So I wake up this morning...

[ruffilb]

MSI K8N Neo4 mobo, 3000+ amd64, 6600GT, Aspire ATX520W PSU, etc. I press the power button, nothing happens. It's on a surge protector and everything else on the strip is getting power fine. The computer's getting POWER (There's that little beep-ish sound when you connect/disconnect the power) but pressing the power button does nothing. I've checked all my connections from the PSU to the mobo, they all seem connected. Any suggestions?

If the PSU is dead, what would you recommend for a cheap replacement?

~Ruff_ilb

 

[Zepper]

Boilerplate-01:
. Common causes of failure to boot (no video, no beeps) assuming PSU isn't totally dead:
1- RAM, CPU and/or AGP video card not seated properly, a bent pin or corrosion.
2- Drive data cable on upside down or only on half the pins or shifted a pin or two (usually Floppy or Zip drives).
3- CMOS needs to be cleared (AC power must usually be disconnected or . attempts to clear CMOS may fail) Unless your mobo does not use a power-off CMOS clear - check your mobo manual for specific info.
4- On some new mobos there is a CPU protection feature (esp. on Asus/Asrock Athlon/Socket A mobos) that will not allow the system to start if there is no fan (or a fan without a working speed sensor wire) connected to the CPU Fan power connector on the mobo (specifically marked "CPU Fan"). If you tried to start your machine without a fan properly connected, you have to attach a proper and working fan and clear the CMOS before it will boot.

.bh.

 

[ruffilb]

Let me clarify - The fans don't spin, nothing moves at all... it's like I'm not pressing the button at all. I reseated the ram, the CPU is snug in the socket, I'll attack them all again, but I don't think that's the problem.

Drive data cables - MAYBE this is the problem, but I'd think that the power would at least seem to come on and I'd get fans spinning and whatnot if this were the problem, but I'll check this too.

I'll try clearing the CMOS, but I'm pretty sure I've already tried this.

As for 4 - eh, I doubt this is the problem, I've checked that connection, but again, I'll check this.

Remember, I just shut it down, slept for 10 hours, and now it won't boot up.

 

[Operandi]

Aspire is known to be trash, it should be swapped out even if it isn't the source of the problem, which it probably is.

Here are my recommendations; good, best.

 

[Zepper]

If your PSU has a line voltage switch on the back, make sure it is in the correct position. If this is a new build, make sure you have the power switch connector connected to the correct pins on the front-panel header of your mobo - that is easy to screw up, I know... And test the switch itself with an ohmmeter - those parts are so cheaply made it's a wonder they work at all.

.bh.

 

[Googer]

Go to what ever room the breaker box is in and go flip it or check the fuse.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Googer
Go to what ever room the breaker box is in and go flip it or check the fuse.

Originally posted by: ruffilb
MSI K8N Neo4 mobo, 3000+ amd64, 6600GT, Aspire ATX520W PSU, etc. I press the power button, nothing happens. It's on a surge protector and everything else on the strip is getting power fine.

~Ruff_ilb

Read, the thread...

 

[ruffilb]

Update: Plugged my other computer in to the same power strip, now it's dead too. GFD.

 

[Rage187]

maybe it's just that port on the power strip. try a different room.

 

[Zepper]

Yikes - I hope it is as simple as rage's suggestion.

.bh.

 

[ribbon13]

Sounds like you need a PC P&C to handle your dangerous power sources. Ouch.

 

[ruffilb]

I tried, with BOTH the downed computers now. It seems that it's the strip, not the port, that kills the computers. I hope both PSUs aren't fried now, but it looks like it. I'll probably run to bestbuy tomorrow to verify.

 

[ribbon13]

so you tried hooking the computers up to an outlet on a different breaker?

 

[ComatoseDelirium]

So, you woke up this morning, The world turned upside down, (Lord above), Thing's ain't been the same, Since the Blues walked into town. But you're, But you're one in a million, You've got that shotgun shine. (shame about it), Born under a bad sign, With a blue moon in your eyes. -Leonard Cohen

 

[ruffilb]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
so you tried hooking the computers up to an outlet on a different breaker?

Yes

 

[Zepper]

It's funny but I had a problem last night after the power dropped out a couple of times - this was quite a while after the storm front went through here but we were still having heavy gusts of wind. I had my electronic stuff completely unplugged during the storm.
. My computer would not turn on after the usual simple push of the button. I had to push the button for the power-off delay time of 4 or more seconds. The power then came on, but gave no video or beeps. So I pushed the button for another 4 plus seconds to shut it off. I tried the same routine another time or two with the same results.
. Then I turned my computer and monitor off (all this time it had been on standby) and cycled my power strip switch off for 20 or 30 seconds and then back on. After that my computer booted up just fine. Weird, but you may find this of some use in your troubleshooting.

.bh.

 

[ruffilb]

Hm, no good.

The PSU's are defninitely dead - I picked up a new one from bestbuy, and it's working just fine. Time to return/RMA these, I suppose.