Help! PC completely dead, how do I find the problem?

Xerco

Xerco

Xerco

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18 Aug 2010
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Location
London
Hey guys,

The other day my Dad's PC died. Like completely died (does not boot at all, fans do not even twitch, no lights at all inside the case nothing.)

I don't have a lot of time so I instantly bought and installed a new PSU as I figured that must be the problem as I'd never seen a PC be a 100% dead(apart from PSU issues.) Turns out this has nothing todo with it, PSU all installed correctly, still same as before, no response at all. I've tried shorting the power-switch on the mobo aswell as the case is pretty old but still nothing. I guess it must be the motherboard?

This was installed from OCUK so it's not even that old(17 Mar 2015):
Pre-Built Upgrade Bundle - Gigabyte Z87-HD3 Intel Core i5 4670K 8GB Kingston HyperX Genesis 1600MHz
Antec TruePower Classic 550w '80 Plus Gold' Power Supply

PSU replaced by: Kolink KL-600 600W '80 Plus Bronze' (pretty sure the Antec is fine after this did not fix it.)

Is there any tests we should do to narrow down the problem, surely if it was the GPU or RAM or even CPU it would boot for a couple of seconds or show some life?

Any help would be great.
Thanks!
Xerco
 
Tried removing the mobo battery for a few minutes, and then replacing it? Doing this CMOS reset has cured most of my issues with booting before, but I may have just got lucky as I'm far from a pro with regards this sort of thing.
 
Yes, as suggested, try CMOS battery. Also try reseating everything and check connections. Obviously you've tried different kettle leads.

If none of that helps the my money is on the motherboard.
 
Good point on the kettle lead IvanDobskey - one on mine just stopped working suddenly. Tried a different one and it worked perfectly. Then tried the same one again and it didn't work in the PC, but worked fine on another item...very peculiar!
 
hughtrimble said:
Tried removing the mobo battery for a few minutes, and then replacing it? Doing this CMOS reset has cured most of my issues with booting before, but I may have just got lucky as I'm far from a pro with regards this sort of thing.
Click to expand...

IvanDobskey said:
Yes, as suggested, try CMOS battery. Also try reseating everything and check connections. Obviously you've tried different kettle leads.

If none of that helps the my money is on the motherboard.
Click to expand...

Cheers for the replies, yeah I've actually tried that aswell still nothing, I'll try resetting the CPU after work, but the stock cooler has been on since it left OCUK so I doubt it.

So, it must be the motherboard right? Even if there were issues with the other hardware (minus PSU) it would still boot for a second, the fans would spin/twitch?
 
Try removing as many non essential components as possible. Try one ram module on its own then the other.

If still no signs of life then I'd say motherboard.

Could also try running it outside the case to make sure it's not a standoff or something stuck under the board shorting it.
 
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IvanDobskey said:
Try removing as many non essential components as possible. Try one ram module on its own then the other.

If still no signs of life then I'd say motherboard.

Could also try running it outside the case to make sure it's not a standoff or something stuck under the board shorting it.
Click to expand...

Yeah will do, 95% its the mobo now, I'll slowly reassemble it outside the case and if that does not work I'll get a replacement board.
 
Ok 99% sure it's the motherboard, anyone know of a decent cheapish board that could replace this? Same CPU as op.

:D
 
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