My PC will not turn on

[Robinzxp]

Hi,

2 nights ago, my computer just turned off suddenly. I tried pressing on button few times but it didn't respond in any way (Even PSU fan don't turn on).

I thought problem is something to do with PSU, Motherboard or button which turns on PC.
I have tested PSU with working PC and PSU seems to work.
I tested button which turns on PC by putting in spare motherboard and button seems to be fine.
Interesting my motherboard does seem to be sort of working because it definitily does have power coming into it as I can see little LED turned on, on PCI network inferface card.

So question is, is my motherboard causing problem? I just want to be 99.99% sure before going off to buy new computer part (Motherboard).

Thanks, I hope someone can give some advice on this!

[DigitalJunkie]

1. How old is your PC?
2. How many devices (hard drives, cd-rom drives, etc.) are inside your computer?
3. How many watts does your power supply provide?

[kokanezub]

try plugging it in its own wall jack, mabey if its in an extention there isnt enough current going threw, try it in the wall directly check your poswer supply box to be safe take it for a 25 dollar check up at your local circuit city

[Robinzxp]

1. How old is your PC?
2. How many devices (hard drives, cd-rom drives, etc.) are inside your computer?
3. How many watts does your power supply provide?

1. About 1-2 years old
2. 4 Hard drives, 1 Dvd-rw, 1 CD-rw, floppy
3. 550W, made by Antec

I had this set up for about few weeks. About few weeks ago, all I added was new Hard drive

[Auggie2k]

Well there is your problem. Open her up and check all your connections to make sure none are loose.

With every connection, take them out and firlmy re-insert them. All have a sniff (really) for the smell of anything burnt.

[Robinzxp]

try plugging it in its own wall jack, mabey if its in an extention there isnt enough current going threw, try it in the wall directly check your poswer supply box to be safe take it for a 25 dollar check up at your local circuit city

I haven't tried plugging it in its own wall jack but I did try swapping for old motherboard with only CPU fan attached, and with that motherboard CPU fan is working whereas with motherboard I got currently even CPU fan don't run.

local circuit city

I live in England so I'm not sure exactly what u mean on this but I'm guessing it's computer shop where they check for fault on PC?


Thanks everyone for replies!

[DigitalJunkie]

You got a lot of devices inside, try as kokanezub suggested. If that doesn't work, it may be a cooling problem.
Take it to a shop, have them check it!

[Robinzxp]

Well there is your problem. Open her up and check all your connections to make sure none are loose.

With every connection, take them out and firlmy re-insert them. All have a sniff (really) for the smell of anything burnt.

lol, I never though about sniffing inside PC. Interesting advice I'll try it soon! I already tried reconnecting so many times I'm scared I broke something by now lol.

[RACKnRAIL]

No power, and you've checked all the connections, including all internal connections? Does the power supply fan come on? That wattage (550) should run your PC with ease. I am going out on a limb here, but if all is dead, I would test that power supply or possibly your motherboard and chip. Just my 2 cents

[Robinzxp]

You got a lot of devices inside, try as kokanezub suggested. If that doesn't work, it may be a cooling problem.
Take it to a shop, have them check it!

It's sort of hard to get PC to shop and I also got lotzzzz of stuff on PC erm, I got from internet... my windows is... anyway, they don't report if u have unpaid software on PC do they?

[DigitalJunkie]

Don't worry, usually they don't care! Use a password (not on the BIOS, just for your Windows OS), as they have other ways to test your computer. :)

[Robinzxp]

No power, and you've checked all the connections, including all internal connections? Does the power supply fan come on? That wattage (550) should run your PC with ease. I am going out on a limb here, but if all is dead, I would test that power supply or possibly your motherboard and chip. Just my 2 cents

I have tested PSU with working PC and PSU seems to work.
When I press turn on button, no fan goes on at all. CPU fan, MB fan, PSU fan all are still.

How can i test my motherboard and chip?

I'm pretty sure it's my motherboard but I just want someone to say it before I replace motheboard.

[Robinzxp]

Thanks for advice everyone, tommrow I'll take motherboard and ask them to test it as it'll be lot easier.

[DigitalJunkie]

If you've cooling problem still, new motherboard or not may still give you problems. My advice is, if you take it to the shop. Better to take the whole thing!

[The Hunter]

Personally, what I would do, is disconnect everything not needed to make it run. IE, all hard drives other than the one with the operating system on it. All CD Roms, burners, and so on. What you want is just the basic stuff running. If it boots with the other crap eliminated, then its a simple step by step process of elimination. Trying to figure out the problem with all that gear running is a waste of time, as that is what a computer shop will do. Remember KISS = Keep It Simple stupid. Im not calling you stupid, but making sure you eliminate a lot of things before you choose to take it to the shop. Good luck.

[Robinzxp]

If you've cooling problem still, new motherboard or not may still give you problems. My advice is, if you take it to the shop. Better to take the whole thing!

