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

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

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

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:

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!

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

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:

gimp_hunter · 23 Nov 2006 at 22:02

Got a PSU from a computer store nearby and it seems to have everything working now

I think I will also buy my mum a surge protector with a good warranty, as this PSU is very "light"

Thanks for the insights guys

Chris