PC Won't Power On - Help!

DAMIENNOLAN

DAMIENNOLAN

DAMIENNOLAN

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Joined
20 Apr 2004
Posts
95
Hi,
Pretty much as the title says, my pc wont power on and im not sure where to start (I'm a bit if a noob when it comes to pc hardware failure!)

Basically, my pc switched off while it was idle. I didnt notice it for a few hours. Upon initial inspection it seemed that the power supply was dead. There was no status light on the mother board indicating that there was connection to a power supply and the PSU itself was very warm and didnt "smell too good"!

I picked myself up a new PSU. Connecting the PSU caused the green status light (named D2) on my ABIT IC7 motherboard the light up (as it should).
When the power switch on the PC is pressed a second red light D2 should light up indicating that the pc is powered up.

However, when i press the power switch on the PC, the red light flickers on/then off in a split second, the PSU makes a click like its about to kick in but then it stops. nothing on the motherboard starts up -P4 processor, fans etc.

I have tried removing/reseating components to no avail. I keep getting the same symptoms and i dont know how to move past this and investiagte further pinpointing a component at fault

I would appreciate as much input as possible into this eg possible causes, ways to identify faulty components

All help greatly appreciated

Damien
 
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Did you actually remove all the components from the case?

I would advise you to - As there could be something 'Shorting out' - Hence your PSU blew in the first place..

Also maybe try clearing the BIOS....
 
i've pretty much tried all that. waht are the bare amount of components in need to connect in order to try get the mobo boot to the bios. i really n eed to try eliminate components!
 
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Make sure that both the 4 pin and 24 pin power leads are plugged into the motherboard.

Ensure that the CPU fan is plugged into the CPU fan header.

Check the power switch on the back of the PSU is turned on.

See if the LED is lit up on the motherboard.

If it isn't, make sure that the motherboard is correctly screwed in on all the brass standoffs and isn't shorting out on the case.

Ensure that the graphics card is FIRMLY seated and has power going to it (check to see if an additional power cable needs to be connected to this device).

If that doesn't work, take out one of your RAM modules as well (if you are trying to run dual-channel) and try booting with that.

If none of the above steps/checks works, disconnect all non-essential devices (i.e. all hard drives) and remove all but one RAM module.

Then try booting again.

If you still have problems, describe the steps you have taken and we'll try to help further.
 
Cheers Dacy, but ive tried evrything you've described there in every possible combination.

when i connect the 4 and 24 pin supplies i defo do get a green light on the board (indicating that the power supply is connected)

in theory, when the switch on the PC is pressed once, the red light should come on and stay on but instead it just flashes for a split second.

if i hold the power switch in, the red light will stay on, albeit very faint and the psu make a very low "whirr" noise like it is trying to kick in
 
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i had a prob like this once...i found the only way i could get it to run was by holding the power button in on the pc then powering the psu ..worked everytime .
 
Are you sure your power button is plugged in/connected properly? It's a long shot but worth a try :) It sounds like a motherboard problem to me if not.
 
Pull out all of the front panel connectors.

Turn the computer on by shorting the POWON connection with a screwdriver (make sure you grab the insulated handle).

This WILL turn the computer on, 100% guaranteed.

If it doesn't remove and reseat your graphics card ;)
 
The smell from the PSU is a clear indication of a blown PSU. I've had this happen 7 years ago and it smells like TCP!

The problem here is that although the PSU is now replaced, the blown PSU may have also blown the motherboard.

Do you get any Morse Code beeps?
 
no beeps i'm afraid! thats what has me worried!
the smell from the PSU wasn't really bad but it as getting very warm when the power cable was connected. also, when it was connected to the motherboard, the green status light on the mobo itself did not switch on
 
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OK, Here's what i tried last night:

I removed all the front panel conectors and disconnected hard drives, sound card etc.
I left the graphics cards and cpu plugged in.
I have dual DDR so i removed both and placed just 1 stick back into a slot i normally dont use.
From the PSU, the only connections were the 4 pin cpu power and the 20/4 pin mainboard connector. (the green status light did come on as expected)

Then, i used a screwdriver and made the connection/shorting the POWON.

AND.......

more or less nothing happened. the red light came on. the psu makes a very low buzzing noise and the cpu fans makes 2/3 VERY slow rotations.

if i hold the screwdriver in place the red light stays on and the psu keeps buzzing but after about 5 seconds the red light goes off and the psu stops making noise

any further advice here would be great!
 
DAMIENNOLAN said:
OK, Here's what i tried last night:

I removed all the front panel conectors and disconnected hard drives, sound card etc.
I left the graphics cards and cpu plugged in.
I have dual DDR so i removed both and placed just 1 stick back into a slot i normally dont use.
From the PSU, the only connections were the 4 pin cpu power and the 20/4 pin mainboard connector. (the green status light did come on as expected)

Then, i used a screwdriver and made the connection/shorting the POWON.

AND.......

more or less nothing happened. the red light came on. the psu makes a very low buzzing noise and the cpu fans makes 2/3 VERY slow rotations.

if i hold the screwdriver in place the red light stays on and the psu keeps buzzing but after about 5 seconds the red light goes off and the psu stops making noise

any further advice here would be great!
Click to expand...

I don't think your graphics card is seated properly if thats the only other thing connected to the system... maybe it requires an extra power connector? Remove it and reseat it. Make sure your monitor is turned on and the VGA/DVI cable is firmly plugged in.

With the screwdriver, you only need to tap the power pins once. Holding the connection for 4-5 seconds performs a hard power off (just like holding in the power button on a system for 5 seconds).

It may also be worth checking that the BIOS battery is firmly in place and that there are no jumpers set to clear CMOS.

Thats tonights chores sorted out for you :)
 
it's your psu. If i was you i would see if i could borrow one to test or just buy one. I ive fixed many a computers with the same problem

hope it helps
 
atopork said:
it's your psu. If i was you i would see if i could borrow one to test or just buy one. I ive fixed many a computers with the same problem

hope it helps
Click to expand...

OP said:
I picked myself up a new PSU. Connecting the PSU caused the green status light (named D2) on my ABIT IC7 motherboard the light up (as it should).
When the power switch on the PC is pressed a second red light D2 should light up indicating that the pc is powered up.
Click to expand...
 
Dace said:
I don't think your graphics card is seated properly if thats the only other thing connected to the system... maybe it requires an extra power connector? Remove it and reseat it. Make sure your monitor is turned on and the VGA/DVI cable is firmly plugged in.
Click to expand...

Ive actually tried with the graphics card placed and removed. The gfx card doesnt require additional power. its an old 5700 model.

I also removed the battery and replaced.
 
Is your cpu fan definitley working? Could be that the bios can't see the RPM's on the cpu fan and so is shutting off to prevent itself from cooking.

My abit does this, although if I reset the bios it'll let me in to turn off the RPM detection.
 
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