Computer will not turn on **now fixed**

[Phew]

I have the following hardware (I'm at work, so I dont have exact model numbers etc):

Epox Socket A Mobo (8K7A I think)
1.4 GHz Thunderbird Athlon
2x256 Crucial PC2100 memory
Decent 350W PSU (Sparkle maybe?).
Lian-Li case with lots of cooling
Geforce 3, Phillips sound card, WD HD, DVD-ROM, CD-RW, yadda yadda

This computer has worked fine for 3 years, only having to replace the PSU (the first 300W PSU fried, so I bought a better 350W one to replace it and it lasted me until now). The other day I was about to burn a CD, opened Nero, and the computer just shut down. It would not power on after that. When I hit the on button, every now and then the LEDs, fans, etc will turn on for maybe half a second, but normally nothing happens. I bought a new $150 OCZ Powerstream PSU, so I will try putting that in the computer, but if there is something wrong with the motherboard that is killing my PSUs, I would hate to risk the OCZ.

What the problem is not:
1. The on switch. Took it apart, nothing wrong.
2. The power strip or anything upstream of the computer-other computers work fine when plugged into the same power strip.
3. The power switch connection to the mobo-this is secure.
4. CPU thermal shutdown-it usually never turns on, and if it does, it only stays on for a fraction of a second (not enough time to get hot).

What would cause a computer to fail so suddenly and never turn on again? Opening Nero is hardly the type of task that usually destroys a motherboard. Seems like a power problem to me, but if it is the motherboard somehow frying the PSU, I would hate to toast my new OCZ PSU.

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[imported_Mitchell]

Sounds like the MB died.

Remember, electricity is always flowing threw all the components and eventually stuff wears out.

 

[Wolfshanze]

MB fried.

I had a "trusty" 1.0GHz Pentium-III as my backup computer that I had been running since 2001 with no problems at all.

Worked great, no problems, always stable... shut it down one night... next day went to turn it on and... NOTHING... exact same symptoms as yours... just sat there doing nothing. No BIOS screen, no nothing.

I assumed the MB died... took out all the components, had a spare MB/CPU floating in my closet, stuck that in with the guts of my recently deceased P3, computer booted up fine... conclusion? My 4-year old P3 MB up and died on me.

RIP

 

[Phew]

In that case, looks like I'm headed to Ebay to buy a cheap Socket A mobo. I just need something to last me until my new computer is done.

 

[jackschmittusa]

This cheap enough for a new one?

$20us mb

 

[Phew]

Wow, great price Jack. I installed the new OCZ PSU, took everything apart and put it back together, and now everything works again. I did notice that the chipset fan wasn't spinning, so I fixed that. There was alot of dust on everything too.

So it was either the PSU or all the dust somehow mucking something up. Thanks for the help.

 

[jackschmittusa]

I have never heard anything for sure, but I think some dust might be conductive and short things out. I have had some funky behavior go away after cleaning a rig out. I also had a stick of ram die after blowing out a case with canned air once.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze
MB fried.

I had a "trusty" 1.0GHz Pentium-III as my backup computer that I had been running since 2001 with no problems at all.

Worked great, no problems, always stable... shut it down one night... next day went to turn it on and... NOTHING... exact same symptoms as yours... just sat there doing nothing. No BIOS screen, no nothing.

Same thing happened to a BH6 that I was running with a 1Ghz PIII as well. Was doing some minor hardware-swapping during a LAN (video card I think), and for whatever reason, after powering it down one time, it never powered back up.
(Me *heart* 440BX systems. So sad.)

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze
I assumed the MB died... took out all the components, had a spare MB/CPU floating in my closet, stuck that in with the guts of my recently deceased P3, computer booted up fine... conclusion? My 4-year old P3 MB up and died on me.
RIP

Yep. I tried a PSU swap and a CPU-swap too. T'was finally just simply dead. It had a good life though.

 

[lavaheadache]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
I have never heard anything for sure, but I think some dust might be conductive and short things out. I have had some funky behavior go away after cleaning a rig out. I also had a stick of ram die after blowing out a case with canned air once.

I second this. I have also heard that dust contains static electricity and can cause harm if there is enough present.