• Notice regarding image hosts and attachments. See here.

Computer wont turn on.

tr1cky

tr1cky

tr1cky

Associate
Joined
7 Jun 2010
Posts
447
Location
Wales
Hey,

Basically my custom build which I have had a while has packed in, I had an antec 900 case and the power button stopped working so I had to start shorting the pins on the motherboard to turn it on. Basically I was doing that for a couple of weeks as I didnt have a chance to sort it out. Then suddenly it stopped turning on through the shorting method with a screw driver. I've bought another case antec 300 now stuck all the parts into that, tried to get the computer on and its just not responding. The LED on the motherboard is coming on so im not sure if ive killed the motherboard by shorting the pins to turn it on too many times?

I read on the internet several places that it was a sound method of turning on the computer when the power switch doesnt work.So hw can I go about testing if it is the motherboard thats dead? Tried strolling through the internet but not found an answer.

Basically im looking for your advice guys, Ive bought myself a macbook pro as a replacement as I'd wanted a laptop for a while but I want the PC working so I can leave it with my parents or sell it on.

Many thanks.
 
I would say you have by accedent shorted another pin aswell and killed the mb.

Using the screwdriver really dosent make a diffrence as you are only doing the same as the switch. I have done it a load of times and only once shorted a few more pins than i should have.
 
You can't kill the motherboard just by shorting those pins, as that's exactly what the power switch does. I suppose if you're waving a screwdriver around in your case every time you turn it on you might short something else accidentally though.

Do you get any beeps when you try to turn it on? Do the fans spin up at all or is there no sign of life at all?
 
First thing i would do is try a different PSU. If that fails to boot your computer then chances are you have damaged the MB. Disconnect all hardware before reboot.
 
Blue160 said:
You can't kill the motherboard just by shorting those pins, as that's exactly what the power switch does. I suppose if you're waving a screwdriver around in your case every time you turn it on you might short something else accidentally though.

Do you get any beeps when you try to turn it on? Do the fans spin up at all or is there no sign of life at all?
Click to expand...

No sign at all, not a beep, fan or anything. All I get is green light on the motherboard so does this mean the PSU is working as well as the motherboard?

This may sound stupid but does the actual cable matter if it isnt the correct one? I may have mixed them up with my monitor cable for example.
 
Last edited:
tr1cky said:
No sign at all, not a beep, fan or anything. All I get is green light on the motherboard so does this mean the PSU is working as well as the motherboard?

This may sound stupid but does the actual cable matter if it isnt the correct one? I may have mixed them up with my monitor cable for example.
Click to expand...

I'm just guessing... but they probably have different fuses. I also think the fuse is what regulates the flow of electricity as well... if too much electricity passes through it, then it cuts out.
 
The green light shows the board is receiving standby power from the PSU, but doesn't prove anything else. It's definitely worth trying a different PSU before blaming the motherboard for definite.
 
You could try manually shorting the pins on the main ATX connector, if you remove the extra 4 pins and use a paper clip to short pins 13 & 14.
I would just have a fan plugged into one of the molex connectors.

Do you have a multimeter handy?
 
RJC said:
You could try manually shorting the pins on the main ATX connector, if you remove the extra 4 pins and use a paper clip to short pins 13 & 14.
I would just have a fan plugged into one of the molex connectors.

Do you have a multimeter handy?
Click to expand...

Not really sure what your onabout there mate.
 
tr1cky said:
Not really sure what your onabout there mate.
Click to expand...

Sorry, Remove the PSU from the system and on the 24 pin ATX connector, unclip the extra 4 pins which should leave you with 20 pin connector, short pins 13 & 14 (black & green cables) with a paper clip. Connect a fan to one of the molex connectors to give the PSU some load, when you switch on the PSU it should start and the fan should run. This should give some confidence that the PSU does start and supplying 12v.

Link below:

http://www.corsair.com/blog/Testing-your-corsair-power-supply/
 
RJC said:
Sorry, Remove the PSU from the system and on the 24 pin ATX connector, unclip the extra 4 pins which should leave you with 20 pin connector, short pins 13 & 14 (black & green cables) with a paper clip. Connect a fan to one of the molex connectors to give the PSU some load, when you switch on the PSU it should start and the fan should run. This should give some confidence that the PSU does start and supplying 12v.

Link below:

http://www.corsair.com/blog/Testing-your-corsair-power-supply/
Click to expand...

I will give it a go at half time in the footy. Does it matter which cable I use mate like previously mentioned?
 
tr1cky said:
Hey,

Basically my custom build which I have had a while has packed in, I had an antec 900 case and the power button stopped working so I had to start shorting the pins on the motherboard to turn it on. Basically I was doing that for a couple of weeks as I didnt have a chance to sort it out. Then suddenly it stopped turning on through the shorting method with a screw driver. I've bought another case antec 300 now stuck all the parts into that, tried to get the computer on and its just not responding. The LED on the motherboard is coming on so im not sure if ive killed the motherboard by shorting the pins to turn it on too many times?

I read on the internet several places that it was a sound method of turning on the computer when the power switch doesnt work.So hw can I go about testing if it is the motherboard thats dead? Tried strolling through the internet but not found an answer.

Basically im looking for your advice guys, Ive bought myself a macbook pro as a replacement as I'd wanted a laptop for a while but I want the PC working so I can leave it with my parents or sell it on.

Many thanks.
Click to expand...

why didnt you simply unplug the case power switch header and plug your case reset switch header onto the power switch pins on the mb? then you can use the reset switch to power on and off

try removing mb battery and leave it out overnight then try,could be badly corrupted cmos
 
@ wazza the hole front panel was ****ed, first it was the USB slots then the rest went. I tried getting antec to send replacements but the customer service is horrific as they are american based.

Just ran the test and the PSU is working fine, the fan and lights came on. Next step?
 
If the PSU is good, everything's plugged in properly, but there's no sign of life then it's going to be the motherboard. Especially since you don't get the beeps that point to a CPU or RAM issue.
 
Gutted... will have to buy another MOBO now when im not even going to be using this computer much. I will double check everything is plugged in properly, hopefully I have missed something. But as it wasnt working with the original case I doubt that will be the case. Is there any tests I can do for the motherboard?
 
Difficult to test anything when it won't boot at all :p

Buy your new board online, then if the machine still won't boot send it back under distance selling regulations. That way you won't lose anything for trying. I can't see what else it could be though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom