Help! My PC has died

RealR · 19th March 2005, 01:31 PM

Turned my computer on this morning, booted up as usual and then while i was getting changed, while doing nothing, the pc turned off and won't turn back on. At first I thought a fuse had blown but the motherboard LED is on, the light for network adapter is on and the modem PC light is flashing as usual when my PC is off.

Yesterday my power ran out while i was on but I've used PC twice since. Also its plugged into a surge protector, which should be protecting it!

Anyone got any ideas how to get it booting up?

alien_syndm · 19th March 2005, 02:20 PM

Power running out has caused me serious hassles with PC's before, dunno why exactly, it just seems to screw around with them a bit.
This might all sound stupid, but it's got my flat mates PC re-booting again a few times when it power ran out. Take out the power lead. Also there is an on-off switch on the back of most PCs, turn this off. I also often check all cards are in nice and securely, and blow away any dust. Do any beeps happen when or will it just not power on at all ? It's possible it overheated and shut down so make sure the CPU fan and any external fans are all clear of dust. PLug the power lead back in, and turn the on-off switch at the back on again then see if you have any luck. Is there any smell of burnt out components or anything ?

RealR · 19th March 2005, 02:24 PM

Nothing seems suspect, gonna go home and try unplugging everything. One thing i forgot to mention, sometimes, but rarely, the speakers make their usual pop and crackle like when i usually boot up.

alien_syndm · 19th March 2005, 02:44 PM

Yeah for some unknown reason plugging everything in and out often helps. Be sure to clean out dust etc whilst you are there.

RealR · 19th March 2005, 03:58 PM

Well I tried that, hit power and the PSU exploded. Least I found a problem

Just got it fixed from place up lochee street for £25. Fixed it straight away for me which was nice.

RealR · 24th March 2005, 11:50 AM

OK my second PSU in a week has blown. At £25 a shot i can't keep replacing these things. Anyone got any ideas as to how this can be avoided?

Only got one fan... could that be causing problems?

Also I've been using the Monitor's power lead. Could that be a cause as well?

I've lasted ages with the old PSU though :s

If anyone has any ideas could you please help!

pixelsink · 24th March 2005, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Develion

OK my second PSU in a week has blown. At £25 a shot i can't keep replacing these things. Anyone got any ideas as to how this can be avoided?

Only got one fan... could that be causing problems?

Also I've been using the Monitor's power lead. Could that be a cause as well?

I've lasted ages with the old PSU though :s

If anyone has any ideas could you please help!

What wattage is the PSU you are using? If you are running your monitor from the PSU aswell as everything else in your PC case then that is a bit of a drain. Its amazing how much of an improvement you can get out of a PC just by upgrading your PSU.

RealR · 24th March 2005, 12:04 PM

Latest one, which lasted about 5 days, was a 233V I think. The monitor is on a seperate power lead but GFX card runs through PSU.

pixelsink · 24th March 2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Develion

Latest one, which lasted about 5 days, was a 233V I think. The monitor is on a seperate power lead but GFX card runs through PSU.

nah, its the wattage not the voltage that matters. You should be at least using a 350W PSU supplying plenty of juice to all yer bits and bobs.

RealR · 24th March 2005, 12:34 PM

Oh could be 233W. Well I think i'll take the lump of shit up the road tomorrow and ask them to fit a bigger better PSU then the last. Also get them to check i've not mis-installed the mobo, incase its shorting PC. Plus get a new power lead. be nice to have my kettle back.

If that still doesn't solve it err i've got a nice "modern" table to sit my coffee cups on when watching tv

pixelsink · 24th March 2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Develion

Oh could be 233W. Well I think i'll take the lump of shit up the road tomorrow and ask them to fit a bigger better PSU then the last. Also get them to check i've not mis-installed the mobo, incase its shorting PC. Plus get a new power lead. be nice to have my kettle back.

If that still doesn't solve it err i've got a nice "modern" table to sit my coffee cups on when watching tv

If its only a 233 then you'll notice a difference by going for a higher wattage.

Col

Rebelius · 24th March 2005, 04:25 PM

Col... WATTAGE??? What a word!

What do you have inside the PC?

what GFX card? how many HDDs? Optical Drives?

With a fairly modern PC, you pretty much NEED at least 350W of power.

pixelsink · 24th March 2005, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebeliu's

Col... WATTAGE??? What a word!

thats a word!!!

watt·age
Pronunciation: 'wät-ij
Function: noun

An amount of power, especially electric power, expressed in watts or kilowatts.

The electric power required by an appliance or device.

n : the product of voltage and current

19th March 2005, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
RealR Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,140 Band: They are make believe	Help! My PC has died Turned my computer on this morning, booted up as usual and then while i was getting changed, while doing nothing, the pc turned off and won't turn back on. At first I thought a fuse had blown but the motherboard LED is on, the light for network adapter is on and the modem PC light is flashing as usual when my PC is off. Yesterday my power ran out while i was on but I've used PC twice since. Also its plugged into a surge protector, which should be protecting it! Anyone got any ideas how to get it booting up?

19th March 2005, 02:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
alien_syndm Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: dundee Posts: 1,435	Power running out has caused me serious hassles with PC's before, dunno why exactly, it just seems to screw around with them a bit. This might all sound stupid, but it's got my flat mates PC re-booting again a few times when it power ran out. Take out the power lead. Also there is an on-off switch on the back of most PCs, turn this off. I also often check all cards are in nice and securely, and blow away any dust. Do any beeps happen when or will it just not power on at all ? It's possible it overheated and shut down so make sure the CPU fan and any external fans are all clear of dust. PLug the power lead back in, and turn the on-off switch at the back on again then see if you have any luck. Is there any smell of burnt out components or anything ?

19th March 2005, 02:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
RealR Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,140 Band: They are make believe	Nothing seems suspect, gonna go home and try unplugging everything. One thing i forgot to mention, sometimes, but rarely, the speakers make their usual pop and crackle like when i usually boot up.

19th March 2005, 02:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
alien_syndm Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: dundee Posts: 1,435	Yeah for some unknown reason plugging everything in and out often helps. Be sure to clean out dust etc whilst you are there.

19th March 2005, 03:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
RealR Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,140 Band: They are make believe	Well I tried that, hit power and the PSU exploded. Least I found a problem Just got it fixed from place up lochee street for £25. Fixed it straight away for me which was nice.

24th March 2005, 11:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
RealR Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,140 Band: They are make believe	OK my second PSU in a week has blown. At £25 a shot i can't keep replacing these things. Anyone got any ideas as to how this can be avoided? Only got one fan... could that be causing problems? Also I've been using the Monitor's power lead. Could that be a cause as well? I've lasted ages with the old PSU though :s If anyone has any ideas could you please help!

24th March 2005, 12:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
RealR Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,140 Band: They are make believe	Latest one, which lasted about 5 days, was a 233V I think. The monitor is on a seperate power lead but GFX card runs through PSU.

24th March 2005, 12:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
RealR Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,140 Band: They are make believe	Oh could be 233W. Well I think i'll take the lump of shit up the road tomorrow and ask them to fit a bigger better PSU then the last. Also get them to check i've not mis-installed the mobo, incase its shorting PC. Plus get a new power lead. be nice to have my kettle back. If that still doesn't solve it err i've got a nice "modern" table to sit my coffee cups on when watching tv

24th March 2005, 04:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rebelius Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 7,213	Col... WATTAGE??? What a word! What do you have inside the PC? what GFX card? how many HDDs? Optical Drives? With a fairly modern PC, you pretty much NEED at least 350W of power.

24th March 2005, 04:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
Rebelius Senior Member