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ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

firstly.. i was gone for the weekend when it died, so i don't know how it happened. i just found a note from my dad saying, the power supply is gone, get a new one.

i opened the case and before i touched anything i tried to start it. the cpu cooler started to fan, the harddisk gave a slight buzzzzz and then all was silent. for good. untill i unplugged the supply, plugged it back in and tried again. same result. so i put in the new supply and the machine does the exact same thing. makes me wonder if the supply was broken in the first place... anyway... what could be wrong? and again, it lets me 'start' only once. then i need to unplug if i want to see the wheeeeee-buzzzz-*silence* action agan.

mudster · Retro Gamer

The PSU (power supply unit) for the computer is dead. You'll need to replace it with a new one. Depending on your CPU casing, you might want to check the dimension and position of PSU slotting to see whether or not you can use it in the first place. Perhaps a warranty is a good viable option.

Usually this happens because of
a) Burnout - PSU being used overtime
b) Hardware failure - It just died due to faulty manufacturing.

Well, whatever it is you'll need to replace it before you can use the computer again.

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

but it does the exact same even with a brand new psu i just got this morning...

Pi · Sir, I bear a rhyme ....

Does it make any beeps (POST) at all when you try to power up?

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

nope, no beeps at all

Antrax · ESL Student

There's something like a starter switch for a computer, much like a car's. Mine burned out a while ago, and I got the same thing. However, it's a part of the PSU AFAIK, so if a new PSU didn't solve it, I guess something's screwed with the motherboard.
Antrax

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"Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em" - Lu-Tze, Thief of Time

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

new mboard??? sheeesh...

i'm still waiting for a more cheerful diagnosis...

Logain · Stretch Armstrong

I'd be worried it was the motherboard at that point too. Usually if a computer can't even get to a BIOS screen in a boot, it is either the power supply or the motherboard, since anything else shouldn't have even been detected by the PC yet.

Pi · Sir, I bear a rhyme ....

Well, I'm no expert but, At least some part of the motherboard must be working, cos the fan's kicking in. And motherboard probas would usually give a POST problem.... So I have no idea. Have you tried asking your dad what he was frigging about with when he broke it?

jesternl · Yankee Doodle Dutchie

Try replacing the fan with a bigger/faster one. It might be that the CPU is overheating, making it shut down right away. What kind of processor do you have? Inter or AMD?

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

dad (and my brother) are saying they did nothing, one day it just wouldn't start... yeah right... anyway, the cpu is intel P3. one other friend said to try using a different cpu since this one may be messed up. anyhow, i guess i ran out of options of what to try and do, so i'll have to get some help in.

Antrax · ESL Student

(The power supply to the fan isn't really a motherboard function. It just sorta conducts. Ergo, that conclusion is unbased, IMO)
Antrax

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"Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em" - Lu-Tze, Thief of Time

HyToFry · Drama queen

Maybe the brand new PSU is bad. (it can happen)

Try only plugging in the motherboard. Don't plug in CDROMs, harddrives, etc. Just the motherboard, and see if it posts.

It could be that one of your devices is shorted, and that would cause the PSU to trip (which can only be untripped by unplugging for a few seconds.)

MacadamiamaN · Intentionally left blank

Have you tried tech support? Just don't tell them you opened the box and replaced a part...

Hash Brownie · Guest

Read the manual

Antrax · ESL Student

Pshaw, tech support. Like THOSE goons ever know anything.
Antrax

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"Look, that's why there's rules, understand? So that you think before you break 'em" - Lu-Tze, Thief of Time

Arminger · Daedalian Member

Sounds like a mobo problem, perhaps the power regulation circuitry has died. Whatever it is if the pc doesn't even post then its definately either the mobo or the cpu thats the problem (assuming the psu has been ruled out). Sorry bout the bad news.

Arminger

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

well the whole miserable mess of cables and plastic has gone to the doc.

(the way i know him, he'll probably 'suggest' a new cpu, new motherboard, new power supply, and possibly a new digital camera... anyway this one is on dad's budget so woohoo...)

edit: oh yeah, thnx for the ideas...

[This message has been edited by ctrlaltdel (edited 10-03-2003 01:04 PM).]