Desktop Failure - Need help!

Hessian · 16 May 2009 at 20:53

Recently I've been getting random crashes on my system, it's not like a normal crash, where you'd get an error or something, it's as if the power has gone out, everything shuts down. Usually I can just turn it back on and it's fine, but it's just happened again and now it won't boot.

When I press the power button, the PSU fan comes on and the HDD's start spinning, but no other fans spin (case or psu) and nothing boots up. I'm guessing it's an issue with the PSU as it's quite an old / low powered one. Does this seem the likely culprit or could it be one of my other outdated components?

Ucof · 16 May 2009 at 21:12

Does indeed sound like the PSU

Do you have a spare one you can try out?

Hessian · 16 May 2009 at 21:18

I don't at the moment! I've been meaning to upgrade for a logn time, keep putting it off, so maybe it's my computer telling me that it's time :-P

If it was the PSU, would it still be able to power the HDD's as it seems to be doing at the moment? Or could it be a Motherboard issue?

Ucof · 16 May 2009 at 21:21

Hmmm...second thoughts.

Most likely to be the MoBo I think. You say the PSU is low powered, however, if the system has worked this long on that PSU, then it won't be a "low power" issue.

Can you try stripping it back to a minimum spec (hard drive, Graphics card, RAM) and see if that works?

spleenharvester · 16 May 2009 at 21:28

PSU or Mobo. Check your temps too.

Infernum · 16 May 2009 at 21:43

Wait, if your PSU fan doesn't even move then you definately need a new one!

EDIT: oh yeah nvm missread your post.