Computer won't turn on after power outage; details inside.

[corlenbelspar]

Here is my hardware that's relevant to this issue.

ASUS Motherboard, don't remember what model or brand specifically
AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor.
Radeon X1600 video card
2GB OCZ Gold RAM
660W I think 24 pin PSU with one of those 4pin connectors.

So we had a power outage as I said in the subject.  Everything in the house turned back on just fine except my computer.  I tried testing the power supply and every light lit up except the +5v LED, which I don't know if that means anything because I don't know how to read a power supply tester precisely.  The power supply will not and I mean will not power up at all if it's connected to the mother board but if it's disconnected it powers up all my fans and stuff just fine.  There's the LED indicator on my motherboard that indicates power is getting into the motherboard but it's noticeably dimmer than normal and when I unplug the power supply while it's connected to the motherboard the light slowly fades out and then suddenly lights up really bright for a split second before going out.  Is it my motherboard that died or the PSU, based on the information I provided?

[BC_Programmer]

Is it my motherboard that died or the PSU, based on the information I provided?

Impossible to say for sure. You would have to replace one or the other. PSU's are a lot cheaper then a motherboard to replace/borrow.

[corlenbelspar]

OK thanks well it was worth a shot asking, I was hoping maybe you'd lean more toward one or the other based on the info I provided but I'll try testing the PSU first with a replacement I guess.

[Computer_Commando]

...I tried testing the power supply and every light lit up except the +5v LED, which I don't know if that means anything because I don't know how to read a power supply tester precisely....

If PSU tester indicates +5V is dead, PSU is dead.  Fans run on +12V.

[corlenbelspar]

I guess I only have to worry about whether my hard drive also got damaged or not now because someone went ahead and ordered me an even better computer than the one I had despite me telling them I needed to think about it first.  I'll just find some alternate method to retrieving data off of it if it's not damaged instead of just turning it on.

[Computer_Commando]

Hard drive is probably OK.  You can connect it to the new machine and retrieve all your data.

[rthompson80819]

Also, you should spend the money on a good surge protector (not the $19.99 units), and preferably on a good UPS unit.  All the UPS made by name brands have excellent surge protection.

[corlenbelspar]

I have a decent surge protector that everything was plugged in to that has a light on right now saying it's protecting my stuff, I think the problem is, is the plugin isn't grounded or something.

[Computer_Commando]

I have a decent surge protector that everything was plugged in to that has a light on right now saying it's protecting my stuff, I think the problem is, is the plugin isn't grounded or something.

There's just a couple of cheap MOV's in there, indicator light doesn't tell you when they're blown.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varistor
A typical surge protector power strip is built using MOVs. A cheapest kind may use just one varistor, from hot (live, active) to neutral. A better protector would contain at least three varistors; one across each of the three pairs of conductors (hot-neutral, hot-ground, neutral-ground).

[corlenbelspar]

I'll just go ahead and spend some money on a UPS instead of a regular surge protector for added protection.

[Computer_Commando]

Look for one with the most common battery.  The one shown is 12V, 8.0Ah & cost $18.95


The UPS's that look like a power strip have much smaller batteries which are far more expensive to replace.  I use a sealed car battery on my main UPS.  Of course, it won't fit inside, but it's 75Ah & will keep computer alive even when battery is half dead.

[corlenbelspar]

Thanks for the tip. 

[Computer_Commando]

Here's one:

And another

[Fed]

Did you try completely unplugging the computer from the wall socket?
Some power supplies latch out when the voltage and/or current gets outside a predetermined range and they require a complete disconnection from the mains power to reset.

[Computer_Commando]

...Some power supplies latch out when the voltage and/or current gets outside a predetermined range and they require a complete disconnection from the mains power to reset.

Latch out only the +5 rail?