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My computer is toast... (advice)

B

BOX-22

n00b
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
21
This morning at around 6:30am, I was renaming some MP3's when I heard a LOUD popping sound coming from my computer which was followed by a quick power down of pretty much everything in the room. Not only was I scared shitless but it also woke my wife up... Not good.

Almost immediately, the smell of an electrical fire was immediately noticeable. After a quick investigation, I noticed that both of my surge suppressors were toast. One of the two had the "grounded" light on(I assume that's bad) and the other no longer had a lit "protected" light. I immediately smelled them to determine if they were the source of the problem but they weren't the culprits.

My next check was the back of the computer. That is where the smell was the strongest. I'm guessing that my powersupply finally blew. It has been running 18hrs/day on average for the past 5+ years. After disconnecting all unnecessary devices, I tried powering up again but I recieved no response after pressing the button. It's dead.

My question is... Does [H] collective think my hd's are smoked? (I'm looking for speculation.)

I have an extra power supply to test with tonight but it's killing me to be sitting here at work worrying about it. I really don't care if my mobo/ram/processor are gone. Those things are easily replacable, but the thought of having to scrounge through my piles of dvd's to find backups makes me cringe... :( Wish me luck!

Thanks up front for any advice/speculation you guys have to offer.
 
what are your pc specifications?

it sounds like motherboard, + drives are a gonner
but it sounds weird for the PSU to kill your surge protectors, i think is more like the other way around, maybe there was surge that overwhelm the surge protectors ( i could be wrong on this)
 
had something similar happen to me...the PSU managed to take the mobo with it tho...and the gfx card...HDD's seemed to survive but not long after i had my IBM Death-shit-star die on me...not sure if it was related or jsut the IBM laming out on me...
 
i doubt that ur Hard Drives died
a PSU blow up usually takes the life of the Mobo and possibly the CPU
 
prob'ly not the drives

if you think logically, the PSU would probably just take teh things receiving the most power from it with it, therefore the:
A)Motherboard
B)CPU(possibly)
C)gfx Card(possibly).
 
Yep, most likely the MB and CPU are gone. Hopefully, the video card and HDs are OK.

If your computer is toast, then put some butter and jelly on it and eat up! ;)
 
you've got a chanse that your HDs are ok, try that other PSU and see what you get, see if the will spin up under power or not,

you probably blew your mobo cpu but if you can check them out for the hell of it, and see what is dead and whats still kicking, and post back,

good luck, and sorry for your loss
 
I had a simliar problem once, somehow a paper clip got in between a plug and the surge protector, burnt the surge protector but everything else was fine. What I would do is take everything to someone that can test your parts for you (small local computer shop). They can usually test almost everything. Best of luck, hope those HD's didnt die.
 
Thanks again for all the great info guys. I'm hoping for the best. I told my wife that if the HD's are toast that I'm not even going to bother starting over. I'll just never use the computer again... :D

(Yeah right... As depressing as it is, I'll eventually get it back together. I just don't know when I'll have the time/money/motivation.)
 
Originally posted by Aztlan
what are your pc specifications?

it sounds like motherboard, + drives are a gonner
but it sounds weird for the PSU to kill your surge protectors, i think is more like the other way around, maybe there was surge that overwhelm the surge protectors ( i could be wrong on this)
Click to expand...

Just so you know. My setup is (was):

Asus A7N8X Deluxe
XP 1700+
512megs DDR333 (generic)
MSI GF4 4400
WD JB 160gig (on a controller card)
Maxtor DiamonMax 40gig (on controller card)
2x IBM Deathstar 30gig (on the mobo)
Sony DRU-500A DVD+/-RW (on the mobo)
Audigy Platinum

:(
 
I agree with the majority here. I'm thinking your HDD's will be fine. When I was a Newb I once installed my PC100 memory backwards and had a firework show inside my box. The only damage I suffered was the memory module and the mobo slot I installed it in. The rest of the mobo was fine. I'll never forget that putrid acidy smelll eminating from the inside of my case:eek:
 
this happened to me a couple of months ago and all I had to do as replace the PSU and everything was gravy again.
 
Let me chime in with the masses. I guarantee your PSU is history and more than likely your mobo as well, but not the drives. Possibly your CPU survived, though. Only way you are gonna know is to test it of course.

Just try a new PSU first and if you still have nothing go to a new mobo and then try the CPU. If that doesn't work either with a new PSU and mobo looks like you're springing for a new CPU too :)
 
Great advice, guys!

Luckily, I have parts for almost a whole new computer minus a video card. Having time to test it is another matter. :)

(See, honey! I told you there was a reason for keeping that stuff around...) :D
 
"See, honey! I told you there was a reason for keeping that stuff around..."

Classic, I have a bunch of old and new computer parts at my house as well. My wife wonders the same thing.;)
 
I'm up and running again. ripping out the old power supply and putting in a spare really did the trick. Thanks for all the help guys.

[H]ard|Forum pwns meh!
 
Yo, I've had a few computer failures in my time, and.... I'm typing slower than the mind is running.

Anyway, if you got the system running now, you shoud really consider making a backup of ANY important data that is on the hard drive of the system that took the hit...

I was out doing Karaoke a little while ago, and my last song for the night was Because I Got High.

Anyway, if you got any important data on that drive...

Even with the newer, better, and more reliable drives we are blessed with these days, hard drives are still a HIGH fail item.

Good night all!

Don
 
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