Cooling poblem? Like over heating? Shouldn't PSU fan come on then at least? I know PSU does work for sure as I tested it

[Robinzxp]

Personally, what I would do, is disconnect everything not needed to make it run. IE, all hard drives other than the one with the operating system on it. All CD Roms, burners, and so on. What you want is just the basic stuff running. If it boots with the other crap eliminated, then its a simple step by step process of elimination. Trying to figure out the problem with all that gear running is a waste of time, as that is what a computer shop will do. Remember KISS = Keep It Simple stupid. Im not calling you stupid, but making sure you eliminate a lot of things before you choose to take it to the shop. Good luck.

I tried with PSU and motherboard only already and PSU fan doesn't even turn on nor fan on motherboard.

That suggest somehow PSU is not getting signal for being turned on so I thought it might be wire which connects to button for turning on and motherboard, or motherboard.

I tested that wires to and button by replacing to old motherboard and it works fine, I can turn it on. I know this from fans on PSU and CPU working.

This leaves motherboard, so I think it is that which is causing problem.

I just realized slight mistake on my orginal post, "(Even PSU don't turn on)" should be "(Even PSU fan don't turn on)". I'll edit it now

[The Hunter]

Does that setup have a sensor to turn on the fan only when needed? If so it could be where the leads connect to the motherboard. It is sounding like it is the motherboard itself.

[YWD67]

I lost my video card last month when the cooling fan went out. Checking the board I could see were it had over heated the the board had darkend from the heating. When I tried to start my system when it went, all it would do would get a few seconds in opening up before the system shut down, and turned off.

[Mels_Smileys45]

I feel safe in saying that since youve tested, the button(square one), PSU (step two, seems to work?), All connections ( step three) Taking out all unnesessary components and even trying a new mobo that its a kentucky fried mobo.

I did however once have a problem where a PC would not come on and it turned out that the mobo was shorting out on the case because I put it back in, in a three stooges type fashion. Surprisingly, once I correced my snafu, the pc fired right up. Kneyuck kneyuck kneyck!

[DigitalJunkie]

Keep the computer running when over heated, is not good for pc components! If your BIOS support over-clocking, turn that feature off, or replace heatsinks with better ones to protect BIOS & CPU, or not to run your computer 24/7! It's a good idea, to check the settings in your BIOS. If your BIOS & CPU chips not working, nothing else will. Good luck. :)

[YWD67]

One other thing, it may be way off base though. My work computer was doing something simular. IIt would just start to power up then shut down. The Techy for my compnay replaced the NICAD batter that ran the internal clock and it fixed things right up. MIght not be your problem, but hey anything is worth a try.

[Mels_Smileys45]

If his pc never turns on then I don't think it will overheat? It may have overheated and burnt up something though. Ive had a mobo with a bad cpu and the mobo would still turn on the PSU

[Lehk]

sounds like $SOMETHING fried your motherboard.

now the question is whether or not $SOMETHING is going to still be there and kill a new board too or if it was just a one time event or a defect in the board.

[shawners]

550 watt power supply for your devices is not that good. I would assume you tested your power supply inside the pc or swapped it out with another to check. I think you broke it.

[muffenme]

This happen to me and it was the power supply that cut out on me. Replace the power supply with something bigger like a 650 watts power supply.

[Mels_Smileys45]

He says his PSU is in good working order as he has tested it out and also he has power to the Mobo, so thats not the problem.

[phil11]

Is everybody effing kidding with this guy...

Put your machine back together before you really screw something up swaping pieces to check for life.

Go down to your local pc shop chap, drop 50 dollars american (not sure about the euro/pound conversion - really don't care either) and buy yourself a new power supply. I rate the fried power supply at 95%. If not, a whole bunch of yahoo's have here some really great other ideas - after you go buy a newpower supply.

[The Hunter]

Crawl back under your rock. I would replace the motherboard going by what you have tested, and for good measure get a new power supply, a brand name one with a higher rating.

[kokanezub]

u live in england isnt the voltafe 220? make sure u have that lil 110 switch on 220 mabey u hit it on accident

[Mels_Smileys45]

Is everybody effing kidding with this guy...

Put your machine back together before you really screw something up swaping pieces to check for life.

Go down to your local pc shop chap, drop 50 dollars american (not sure about the euro/pound conversion - really don't care either) and buy yourself a new power supply. I rate the fried power supply at 95%. If not, a whole bunch of yahoo's have here some really great other ideas - after you go buy a newpower supply.


As has been said over and over, He's tested the PSU and its in working order as he put it in another PC and it powered up. It may not hurt to get a higher wattage one with the set up he has but that won't fix this problem. A lot of people like to work on their own PC's and swapping pieces won't hurt a damn thing if he knows what he's doing, which he seems to.

[kokanezub]

how do people here have like 4 posts and been mebers since 04?

[Robinzxp]

Hi agaiin, just popping into say i sorted out problem. I brought new motherboard and replaced it, and my PC runs fine! Thanks for help everyone who was helpful!

[nukehella]

A happy ending.

[kokanezub]

i as well had the same problem, 2 nites ago. it just stopped, i tried eevry thing... so i just bought a new hp with 1 gig of ram and 200 gb hd and is the size of a text book.

[MrGonzo]

I had the same problem about 6 months ago. I found out it was my power supply. It may be in your case too! Check it out!