computer problem diagnosis...

[astrophysics]

I have a computer that was working fine a day ago but when trying to turn it on today it doesn't boot. The case lights and so forth will spin for a sec then shut down.
Now what problems can this be? I am ruling out overheating because the PC wasn't on when it shut down it just decided not to boot one day. Which is very strange...

So far I am thinking the PSU & Motherboard work? Would a dead CPU do this? What else can cause this? Especially out of nowhere...

 

[nick1985]

sounds like its shorting out. make sure there is no metal touching the motherboard. (check the I/O plate pins sticking out)

 

[astrophysics]

when you say touching the motherboard you even mean the PCB of the motherboard too?

 

[Jiggz]

Did you attached a USB component lately? Did you get inside the system lately? If you have not done anything at all, add hardware or access the system, your PSU could tripping due to either overload or short in the system.

 

[astrophysics]

All I am being told by my relative who the PC belongs too is that they moved recently, and then I asked did this happen right after they moved but he said no it booted once fine after they moved then the problem began...

 

[mechBgon]

System specs...?

Here's my work-in-progress troubleshooting thingie: top link on this page More problems than you can shake a stick at! :evil:

 

[astrophysics]

Also the PSU is an Enermax 350W, 365P-VE model, I have an identical PSU on another PC, and has been working flawlessly there Bought this one retail new 4 months ago only...

I will check the PSU but is there other possibilities?

I am HOPING! it is being shorted by something since they moved the case around but I dont understand why it worked for that one day after they moved then stopped...

 

[astrophysics]

OK it's the motherboard.
I took everything out, just the PSU and motherboard left and it did it again. So I did a PSU self-test and it was able to keep spinning it's fan fine. So I unmounted the motherboard put it ontop a cardboard box and plugged the PSU back in samething.

So to be almost positive I took another PSU from a working PC and tested it, same results... so I am sure its the motherboard.

Now the problem is that power comes on for a brief moment, fan spins, motherboard light is GREEN, then a RED light starts up and then both lights die out and the GREEN lights come back on but the fans are still dead...

If I press the power button again it does the samething over and over again.

Tried clearing the CMOS on the motherboard as well as taking out the battery for a few minutes. I don't know I'm out of ideas. But the motherboard seems like it is still working just not properly... Anyway of fixing it??

 

[farmercal]

If the motherboard is bad, I don't see how you can fix it. How old is this motherboard? Did you also try a different power supply to rule out the power supply. Is the system 3 or 4 years old or newer?

 

[astrophysics]

Yea I tried another PSU from a working PC
The motherboard is only 4 months old, bought it refurbished from Newegg... Was working fine ever since until now

There has to be some way to fix it? Because it turns on but it acts as if its being shorted by something

 

[farmercal]

If it seems to be shorted by something...you need to find out where and stop is from grounding out. Have you tried another CPU?

 

[astrophysics]

i removed everything just the motherboard and PSU, and i unmounted the motherboard from the case and put it ontop of a cardboard box. So I don't understand how it can be shorting out anymore but it still does the samething, fans/lights start for a sec and die out.

 

[farmercal]

If you tried it on cardboard then I believe you have ruled out the shorting of the motherboard theory. You still haven't said whether you have tried another CPU or not. That might what is going on but you will never know until you try another chip. I though I had a bad motherboard once, RMA'd it and had the same problem...turned out to be a bad CPU.

 

[astrophysics]

yea but i took the CPU out and all other parts, if the motherboard was working properly it would still be able to hold power and let the fans keep spinning when powered on regardless of a working CPU or a CPU present