Power issues (probably)

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Kevin5255

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 14, 2006
Messages
393
A little while ago I would have to try to power on my computer a few times before it actually would power on. Now my computer won't power on at all. When I switch the power on the PSU, the mobo lights up and everything, but when I press the power button nothing happens at all. No fans start spinning or anything. I don't have a spare case or PSU to try, but I'm hoping that it's one of those because I hope I didn't fry my mobo somehow. Is there anything I can do other than get a new case or PSU? should I reconnect everything just to make sure?
 
I would disconnect everything from the psu, hdd's and optical drives and just have the motherboard plugged in to see if you can post.......if you can't and it does the same thing it probably is the psu, but without having another on to test your kind of in a sticky situation
 
borrow a psu from a friend. you can use a screwdriver to replace the power switch, if you think that needs testing.
 
I would try the screwdriver startup trick first in case the power switch has died.

If that fails, test the PSU by unplugging it completely and then short Green to Black on the main big motherboard connector.
The PSU should start up.
Bear in mind, even if it starts up with this method that it might still be faulty.
If it doesnt start up, its knackered for sure and thats what this test is for.

If the PSU is not at fault, its possible that either the motherboard is refusing to pass the power up signal or there is a short circuit/component fault somewhere forcing the PSU to not power up.
 
Alright I tried powering it on with a screwdriver and nothing happened.

I also tried another PSU to try and see if i can get it to POST and nothing happened. Then I tested my main PSU with the paperclip trick and the fin started spinning very slowly. The same thing happened with the second PSU i tried, the fan was spinning very slowly. Does this mean that the PSU's are okay? The second one was very old so it might be dead - so do I have two broken PSU's? Or does the really slow fan spinning mean that they're ok. should I connect some fans or something to the PSU's and see if they work or not?
 
See post the post above yours for the worth of the paperclip test, I specifically stated what the test is for.

The fans spinning slow may not indicate anything.
What PSU did you test with and how old is it?
If it wasnt powerful enough it could give the same result as your original psu (assuming your old PSU is at fault).
 
i tested an old PSU that came with my case that I used for a year about 4 years ago- so i wouldn't be surprised if it was broken, it was a pretty crappy rosewill. should I just buy a new PSU, or could this possibly be a motherboard problem because the fans spin weakly in both.

I think I'm going to start eliminating possibilities by getting a PSU, because it'll be a lot more inexpensive than a new botherboard
 
Yah, you could hook a fan up to one of the molex plugs so there's a load, which may speed the fan of the unit up. You can also get a multimeter from the store for under $10 and test the rails.
 
i hooked up a case fan to the PSU and it powers the fan just fine. the fan in the back of the PSU is still spinning slowly. I also tested my old PSU with a case fan and it powered that too. This is beginning to look like a motherboard problem, because the old PSU should at least be able to get the computer to POST with no drives or anything hooked up to it.
 
i have a random dell computer running too, if i used its PSU would i be able to test my mobo if i hook it up and use a screwdriver just to see if i can get the proc fan spinning?
 
Try giving specs for things if you want help, we arent mind readers.
if you make it difficult to help you, you arent going to get a response.
 
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