Computer won't turn on

[imported_Maf]

I built my computer about eight months ago. It was my first computer I've built myself. Just yesterday, I left it on "stand by" mode, and when I came back a few hours later, the computer was completely off and wouldn't turn back on.

I checked all the cables, and everything was all plugged in. I opened it up, and everything inside seemed alright. When the switch on the power supply is on, I can see that the motherboard light also turns on, and if I leave it, the power supply gets a little bit warm, but the computer still won't turn on.

Anyone have any ideas to what could be going wrong? Thanks!

 

[statikuz]

Have you made sure that the front power switch is still OK? Try jumping the power switch pins on the motherboard to see if that fires it up.

 

[RabidBunny]

No idea man -- I'm having somewhat the same problem myself right now. http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=32&threadid=1905954
It might be a different problem because I was kind of running mine on overdrive and yours was in 'stand by'.
I'm thinking my power supply might have gone weak on me so I ordered a new one (It should come tomorrow) I'll let you know if that worked for me. I'm thinking my problem is the video card though.

Have you done any troubleshooting on your CPU? (Do you feel comfortable enough with the hardware to do it?) I would be interested to know if yours would do the same as mine -- when I removed the video card and hit the power button, the motherboard would actually 'boot up', but with the video card in there it doesn't do a thing.

 

[imported_Maf]

First I'll try jumping the pins. If that doesn't work, I'll try to mess around with the video card a little bit to see if that works. I have a nVidia 7800 GTX, so I'd hate for that to be the problem.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll let you know how it turns out. I hope you enjoy the new PSU, Rabid.

 

[imported_tkkidd]

1. Unplug evrything but the Videocard and see if it boot up. if not your power supply might be bad.

2. if it works add hdd and boot, add dvd and boot, add pci ad boot.

 

[RabidBunny]

Just to let you know what happened with my system:

I tried out the new PSU and it didn't fix it (but I do like it a lot!) So I **FINALLY** got my hands on an old PCI video card and tried it out and my computer boots up (I'm writing this from -my- computer!) So I plan on buying a new video card sometime this week. So it looks like (at least in my case) I had a bad video card the whole time and just need to get a new one.

If I were you I would try swapping out your video card with one that you know works -- that is a quick way to test it (If you built your computer only 8 months ago - your card should still be under warranty -- I guess depending on where you bought it though ... )

 

[imported_Maf]

tkkid, when you say to unplug everything, do you just mean unplug it from the power supply but keep it all in the motherboard?

I don't have a spare video card... I may just get a cheap one for testing purposes.

I got my video card on newegg, so I think I might still be under warranty, I have to check.

Congrats on finding out what your problem was Rabid, good luck with your new video card.

 

[SoundGuyDave]

 

[SoundGuyDave]

******! Sorry bout that blank reply, here's my real answer:

I had a similar problem a few months ago, my pc crashed and turned it's self off when i was using Steinburg's Cubase, but when i tried to turn it back on nothing happened. Like yours my motherboard lights were working. I removed all my PCI cards, unpulgged drives and tried different sticks of ram but it would still not work. So i borrowed an unused pc from a friend and tried all my cards, drives, ram, power supply and the processor on this pc they all worked, but when i tried another processor on my motherboard it still wouldn't turn on, thus suggesting my motherboard was ******.
While reading my manual for my motherboard i found that there is a jumper to reset the RTC RAM/CMOS. I followed the instructions in the book and hey presto it worked again. I think I had to re-instal the drivers for my cards again, other than that everything was back to normal.

I hope that helps, If not another suggestion: BURN IT! PC's are evil cunts, they know how to piss us off.

 

[imported_Maf]

Well, I just tried to reset the RTC RAM/CMOS and that didn't do anything. Guess it's time to mess with the cards.

 

[imported_Maf]

I just unplugged everything but the videocard, and I still got a mobo light, but no boot.

It seems like it might be a bad power supply. Anyone have any other suggestions to what it might be?

Thanks.

 

[RabidBunny]

It still might be a bad video card -- mine would do the same thing. I unplugged everything but the video card and it wouldn't boot (with a mobo light). I don't know what else to tell you other than try and get your hands on either a known working power supply or video card. Either one would tell if if it were a problem or not.
(Just curious, what happens when you remove the power from your video card too?)

 

[imported_Maf]

Tomorrow I'm going to try taking the power supply out of an old computer of mine. While I'm at it, I might stick my video card in that one too just to see if it works.

When I cut the power from the video card and tried to boot, nothing happened.

Any word on the new video card Rabid?

 

[RabidBunny]

The word on my new video card is I have ordered it and it is in the mail -- I should be getting it someitme late this week (Thursday or Friday).
When I cut the power from my video card -- the video card let out a high-pitched beep because it wanted the power -- when I totally removed the video card, my mobo would start to boot up - but it didn't have a video card to display anything.
Let us know how the "swapping out" test works for you.

 

[imported_Maf]

I took out my PSU and stuck the old one in there. I only hooked up the motherboard, the processor, and a fan. It worked fine, without a hitch.

Looks like my problem was the power supply the whole time.

What power supply did you get, Rabid? Is it working ok for you?

 

[RabidBunny]

I got this power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341001
I have had it for a week now and it seems to be a good one ;p -- keep in mind, that week I have had it I still haven't really used my computer because my video card is still bad, I finally am running it now with an old PCI video card.
That is a more expensive video card - but I decided I might as well get a good one, right?
In my post, when I was looking for a new PSU I had these recomended by ChonChon:

Recommended: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341001
Best Buy: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817152016
Next Choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153032
Last Choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817152025

The Thermaltake (3rd in the list) looks like it has some pretty amazing deals going on for the rest of the month if you are looking for an extra hard drive.

I'm by no means an expert when it comes to PSUs -- let me know what you think of those. What price range are you looking at spending on a new one? Let me know - and I'll see if I can help find a good deal

 

[imported_Maf]

The only thing I didn't like about my old power supply is that is was a little messy. I have a window on the side of my case and all the wires looked really untidy.

I do like the ones with the blue LEDs, because my fans are blue as well. It's not a big deal though, I'd rather get a quality power supply that works than one that looks pretty.

Looking at pictures of the one you got, I see that it has a blue LED and the wires are sheathed together. It's a little expensive, but damn, that's a good looking power supply.

 

[imported_Maf]

I just ordered the same power supply as you, Rabid.

We now have matching PSUs. We're pretty much best friends now.

 

[RabidBunny]

hah, awesome! You'll love it!
You should probably be getting that about the same time I get my video card -- I hate waiting!

 

[imported_Maf]

I agree, waiting is the worst part.

I ordered mine on Newegg, and it has already shipped. I expect it to be here tomorrow.

Just one stupid question... In the pictures on the Newegg, they have the big fan facing up. It sits in the case the other way, right? It seems to me like they took most of those pictures with the power supply upside-down.

 

[RabidBunny]

Yeah, you're right -- the big fan is facing down when it sits in yoru case

 

[inveterate]

I just ordered the 700Watt version.. Hope it's as good as the 600 everyone else is buying