Dead as a door knob...

davewhite04

davewhite04

davewhite04

Soldato
Joined
28 Mar 2004
Posts
3,933
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Hi all,

I decided to have a few pints on Christmas Eve, I shutdown my desktop PC as usual, no problems(it has never crashed in almost a year and the temps run great, no overclocking ever).

I wanted to check my email when I got back and my PC was as dead as a door knob. I've worked with PCs for 16 years and this has never happened. All the devices connected to extension my PC is connected to are fine, the fuse is fine I just find the whole episode strange.

My warranty for all my components (bought from OCs) are in warranty till the 6th of Jan thank God!

I think it is either the PSU or mainboard. I just have no idea how this happened!? It could be the mainboard too. The fan or nothing comes on for the PSU...

Firstly, has anyone had this problem and if so what component was the culprit? Secondly, any idea how this could have happened?

Thanks for any input :)
 
Sounds like it might be your PSU to be honest mate. Although it could be many things the PSU would me my first thought!

If it were RAM or CPU you would most likely hear everything spin up for a second the stop and sometimes spin up again and keep trying...

I read a way to test if the PSU is working without having it connected to the mobo/components....

Had something to do with taking the PSU out of the case so you have it on its own and shorting a green and black wire that connects to the main 20pin connector, then switching it on and the fans spin up! Although don't quote me on that exactly as I don't remember the exact wires your supposed to short!

Basically if the PSU and nothing else spins up I would think PSU!
 
Thanks for your quick reply bud.

I agree, the PSU is the main culprit. The thing is some PSUs are very clever and don't attempt to startup if the mainboard is knackered. What I'll do tomorrow is disconnect the mainboard from the PSU and see if it works. If it doesn't it must be the mainboard I *think* as if it was one of the components like memory I would get beeps at least I presume.

What puzzles me the most is how this happened and did Santa deliver me a bad joke instead of a gift!

Thanks again :)
 
There's no way of testing the PSU without shorting a couple of the pins. It's either the motherboard or the PSU at fault, more likely the PSU. But a completely dead motherboard will stop a PSU turning on.

You can if you feel brave enough find out online which pins to short and see if that gets the PSU running, that'll allow you to rule out the motherboard as the faulty part.

If they both come from OcUK and they're in warranty then perhaps they'll think it's reasonable to return both and they'll determine what's faulty?
 
I think a competiater with the name of chilled ;) sells a molex with like a wire on the two pins which is used to jump start the PSU make sure that its not connected as you are aware.

can you smell burning from the PSU at all while trying to power it up?

to test the power but take off the molex for the power switch than get a screw driver or something on the two pins without touching anything else...unless you happen to have a modo with a power switch on it.
 
hmmm I can sense a void of warranty happening here! I'll get in touch with the tech team when they reopen and sort out whatever they suggest to return.

I have a sneaky feeling it is the power switch though, hmmm I think disconnecting the PSU from the mainboard should make the PSU work or not.

There was no smoke or burning smell btw :)
 
It won't void a warranty. It's very very unlikely to be the power switch. Without either shorting those two pins or connecting it to a working motherboard there is no way to tell if the PSU works or not.
 
The Halk said:
It won't void a warranty. It's very very unlikely to be the power switch. Without either shorting those two pins or connecting it to a working motherboard there is no way to tell if the PSU works or not.
Click to expand...

its not as unlikly as you think i had this once, removed my front bezel or w/e you call it and the little button had become unglued from the piece of plastic that you press, soo when i pressed it there was no contact with the actuly power button thing inside.

when you switch your psu on is there any lights ect on mobo ?
 
Oh I see - you mean the one on the PC itself.

With the PSU switched on (on the unit itself) and the motherboard connected there are lights that come on, but that doesn't help you. A dead motherboard and/or a dead PSU will still produce no lights, no sound, no difference no matter what you do.
 
powelly2010 said:
its not as unlikly as you think i had this once, removed my front bezel or w/e you call it and the little button had become unglued from the piece of plastic that you press, soo when i pressed it there was no contact with the actuly power button thing inside.

when you switch your psu on is there any lights ect on mobo ?
Click to expand...

no lights mate, i have noticed that the switch has always seemed "slack", going to look now... will be back with my findings...
 
Do you get the usual click when you press the power button?

I have known the power button come loose and dissappear inside the case on PC's b4 and although the front panel plunger still makes it appear like your clicking the switch it isnt actually making contact, thus making it look as if the PC has died.

A good way to test if front panel power switch , is plug the reset button connector into the power button link on the motherboard and try turning the PC on with the reset button.

*EDIT*

I see this was suggested while I was typing :p
 
Last edited:
thats why i was asking unless i missed something there is no previous mention of lights.

basically i was asking if they light up for him so he can determine if its dead or not
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom