Computer Hope
Other => Other => Topic started by: howdydoo on May 28, 2005, 08:41:53 AM
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I found such good advice and direction from this forum before I decided it would be to my best interest and the intrest of my computer to come back. :D
I arrived home yesterday and found my computer turned off. :o I first thought we had a power outage and I just simply needed to turn the computer on and life would resume as usual. However, there was no response when I pushed the power button. I checked the power strip and everything else on the strip had power and was working. The monitor has power, no picture, the printer had power, the lamp has power and the DSL unit has power. I took the tower and disconnected it from the power source and tried a different receptical in a different room on a different breaker and still no response for power. :'(
What is it and can I fix it or do I need to call my computer guy? :-/
Thanks so much,
Pamela
Howdydoo!!!!!!!
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Suggestion:
1. Have the Power Supply Unit tested.
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are those units easy to install and can you suggest a place to buy one?
Thanks
Pamela
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See this (http://www.computerhope.com/help/ps.htm) article for more information on Power Supply Units.
1. are those units easy to install
2. can you suggest a place to buy one?
1. Yes
2. Any dedicated computer store with qualified personnel.
Additional:
I suggested for you to have the PSU tested and not immediatly replaced. Perhaps the PSU is not at fault, but another component is.
However, before doing so, answer these questions to see if we can solve the problem together.
1. Do the system case lights come to live when you turn on the power?
2. Do you hear the sound of fans rotating inside the system case or Power Supply Unit?
3. Have you looked behind the Power Supply Unit to see if the I/O switch is set to O?
-- O indicates that it is turned OFF.
-- I indicates that it is turned ON
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that is all good but how do you test one? I have installed hardware before and had no trouble. I just cant format hard drives and intstall operating systems. Surely installing a power unit would not be that difficult. However, if you really think I better not then okay.
Can I test it? I hate to take it in at 65.00 an hour labor if I can troubleshoot the problem first.
Thanks
Pamela
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1.that is all good but how do you test one? I
2. Surely installing a power unit would not be that difficult.
3. However, if you really think I better not then okay.
1. You can test a Power Supply Unit by physicall removing it and installing it in another system case with another mainboard.
2. It is not very difficult, but you should realise that removing and installing a Power Supply Unit can cause more harm than a soundcard or other expansion card device could. PSU's are bulky and heavy. Plus, if not removed properly, you may damage power connectors on your drives and/or mainboard.
3. Answer the questions I have asked you first, we can always look into removing the Power Supply Unit at a later time.
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oh my..I read the article to the link you supplied. If the power supply is bad I have to replace the Mother board? That is what I understood in all the links I read. I thought the power supply was a unit that supplied power to the computer. What does it have to do with the mother board?
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You have not paid full attention to all of my posts. I suggest you do so now. Read my posts once more and answer the questions I had laid out for you.
Additional:
1. If the power supply is bad I have to replace the Mother board? That is what I understood in all the links I read.
2.I thought the power supply was a unit that supplied power to the computer. What does it have to do with the mother board?
1. No.
2. The mainboard, like any other hardware device, requires power.
Now, I will answer no more questions until you answer mine so that we can get to the source of the problem.
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okay I am sorry I did not finish reading your post with the questions
1. Do the system case lights come to live when you turn on the power? NO
2. Do you hear the sound of fans rotating inside the system case or Power Supply Unit? NO
3. Have you looked behind the Power Supply Unit to see if the I/O switch is set to O?
-- O indicates that it is turned OFF.
-- I indicates that it is turned ON
NO-- I will go out and get the tower and check this now. I will get back to you on this one. And I do not have another unit I can install the power supply into to check.
Have I answered your questions?
Pamela
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was this built for you??/is it under warrenty...
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I had it built for me. No it is not under warranty. This sounds like bad news coming my way. I had it done about 2 years ago. Had windows XP loaded 3 months ago. No problems. Worked like a charm.
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I checked the power supply cord. it is good. I plugged it into a computer monitor here at work and it came on. I get nothing when I hit the power switch. I plugged my computer into a power cord here at work and nothing. absolutely nothing.
