Troubleshooting

[githanis]

Here is my problem. I have three computers, all built by me, and all of them don't work. I'm starting to become discouraged. The only thing that keeps me building these things is that they all normally work great for a year or two, and then take a crap for one reason or another.

I'm now going to start troubleshooting (in my limited way, lol) by buying one part at a time and swapping it out until I get the comp to work. I guess thats the est way...only way I know how to figure out whats wrong, since they won't start. Obviously I'm going to start with a PSU and work from there.

My question is: If a PSU goes bad, will it fry everything else inside? What if it the mobo, will everything fry? RAM? CPU? Hard drive? What about dust...will it fry the comp? Will it fry everything? Anyone have a better way of getting my comps working again?

 

[stevty2889]

So basicly you have 3 computers, and not a single one will power up? Perhaps you should getting the wiring in your house checked, it may be killing your PSU's. Usualy if a power supply goes, assuming it's a decent brand, it doesn't usualy take anything else with it. Dust is a computers mortal enemy, dust can fry a computer and also makes cooling less effeciant, and can cause heating issues. Best to keep your computer clean. Most of the time if a component goes bad, it doesn't take anything else with it. If you have 3 pc's, perhaps you could swap parts and attempt to get one working, then use the known good parts to isolate the problems of the others.

 

[githanis]

I tried swapping parts between them and could not piece together one. I figure I'll buy a PSU and then go from there.

As far as wiring/power goes for the house, it is an old house, but I've never had any other appliance or my laptop and accessories goes bad, just the comps. Maybe I just keep buying junk cases/PSU's.

The dust thing is something I try to stay on top of, but the room in which the comps go for some reason collects an inch of dust every few days and thats the only room I can keep them in. I wish I new what caused the dust problem and I'd take care of it.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: githanis
Here is my problem. I have three computers, all built by me, and all of them don't work. I'm starting to become discouraged. The only thing that keeps me building these things is that they all normally work great for a year or two, and then take a crap for one reason or another.

I'm now going to start troubleshooting (in my limited way, lol) by buying one part at a time and swapping it out until I get the comp to work. I guess thats the est way...only way I know how to figure out whats wrong, since they won't start. Obviously I'm going to start with a PSU and work from there.

My question is: If a PSU goes bad, will it fry everything else inside? What if it the mobo, will everything fry? RAM? CPU? Hard drive? What about dust...will it fry the comp? Will it fry everything? Anyone have a better way of getting my comps working again?

If you've got 3 why start buying parts willi-nilly? Surely you can use some parts from the others to do trouble shooting. OK, you posted a second b4 me and I see now this isn't working. More detail w/b helpful though

If they worked good for a couple of years b4 crapping out, it's not your work but most likely the components you chose. Or an outside factor like that noted above. In which case the choice of compnonents had little/nothing to do with it.

Why not post about the problems for each specific system and let peeps here help you focus in the trouble shooting steps likely to be most effective.

Fern