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No power off

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JeanW

Programmer
Jan 7, 2002
800
MX
Suddenly in the middle of the working day, PC out, no power,no sound, it just stops...

ignorant as I am about the inside misteries, I pushed the power button again, lights in the front are on, fans are spinning and that's it...no beep, no screen, no sound...just lights and fans.
Even to stop the whole thing I have to pull the plug out...

Something wrong with the powerunit or do I have to throw everything out and buy a new one ?
 
It may be the powersupply, but it sounds more like it may be the board. You will have open it up and test some parts. If your not up to that then buy a new one. If you are rdy to try to repair it, i can walk you thru it.
 
Thanks for reply....

Well, never too old to try...
Have already removed the side panels, no explosion so far...

Next steps...power is off, no danger there, screen and all other vital external things still connected...hammer ready...
Tell me more please...
 
I'm almost certain it's a blown motherboard. If the PSU had gone then I wouldn't expect the lights and fan to be working - it sounds like everything is getting power.

PSUs are easy enough to change, see if you can borrow one from somebody and swap them over. I suspect it's time for a new mobo though.

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....
 
i agree with ed. sounds like a MoBo problem. if you have but a lil tech know-how, i suggest you find assitance of a qualified technician.

hope this will help. peace! [peace]


kilroy [trooper]
philippines

"Illegitimis non carborundum!"
 
Thanks for reply...

Disconnected every power line and at every outlet I have power, so I think it will be the mobo.

Can a mobo go wrong just like that, without apparent reason ?.
I have a power regulator to make sure the right power is going in, I have a 'no break' line to make sure not to loose data...Hmmm, not enough or not the right protection...?

Well, thanks for answers.
 
As with anything that moving parts they'll wear out eventually. All kinds of things could have caused it:

1. Dodgy/underrated PSU.
2. Dirty power supply.
3. Voltage spikes over the telephone line.
4. Dirt/crud causing short-circuits.
5. Component wear caused by expansion and contraction due to temperature variations.
6. Faulty component plugged into mobo (this one can work out expensive as you try to fathom which is the faulty component!).

The list goes on I'm afraid......

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....
 
JeanW
I have to disagree with the general prognosis and say that it is much more likely to be the power supply.
It is extremely common to have a PSU go down on ONE power rail, in other words, 12 volts to things like fans and lights but nothing else.
This is why a lot of people assume the power supply is alright.
Swop out the PSU without delay, don't write the motherboard off just yet!
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.
 
JeanW wrote "Disconnected every power line and at every outlet I have power"

From this I understood that the PSU had already been tested and all power lines had tested okay.

Ed Metcalfe.

Please do not feed the trolls.....
 
So, I took a lot of courage and a set of srewdrivers...

Removed PSU and hooked up an other one (1 year old, still in box, never used), checked (3x) all connections, power up, same thing = nothing, only lights and fans.

Put the removed PSU in other PC (couldn't believe I did that), PC ok, no problem.

Concl. PSU seems to be OK.
Mobo not ?. So, need new one.
Can I use some parts from the 'old' one, or is it better to buy everything new.
If new, any recommandations ?. I saw several types, salesreps are talking Chinese, using words I don't understand, and questions...it's just a mobo, I don't need something to go to the moon :)
Sorry, I'm a database developer and stayed far away from the 'inside' of PC's... :).
Although, I try to do some things myself..never to old to learn...

Anyway, thanks guys for the info's. Appreciate.
 
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