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so we have power to the montior........yes.......led light on it......try tapping the button on the front on the tower..they have been know to stick.......try it...and cheer up:)
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3. Have you looked behind the Power Supply Unit to see if the I/O switch is set to O?
-- O indicates that it is turned OFF.
-- I indicates that it is turned ON
I have taken the cover off the tower and examined the power unit. I do not see switch like the one you describe above. I see a switch that says " Compatibable Switch: with two arrows going in opposite directions of each other above the switch itself. It is in the down position. No one could have opened my case and changed anything.
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ok......how l old is this pc??what system is it using......windows?........was it left on standby//was it switched off??how long were you gone for?/
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I have taken the cover off the tower and examined the power unit. I do not see switch like the one you describe above. I see a switch that says " Compatibable Switch: with two arrows going in opposite directions of each other above the switch itself. It is in the down position. No one could have opened my case and changed anything.
Not all Power Supply Units have an on/off (I/O) switch located on the back.
I checked the power supply cord. it is good. I plugged it into a computer monitor here at work and it came on
Then I would assume another hardware component is the culprit.
I suggest you:
1. Remove and/or disconnect any hardware that is currently installed.
-- Be extremely careful when removing hardware or when working in the system case.. Unplug the power cable ledaing to the Power Supply Unit and be certain to take precautionary measures against electro-static discharge.
2. Continue to test the computer by adding one hardware component at the time. Once added, turn on the computer to see if it responds.
3. Repeat for all hardware removed and/or disconnected.
To learn more about ESD, see this (http://www.computerhope.com/esd.htm) article.
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Not all Power Supply Units have an on/off (I/O) switch located on the back.
Then I would assume another hardware component is the culprit.
I suggest you:
1. Remove and/or disconnect any hardware that is currently installed.
-- Be extremely careful when removing hardware or when working in the system case.. Unplug the power cable ledaing to the Power Supply Unit and be certain to take precautionary measures against electro-static discharge.
2. Continue to test the computer by adding one hardware component at the time. Once added, turn on the computer to see if it responds.
3. Repeat for all hardware removed and/or disconnected.
To learn more about ESD, see this (http://www.computerhope.com/esd.htm) article.
Could you please give me an example of what hardware you are talking about. I have a regular CD rom and a rewriteable CD-rom and an A drive. It has not been working properly as of late. That's it.
I just disconnected all the above hardware and connected each one, one at a time. No response from the power switch when plugged into a power receptical. The power switch is sound. I looked it over.
No One could have tampered with the unit. I was at work and when I got home is was off. It has loaded properly for months. I had Windows XP installed 3 months ago. the installer said everything was fine with the computer but he was little worried about the hard drive. he said it made a little noise on boot up so he suggested I not shut it down and re-boot unless nessesary. I havent. The computer has never ran better.
Are we getting any closer? ;D
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thanks for your help guys. I will not have computer access till on Wednesday. I am off for the holidays. I was just hoping to get this resolved before then. I will take it to my computer guy on Tuesday I guess and see what he can do for me. thanks so much for your help and input. I am leaving here now so I will not be able to respond to any of your post or read them until I get back on line with my computer or return to work on Wednesday
Have a great weekend!
Pamela
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Quote: I have a regular CD rom and a rewriteable CD-rom and an A drive. It has not been working properly as of late. That's it. howdydoo
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How old is this pc.......how much ram has it got...what is the make of it......does ........mobo?
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Please let us know what the problem was when you have the computer back in your possession.
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Please let us know what the problem was when you have the computer back in your possession.
Well I have the computer back in my possesion and it was just the Power Supply Unit. My son and I changed it out and the computer booted right up and I am back in business. The fan on the other unit was froze up solid and the fuse was blown.
Everything else seems to working properly and I lost nothing on the hard drive. My son run a dianostics test, what ever that is, and he said I was good to go.
Thanks Raptor and Merlin. I will be back again when my system gets sick. You guys are priceless.
Pamela
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Thank you for letting know what the problem was, do not hesitate to come back when you require more help.