PC won't switch on...

D

donkey33

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
226
Using the PC last night and all of a sudden, it just died. Power off but only on the tower. Speakers and Screen were still on.

This happened about 3 weeks ago and I wasn't sure how to fix it. Left it for a week and turned it back on and it fired up again.

What is most likely the problem here? I was thinking the power supply was gone but wasn't sure after I fired it back up again a week later. Could it be that this time? I don't really want to buy another supply box if that's not the case.

Is there an easy way to find out what's wrong here or do I have to manually replace each part?

Thanks
 
I'd say the same thing, psu. Sometimes they will start acting flaky before going down for the count. Also a power spike can cause that same behaviour... unplug the box, let it sit for a few then it fires right up. I've seen them function fine for a long time after a spike but I'd probably grab a new one just to be safe. Do you smell any burnt electronics aroma from the unit?
 
No smell that I'm aware of.

No power outage either. It just went off.

I thought it was the PSU but just want to make sure. It couldn't be anything else could it? If it was something like the HDD, it would still fire up so is the PSU really the only thing that could stop it?

Thanks
 
Sounds like psu to me. I had always heard there was an automatic circut breaker of some sort inside power supplys but have never seen one when exploring the innards, just a fuze. According to this site there is one that will pop when there is a spike which explains why they will continue to run (for years) after the old unplug, push the power button, plug back in trick.

"Circuit breakers are usually of the magnetic or thermal sensing type, with thermal sensors being the cheapest, hence that is what is probably used in your PC.

They are triggered by higher than normal current heating up a non-linear resistive element that at a certain temperature (related to current) will open the breaker. You have to add the ambient heat to the self heating, so the breaker may open sooner in a warm room, or when air flow is restricted, such loose papers blocking a vent, etc."

If you are not smelling burnt parts, it's probably ok. Maybe see if there is dust on the fan that could be decreasing airflow. Are you plugged into a surge suppressor or ups? It has always been a spike not an outage that has caused this in my experience.
 
Thanks a ton for your help.

I'll check the inside and the fans and see what's going on and repost later.
 
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