the clips, the problem was solved.
Quote from: DGuller on January 11, 2013, 08:35:12 AM
This was a PC I built myself, so no, they didn't. :P The problem was that the two connector clips were overly tight, coupled with virtually no working space. I just couldn't keep both clips open enough and pull at the same time, there wasn't enough space to do these finger acrobatics. When I snapped off one of the clips, the problem was solved.
Yeah, cable management can be a bitch. Sometimes, the right components just don't fit together, physically. The cable for my CPU fan attaches directly under the top-side case fan, the CPU power cable is stretched tight (methinks my PSU was designed for a top-side mounting, not a bottom mount like in my case), and the front panel audio jacks have to run completely across the mobo to connect by the backside audio jacks. Oh, and my Radeon is currently laying on top of ports 2 and 4 in the SATA bank- something tells me Biostar never intended a full-size video card for that PCIE slot. :P
This morning my work PC had similar symptoms. Turns out its PSU failed as well. :hmm: I must have reverse Midas touch.