PC won't turn on... Need diagnostic help...

[aurelius97]

I've been using this setup (look at my profile) since september of 2005 with only one hard drive addition. Things have been running great up until about 6 or 7 months ago. I never turn off my desktop unless to do a hardware addition and reboots for driver updates and such. Anyway, few months back I moved my desktop into a new computer desk and when I pressed power nothing happened. I opened my case to check for loose connections and didn't find anything out of the ordinary. The light to my motherboard was still on, so I concluded that it was getting power. Pressed power button again and my pc started up. A couple of months later I moved back in with my parents temporarily and set everything up, pressed power button and nothing again. Became concerned and opened case. unplugged and replugged power switch to motherboard and checked power supply connections to motherboard. After a few minutes of pressing power button, desktop started again. Now (sorry for long post) two weeks ago, I moved in with my girlfriend and my desktop doesn't start again. This time for good. Lights are on my motherboard, keyboard light is on, plug in flash drive it blinks for a second. Had antec send me a power switch thinking this was my problem, nope it wasn't. Don't know what else to do. Is it my power supply? I need all the help that I can get right now.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: aurelius97
...two weeks ago, I moved in with my girlfriend and my desktop doesn't start again.

I need all the help that I can get right now.

Hmmm... R U 2... ?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Not much you can do but unplug everything, except what you need to start up(PSU,RAM,CPU,VGA?) and try again. In your situation, it's process of elimination...one component at a time. Sounds like a PSU to me...but you never know. good luck!!

 

[dantonic]

It sounds like the power supply. Its hard to say without opening it up and looking at the capcitors.

How old is the PS? what brand? Also glance at your mobo's capacitors, see if you can determine wether or not they are damaged, swelled or leaking.

FYI If you open up the PS it WILL void the warranty.

Check out this site: http://badcaps.net/

I had a damaged PS, it was an Antec Neo 480W. Everytime I tried to power on it would not do it rightaway... it had to charge up for a few minutes before it would go on. I looked at the capacitors on my mobo, and they were fine. I decided to take the chance and open up my PSU. Several capacitors were swelled, leaking and had exploded. I bought a new PSU, all is well.

Check out this link for PSU quality.
http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?t=123001&goto=nextoldest

 

[aurelius97]

Thanks, dantonic. Bout to take a look at those caps. I'll let you guys know what I find.

 

[aurelius97]

Originally posted by: dantonic
It sounds like the power supply. Its hard to say without opening it up and looking at the capcitors.

How old is the PS? what brand? Also glance at your mobo's capacitors, see if you can determine wether or not they are damaged, swelled or leaking.

FYI If you open up the PS it WILL void the warranty.

Check out this site: http://badcaps.net/

I had a damaged PS, it was an Antec Neo 480W. Everytime I tried to power on it would not do it rightaway... it had to charge up for a few minutes before it would go on. I looked at the capacitors on my mobo, and they were fine. I decided to take the chance and open up my PSU. Several capacitors were swelled, leaking and had exploded. I bought a new PSU, all is well.

Check out this link for PSU quality.
http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?t=123001&goto=nextoldest

Motherboard caps look fine. I may end up purchasing a new power supply. I work at Best Buy and we sell the Antec Neo HE 550. Any complaints about this partucular power supply? BTW thanks dantonic about the caps lesson. Learn something new everyday.

 

[dantonic]

yeah no problem.

Antec is supposed to have decent power supplies, I dont know about that one in particular. However in my experience they are crap... I personally will stay away from antec indefinitely because they have given me nothing but grief, and apparently it did the same for you.

I would recommend a seasonic, FSP(Fortron), enermax any of these will be great. a little more pricy (not much) but worth it.


Visit this site http://www.jonnyguru.com/
He has some great reviews on some good power supplies.

Also please note that the wattage of the PSU is not as important as the specs. You might not need 550W power. The adequate PSU for what you need might only be a 400W psu. I have an enermax 400W works great.

Read this:
http://www.motherboards.org/articles/guides/1487_1.html
Unless you already know all about that.

 

[tcG]

Take your 24 pin connector out of the motherboard and connect green (PWR) to black (GROUND) with a paper clip (you won't get shocked). If your power supply works, it will turn on.

 

[aurelius97]

Replaced power supply and not my desktop is good to go. Thanks to everyone for the sound advice...