mystery of the dead desktop

[chiew]

Hi all,

I left my desktop over winter break, only to find that it was out of order when I came back.

I had turned off my desktop properly before leaving, and I had unplugged all my electronics (something I do out of paranoia). Upon arrival after break, I plugged everything in. Everything but the desktop turned on.

You know how when you plug a desktop in, how sometimes the fans will whir up briefly and the lights turn on briefly without the desktop actually being turned on? None of that happened. I tried looking inside the desktop, everything is the way I left it. In fact, when I went in the room, everything was just as I left it. I don't think my housemates would do anything bad to my computer.

I tried switching the power cord with the one for my monitor, and that didn't work either. I believe it could be one of three things: faulty PSU, faulty mobo, or faulty computer.

I should mention that recently I have had a bit of problems with my computer. It got a bit cranky when I tried turning it on after swtiching some of the USB devices around. It would not boot into windows until I had put them in the exact places they had occupied before I switched them around. Additionally, there was a time recently when the BIOS would say that the cpu was not detected properly, and would then say the computer was 6x200=1.2GHz (when I have a 9x200=1.8GHz E4300). I should say that I did overclock my computer since I first built it in summer 2007 (9x300 = 2.7 GHz). I did not push the voltages at all.

I fear that perhaps with the cpu problems, perhaps the cpu got a bit fried somehow? Or perhaps with the BIOS problems its the mobo that is going whacko? Or perhaps since nothing lights up upon plugging it in, perhaps the PSU is at fault?

What do you guys suggest?

My setup is the following

Antec p180B
C2D E4300
Abit IP35-E
4x1Gb crucial DDR2 RAM
80Gb HD boot, 250Gb HD, 2x500Gb HD
Samsung DVD-RW
EVGA 8800GTS
Sound blaster audigy 2ZS
Antec 650W True power trio PSU

I should mention this computer has been working perfectly for the more-than-a-year I owned it. It has recently given me problems, after I moved it from the West coast to the East coast. However those problems cleared up a bit, up until now. So strange!

Help me solve the mystery! If anything I thought unplugging my computer would prevent such problems! I've unplugged my computers over breaks with no such problems in the past.

 

[kTriNity]

Would there be people sneaking in and out of your room to use your computer?

Well since you didn't do anything to it before you left then there is possibility that someone has used your computer after you had left for winter.

Try opening the computer case and check if everything is plugged in.

 

[Denithor]

First thing - does your PSU have an on/off switch on the back near where you plug it in? Make sure you didn't switch it off somehow.

If that's not the problem, open the case. With the PSU plugged in there should be a light somewhere on the motherboard indicating it has power (red or green, don't remember which - I have this same board). Once you confirm you're getting power, move along.

Pull out three memory sticks (only one remaining). Unplug & reset the BIOS. Plug back in and try to boot.

Let us know what happens at this point - nothing, fans spin up no video signal, successful boot, whatever.

 

[RebateMonger]

I've had a couple of power supplies just die on their own while the PC was shut off (not unplugged, though). Given your symptoms, I'd vote for that. You can pull a known-good power supply from elsewhere and hook it up for a second and see if the PC starts up.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Replace the power supply.

 

[kTriNity]

Not really sure but since he hasn't posted anything I assume everything is A-OK.