elementdesign
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No power
Sorry for the unspecific title, I will try and be as clear as I can in here.
Basically, my PC I think overheated. I think the fan broke down, the PC suddenly turned itself off. I opened up and the thing was ABSOLUTELY ROASTING!
Now, I immediately left it to cool down overnight. I suspected something had burned out but ascertianing exactly what is fairly tricky.
I feel that it may be the motherboard which has burned out.
I plugged the PC back in, turned power on, pressed the on switch and nothing apart from an initial clicking sound.
Any pointers on whether and how I could test if it was the motherboard. Unfortunately, I do not have ocnvenient access to another Pc to put it in and try?
What other things could have burnt out? Could the processor ever burn out?
I wonder whether this is going to be a horrendously expensive problem or not? i.e. motherboard alone or prcoessor as well. The problem is that I am a student and am thus on a very tight budget.
I have never replaced a motherboard before, but need to carry out my own repairs as I am that skint.
Please help.
TIA
Giles
Basically, my PC I think overheated. I think the fan broke down, the PC suddenly turned itself off. I opened up and the thing was ABSOLUTELY ROASTING!
Now, I immediately left it to cool down overnight. I suspected something had burned out but ascertianing exactly what is fairly tricky.
I feel that it may be the motherboard which has burned out.
I plugged the PC back in, turned power on, pressed the on switch and nothing apart from an initial clicking sound.
Any pointers on whether and how I could test if it was the motherboard. Unfortunately, I do not have ocnvenient access to another Pc to put it in and try?
What other things could have burnt out? Could the processor ever burn out?
I wonder whether this is going to be a horrendously expensive problem or not? i.e. motherboard alone or prcoessor as well. The problem is that I am a student and am thus on a very tight budget.
I have never replaced a motherboard before, but need to carry out my own repairs as I am that skint.
Please help.
TIA
Giles
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If no lights com on and no hard drive starts up, then I suspect the powersupply.
Jhance has as usual given you a good test procedures.
I would simply disconnect the power to the motherboard via the ATX power connector.
You should be able to see if the hard drive at least starts to spin.
One other thing - there is a cable that is used for remote power up, that may need to be shorted out in order for the power supplu to turn on.
From: Wakeup
Date: 05/04/2002 05:41PM PST
Also since they are ATX Powersupply, there usually is a two pronged jumper looking thing comming from
the Powersupply cables, usually shorting that together will also cause it to power up. To turn it off
short it again. Or unplug or use the power switch on the back. Generally ATX systems switches just
short the cable to turn it on and short again to turn it off.
==============
I hope this helps !
Jhance has as usual given you a good test procedures.
I would simply disconnect the power to the motherboard via the ATX power connector.
You should be able to see if the hard drive at least starts to spin.
One other thing - there is a cable that is used for remote power up, that may need to be shorted out in order for the power supplu to turn on.
From: Wakeup
Date: 05/04/2002 05:41PM PST
Also since they are ATX Powersupply, there usually is a two pronged jumper looking thing comming from
the Powersupply cables, usually shorting that together will also cause it to power up. To turn it off
short it again. Or unplug or use the power switch on the back. Generally ATX systems switches just
short the cable to turn it on and short again to turn it off.
==============
I hope this helps !
ASKER
cheers everyday. i accepted jhance because the sniff test was right. i replaced the power supply because it smelt funny. and hey presto everything is up and running again.
it seems to be working ok atm, i just hope it stays like that.
this is probably going to be the mpst styupid question in the world....just checking, cos ive never fiddled with the power supply before. my old one had an output of 250w, this one has a 300w output? is this ok, it wont sizzle my motherboard...the guy in the comp shop said it wouldnt but i am just checking? cheers
it seems to be working ok atm, i just hope it stays like that.
this is probably going to be the mpst styupid question in the world....just checking, cos ive never fiddled with the power supply before. my old one had an output of 250w, this one has a 300w output? is this ok, it wont sizzle my motherboard...the guy in the comp shop said it wouldnt but i am just checking? cheers
you can test all your hardware.