Another computer start problem...

[shorti]

Hello, thanks for your help.  I see there are tons of "computer wont start" posts but do not see one like my issue.

This is an Emachine.  It has been working great.  The computer was shut down normally one day but the next time we turned it on there was no power at all.  Thinking it was the power supply I bought a new one of the same watts.  I installed it and now the power supply fan and cpu fan seem to work but nothing else happens.

In fact, the power turns on as soon as I turn on the switch on the PSU (where as it normally wouldnt be running unless I hit the main button on the front of the machine.  I noticed the hard drive light doesnt come on so I moved the drive to my other computer and made it a slave.  I could see the directories for that drive on my computer so that appears to be ok.  I also removed one of the two sticks of ram and there was no difference...I didnt think this would be the problem since there has been no hardware change in the computer in the last 2 years we've owned it.

I plugged the power supply in from my other computer and got the same results so Ive eliminated the power supply and hard drive.  Now I am down to the motherboard perhaps??  Any suggestions. 

This has integrated video and sound.

[mushimushi84]

Yup, I'd say if your not even getting a boot screen, and no signal/power is getting to your hard drive (you can't hear anything moving in ur comp when u try to boot it), then something is fried in your mother board. Aslong as your CPU isnt the thing that's fried, its fairly cheap to find a bare motherboard to install - just make sure your CPU is compatable... ezier said than done tho im afraid...

GL

Mushi

[Broni]

Can you hear hard drive spinning?
Is monitor OK?

[drmsucks]

Possible that the case 'Power' switch is 'stuck' or defective (shorted). Check switch for proper 'feel' and 'sound.' If switch seems suspect, try the following:

Shutdown and unplug computer.

Follow the leads from the case Power switch to the header on the motherboard. Carefully note the lead's position on the header - you'll want to put it back correctly. Remove the lead at the header and place out of the way - especially watch for interference with fans.

Plug in the computer, turn on the PSU switch and see if the computer 'starts' - if not, very carefully, with an insulated screwdriver, MOMENTARILY short across the two pins that the Power Switch connector was on. This is the same as depressing the case Power switch.

Post back with results.

[shorti]

The hard drive is not spinning.  I believe the monitor is ok.  I will check out the power switch tonight and let you know how that goes.  Thanks for the tips.

[drmsucks]

The hard drive is not spinning. 

If you're sure about this (it seems odd given that it worked in another computer), unplug the computer, ground yourself and try another power lead to the HD. If the drive won't spin up, and you're sure the PSU is good, get a new HD and re-install Windows.

[joefido]

When you replaced the PSU did you make sure the voltage switch (115 or 230) on the back of the PSU is in the correct position? Generally 115v USA and 230v Europe etc.. If in the wrong position will cause computer either not to start at all or will BOOT it when PSU is turned on.

[shorti]

I unplugged the front power switch from the board (plus all the other front attachments like usb etc).  It didnt make any difference.  The hard drive is definitely not being powered...I dont think it's bad since it works as a slave.  I had previously put the power supply from the computer I am typing from right now into that computer and it did the same thing.  I just checked the setting on the PSU it says 115V.

I dont know if this is an indication of anything but even though the PSU and CPU fans run (and are the only thing that seem to work) I noticed the CPU fan seems to run very slow.  I dont know this computer very well but my past experience is that the CPU fans usually run pretty fast.  It could be this way normally but I am not sure. 

Can you tell me how to best test the board ground ?  It could be the processor to but I dont know if there is a way to check that out.

[jerryheavyarms]

Can you post your computer specs? Motherboard brand/model.. And also if possible, your PSU..
Thanks!

[patio]

What Brand and wattage PSU did you buy ? ?
This is important.

[shorti]

This is a fully stock emachine T1842 1.80GHz Celeron except for the new PSU.  The board is an Imperial GL VE (I think...I dont see a lot of info on the board).  The new PSU is a 350watt Antec Basiq Power.  The other PSU I tried  (out of this computer) was a 400Watt. 

[drmsucks]

Good idea to replace a PSU with at least the same wattage as that removed; I would think that the Antec 350 ought to be adequate for your system, though.

Looks like system came with 128 MB RAM - have you added more?

I guess that I would: a) re-seat the RAM, b) disconnect everything except harddrive, monitor, mouse, keyboard. (Onboard video, right?) I'm still confused about the HD - is it good or not? If boot, add back peripherals one at a time.

If no boot, I'd call emachines and ask if they have a standard PSU or something proprietary - tell them what you've changed and see what they say. I'm still concerned that you've got that spontaneous start situation, and, it seems to me that that could be a sign of a non-standard PSU.

And...don't get mad ...are you sure that your monitor works?

Please try the above and post back.