My PC is DEAD!

[-=Matt=-]

Hi,

I'm going to call technical support in the morning. But wondered if any of
the experts here could help first! I was using my PC today and it was
absolutely fine. We've only had it 6 months and there have been no symptoms
of anything wrong with it at all until tonight. I switched it off about 4
hours ago and noticed nothing odd, as I went off to watch the England game.
Upon returning about an hour ago, the PC just wouldn't switch on!! Dead. No
life, noise or anything. Just as if you'd taken the plug out of the wall and
tried to then turn it on.

I was the last to use it. The switch at the back was still on. The monitor
comes on (well the green light anyway), and I've swapped all the plugs
around in the wall sockets to ensure that they are not to blame. I've made
sure all the cables are in ok too. I've tried putting the (working) fuse
from the monitor plug into the PC plug with no effect. It's still doesn't
come on. Although an interesting point of note is that after trying it in
the monitor plug the fuse that was in the PC plug doesn't work now.

Has anyone got any ideas?? I just don't understand how something just
doesn't switch on, when you were using it fine only hours before. There was
no flickering of room lights/tv or anything to indicate a power surge. If
that is an indicator anyway.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!!

What are the odds of my data being ok?

Thanks for any help,

-=Matt=-

 

[Jan Alter]

It could simply be that the power supply in the computer has died. It
happens. Electrical parts actually stop just like that because of some
manufacturing error or poor design after a short time .
The one thing I'm not quite understanding is the fuse that you've moved from
the monitor to the PC. Have you actually inspected the fuse to see if it's
dead or checked it for continuity with a multimeter?

 

[-=Matt=-]

It could simply be that the power supply in the computer has died. It
happens. Electrical parts actually stop just like that because of some
manufacturing error or poor design after a short time .
The one thing I'm not quite understanding is the fuse that you've moved from
the monitor to the PC. Have you actually inspected the fuse to see if it's
dead or checked it for continuity with a multimeter?

Basically I first thought that the fuse in the plug that belonged to the pc
had gone, as the monitor, which has a seperate plug, was fine, and I had
tested all the power sockets. I tested the PC plug's fuse by putting it in
the Monitor's plug. The monitor then didnt work so the PC's fuse had blown.
So I took the fuse (which was obviously working as the monitor works) from
the monitor's power plug, and put it into the PC's plug. As it still didn't
work then the fact that the fuse has gone in the PC's plug doesnt help.

 

[JAD]

<<fuse in the plug>>>>>>>>????????

never have I seen this. What model of computer is this?

 

[-=Matt=-]

<<fuse in the plug>>>>>>>>????????

never have I seen this. What model of computer is this?

Is this British terminology? 'Plug', as in the tri-pronged thing on the end
of the power lead that goes into the mains socket on your wall. 'Fuse', as
in the little cylindrical safety device in the plug, which blows to prevent
too many amps from getting in!

-=Matt=-

 

[Clint]

I think the terminology is fine, but here in North America (I'm in Canada,
eh?), our computer cords don't have fuses in them. In fact, I can't think
of any fuses in my computer hardware, with the possible exception of
monitors. They may be there, but I can't remember seeing any in the last 16
years.

Clint

 

[-=Matt=-]

Hi,

I'm going to call technical support in the morning. But wondered if any of
the experts here could help first! I was using my PC today and it was
absolutely fine. We've only had it 6 months and there have been no symptoms
of anything wrong with it at all until tonight. I switched it off about 4
hours ago and noticed nothing odd, as I went off to watch the England game.
Upon returning about an hour ago, the PC just wouldn't switch on!! Dead. No
life, noise or anything. Just as if you'd taken the plug out of the wall and
tried to then turn it on.

I was the last to use it. The switch at the back was still on. The monitor
comes on (well the green light anyway), and I've swapped all the plugs
around in the wall sockets to ensure that they are not to blame. I've made
sure all the cables are in ok too. I've tried putting the (working) fuse
from the monitor plug into the PC plug with no effect. It's still doesn't
come on. Although an interesting point of note is that after trying it in
the monitor plug the fuse that was in the PC plug doesn't work now.

Has anyone got any ideas?? I just don't understand how something just
doesn't switch on, when you were using it fine only hours before. There was
no flickering of room lights/tv or anything to indicate a power surge. If
that is an indicator anyway.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!!

What are the odds of my data being ok?

Thanks for any help,

-=Matt=-

I've just noticed a small red switch at the back of my (lifeless) pc. Its
got the number 240 written on it (I think). Is this some sort of reset or
tripper switch? What would happen if I were to flick that? I don't want to
do anything now, which might damage it further!

Cheers,

-=Matt=-

 

[Shep©]

I've just noticed a small red switch at the back of my (lifeless) pc. Its
got the number 240 written on it (I think). Is this some sort of reset or
tripper switch? What would happen if I were to flick that? I don't want to
do anything now, which might damage it further!

Cheers,

-=Matt=-

That is the Voltage changer.If you are in the UK it should be set for
220/240v.Different for the USA.



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[DaveW]

Sudden failures are most often due to a bad power supply unit. The second
most common is a motherboard failure.

 

[Clint]

Again, here in Canada those switches change the power supply from 110 to 220
(or 120 to 240, same thing). So it won't do anything as far as resetting
the computer goes. But you should make sure it's set to your power type.

Clint

 

[Gene Puhl]

<<fuse in the plug>>>>>>>>????????

never have I seen this. What model of computer is this?

British power plugs have a fuse in them

 

[~A_Sammy]

From all of the above I conclude there is nothing wrong with the power cord,
plug, supply voltage, and fuse, yet the system is dead.

My bet is the power supply. In most ATX power supplies there is a fuse. If
you're lucky, all that's wrong is the fuse blew.

To check it just take the power supply case apart and look inside for it.
You replace it just like any other fuse. Do this with the power cord
removed from the power supply.

On some power supplies there is an off on switch on the back in addition to
the voltage setting switch. If that switch somehow got turned off, you will
have the symptoms you described.

To check the power supply itself, unplug it from the board and short pin 14,
usually a green wire, to ground. That should make the power supply come on
and its fan spin. If it does, then your mobo is probably shot.

Sammy