Desktop Will Not Power On

[ScottSchoon]

Greetings everyone,

I have a desktop that has been used in a spare room as a media server. Now it won't even power on. No bios beep codes are anything, just no power. I pulled everything out, cleaned all components with pressurized air being mindful of static electricity discharge and checked my case connections to make sure the power switch wasn't shorted or disconnected at either end. Still no power

So moving forward from here, my assumption would be that it's either the mainboard or the power supply that has just completely died. So now the question is, without spare parts available to me for testing, how do you test a power supply to make sure it's still good? I'm low on funds for a fix like this or I'd just pick one and buy it and then replace the other if it still didn't work.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Ketchup]

These two should help you determine if it is the power supply or not:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ht/power-supply-test-multimeter.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_8371132_manually-turn-atx-power-supply.html

 

[Virgorising]

For whatever it's worth, I keep PSUs I knew were still healthy when I discarded the computers in question (also from two discarded desktops I found in the trash of this building) in a drawer, just in case I ever might suspect one in my actively used desktops is failing.

You can also get real bargains on good PSUs on ebay.

It's always good to have a spare around.

 

[stinger608]

I know this might sound real silly, but on the back of the power supply is there the on/off switch? Did a pet accidentally switch it off?
Like I said, it sounds silly but I have seen this happen more than once LOL.

 

[ScottSchoon]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've bypassed the case connections before and used a screwdriver to manually switch on a power supply, thank you for reminding me of that. Sadly it did not net any results. Stinger608: I did check the switch on the PS. I had hoped for it to be something simple (and therefore cheap or free to fix) having learned the hard way that the one time you overlook the easiest explanations, it ends up being just that.

I guess my next step is to start testing the power output of my PS (if any) and see what the results are. Thanks again for all the replies.

-Scott

 

[nightspydk]

Since your are asking for all advice there are a number of things here that could go wrong.

ram/ram allocation
cpu
Then there is mobo/bios, psu etc...

If you have no alternate parts, then what I'm saying is boot with the least ram allocated in the right slot (depending on mobo) an if that's not it reseat the cpu.
Any leds on mobo might grant a hint as to whether the boot is succesful as well as onboard speaker action.

 

[ScottSchoon]

Thanks nightspydk. This desktop will not PoST and it's been my experience that when it does that, you're looking at power supply failure or a completely dead mainboard. If anyone else has experiences to the contrary I'm all ears. I'm hopeful it's the power supply since if something caused the mainboard to fail completely there's a pretty good chance other components may be dead too.

Thanks again,
-Scott

 

[nightspydk]

Not nessasarily at all.

Like I said you need to make sure the ram is compatible (says on the mobo manual) and present in the right location slot etc. Depends with some older mobos ram did not even need be there for a post.

Cpu reseat.

it's a repeat of what I said but that don't make it less true especially if you got no mobo leds.

Have you been there. New paste etc... or wait and see.

Good luck no less man.

It would be a shame if you did not listen and remember when i ie say ram. Another stick another location etc etc..

 

[ScottSchoon]

Nightspydk, let me reiterate what I said earlier. This computer won't even power on anymore. Nothing. Nada. It's a system that's been in use nearly 3 years with no new hardware so compatibility isn't a concern, hardware failure is my chief suspect. So my apologies when I said it wouldn't PoST. That would imply it powered on but failed to pass its own testing. Anyhow. I'm feeling like I'm running in to a situation where I'm completely ignorant and it is a hardware problem besides psu or mainboard, or we're just not on the same page here. Either way I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

-Scott

 

[nightspydk]

No power hmm yep that narrows it down doesn't it. It's allright mate, I find these puzzles fun, so do not worry. Yep new Psu then or even mobo.

I expect you done a hard reset. Keep pressing power and release.

No post no life really.

At this point my only idea is to replace parts to do a trial and error.

Maybe I'm on the wrong page mate.

edit
Last time I was there I've given up and I pulled the cpu of that system unto another and voila. The chip still breathing. Just saying there might still be life there.

 

[Steltek]

What are the components in the system? What make and model of power supply do you have?

 

[Ketchup]

ScottSchoon, you may have a dead power supply on your hands. Usually a grounding issue will give you power for a second. No power at all would mean it was turned off (you checked that) a failing switch (you bypassed that) or a death somewhere in the unit.

 

[stinger608]

Scott, put the power supply out of the case. Plug a fan into a Molex connector even if you have to use a fan header to Molex adapter.

Now on the power supplies main plug there should be a green wire and right next to that is a black wire. Take something, like a paper clip bent to fit, and short the green and black wire together. Now plug the power supply in and turn the switch on at the back of the power supply.
If nothing happens and the fan does not start spinning then it is for sure a dead power supply. :'(

Keep us posted

 

[ScottSchoon]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll definitely be testing the psu first in a few days when I get a chance. If it's not the psu I'll be tempted to stop there. It's a LGA 1156 i5-750 so I'm not too inclined to go replacing to many other parts for socket that is no longer in use. Best to just put that towards a new system at that point. Especially since there's a decent chance that if the mainboard died, other components may have too

Thanks,
Scott

 

[eng2d2]

check transformer first