Mum's PC Dead -no POST

gimp_hunter · 18 Nov 2006 at 12:15

My mum's PC is dead. It's a 'prebuilt' one, not sure if it's against the rules to mention the name, but OCUK sell their nice monitors...It's nearly 4 years old, erm I think it's a Intel 2.4 GHz P4, socket 478, 512mb ram, 128mb ati gfx card.

Apparantly it stopped working after her area had a powercut, but it was plugged into a surge protector. I've tried everything I know to try and diagnose the problem. Basically nothing, and I mean nothing happens when you press the power button.

If I put the power lead into the back, the motherboard light does come on. I've removed all the HDD/FDD/PCI/AGP connections etc. from the motherboard, leaving just the mem, cpu, psu and mobo and still nothing. Same if I remove the mem too.

Any ideas on the cause? The manufacturer said it was the motherboad that needs replacing and they are charging £140 to replace it! :O If that's the case I will hopefully be able to buy replacement parts from OCUK (eg mobo and new case to put it in).

Thanks,

Chris

touch · 18 Nov 2006 at 12:17

check your surge protector. Most manufacturers offer some sort of connected equiptment cover.

ghgh · 18 Nov 2006 at 13:14

Sounds like the PSU has been killed but you say the light on the mobo comes on so it can't be that...it's likely to be the motherboard like the manufacturer says IMO.

Fr0dders · 18 Nov 2006 at 14:06

if the motherboard has power, but doesnt power on. its likely to be the mobo

unless the power switch on the case isnt working and switching the system on. Way to test this, borrow the PC from your mum, open it up. Do the same to yours. Then unplug your power switch from your case into the motherboard of your mums. Then press the power switch on your case. If it still doesnt power up you know its not the power button thats the issue

you could have course not bother, and realise the power cut and the fact that the PC isnt working will be connected and its more likely the power surge knacked the motherboard. Write / e-mail the people who make the surge protector. Complain about how you had faith in the product, and are now disappointed it let you down. Dont ask for or demand anything, and see what they offer. In my experience a complaint letter will usually get you something to help towards the cost of replacing the mobo.

MAllen · 18 Nov 2006 at 15:21

Test and/or replace that PSU as well. If it has taken a belt, it isn't going to be reliable enough for future use.

It could just be the PSU causing your problem. Partially fried so it is lighting the MB light, but nothing left to fire up the main system. Any chance of trying a different PSU in the box?

gimp_hunter · 18 Nov 2006 at 16:41

I will try the PSU from my box later tonight and see if that powers on the PC.

Thanks guys

, I will post how I get on..

Chris

Dirkscooby · 18 Nov 2006 at 16:49

I had the same problem. Turned out to be the PSU. Mobo light was on but computer wouldnt power up.

MAllen · 18 Nov 2006 at 16:53

The most important part is... at least the files should be safe on the old hard disk. While you are testing, pull your Mum's hard disk out and attach it to your PC. Then you can at least backup all her photos/docs/emails/favourites/desktop.

It sounds like a dead motherboard.... and for the £160 Dell want for a motherboard, you can get a decent board from OCUK and a new PSU at the same time.

Then you may be able to get away with just a "Repair Install" of XP when you install the new board in the old box.

One final thought - have you tried booting up the PC without anything else attached to the motherboard? Remove all PCI cards, detach the hard disks, CD players, etc. So the only thing left is motherboard and RAM (also a graphics card if it's not onboard). Does this boot? I have had PCs refuse to boot due to a fried PCI modem.

gimp_hunter · 18 Nov 2006 at 20:08

I tried my PSU, doesn't boot up at all

I can't test the power swtich because there is no guidance on the motherboard as to which pins are which, and the connection from the front looks custom to the manufacturer.

I was looking for a socket 478, but OCUK don't seem to have them any more, this route will also mean another case and probably a reinstall of XP...grrrrr

Thanks for help folks

4ndy89 · 18 Nov 2006 at 21:19

hold up, if this is the prebuilt manufacturer im thinking of, arent their motherboard Power layouts different, won't you plugging in your psu have caused problems?

gimp_hunter · 18 Nov 2006 at 21:40

not that I can see, it's about 4 years old...? The PSU is 100% standard ATX. My PSU put the mobo light on, but no power up :mad:

Tosk · 18 Nov 2006 at 22:04

from the sound of its you will have to replace the board and psu. all the other parts should be be ok

watch it as well as when some boards go there set in some state were by if you use another psu you could kill the other psu, so be care full on what your doing.

gimp_hunter · 18 Nov 2006 at 22:23

Tosk said:
watch it as well as when some boards go there set in some state were by if you use another psu you could kill the other psu, so be care full on what your doing.

phew, lucky it didn't do that to mine!

Fr0dders · 19 Nov 2006 at 23:24

gimp_hunter said:
I tried my PSU, doesn't boot up at all I can't test the power swtich because there is no guidance on the motherboard as to which pins are which, and the connection from the front looks custom to the manufacturer.

I was looking for a socket 478, but OCUK don't seem to have them any more, this route will also mean another case and probably a reinstall of XP...grrrrr

Thanks for help folks

its not that bad. Other on-line e-tailers i cant mention do sell socket 478 motherboards. I bought one with a PCI-E slot for my 2.26 Socket 478 P4 a few months ago.

Just go some googling. or maybe go second hand, like ebay. lots of old socket 478 stuff kicking round on there.

sWiZzLe · 19 Nov 2006 at 23:58

Tosk said:
watch it as well as when some boards go there set in some state were by if you use another psu you could kill the other psu, so be care full on what your doing.

I did that to mates PC, quite a relief though, as he was constantly breaking his computer - finally gave me an excuse to say 'Sorry mate but your pc's LANGUAGE!! cough, i mean... dead, you gonna have to build a new one'

God i hated his pc! :mad:

Blew the LANGUAGE! out of the other PSU, bits went flying everywhere, lucky i didn't get any of it embedded in my face :eek:

gimp_hunter · 22 Nov 2006 at 12:54

I went ahead and got a new mobo from the manufacturer, arrived about 30 minutes ago and no luck...grrrrr plugged in my PSU to the new mobo and the CPU Fan was working, which can only be a good thing

I think all I need is a standard 300W PSU and I should be cooking with gas

Chris

Dr_Evil · 22 Nov 2006 at 12:57

Any decent powersurge manufacturer offers protection against damage - better check m8 you may get ** mam a new system for free!!

KillBoY_UK · 22 Nov 2006 at 14:09

i would say the psu , my hyper died power was going to the motherboard but refused to swich on at all

gimp_hunter · 22 Nov 2006 at 14:20

Dr_Evil said:
Any decent powersurge manufacturer offers protection against damage - better check m8 you may get ** mam a new system for free!!

Looked at the surge protector, very very old I think and it's a generic brand, so I doubt there is any warranty on it...

gimp_hunter · 22 Nov 2006 at 14:22

KillBoY_UK said:
i would say the psu , my hyper died power was going to the motherboard but refused to swich on at all

The mobo was defo broken as well because my PSU didn't work at all...cheapo parts from the manufacturer as my PC has survived a number of lightening/power cuts....or perhaps the manufacturer has a kill switch, after warranty has expired, everything breaks :mad: