Startup problems

paddya · 13 Oct 2008 at 12:56

Got a PC that seems to be having random startup issues.

It's an old machine I built for someone a while ago but he came in today saying that it shut down while running at the weekend. He then couldn't get it to power back up. It did eventually power up enough to boot then shut down again.

Could it be the power supply? I'm relunctant to go and buy one if it doesn't do the trick. Is there a way I can test it?

thanks

Mick-1965 · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:02

That sort of problem is more so related to PSU problems than anything else. Although other problems can cause this.

Simplest way would be to borrow a psu from a known working machine, just to test with. You`ll know for sure that way

AtaRo · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:03

Is the PSU an old one and no warranty anymore?if you suspect the psu why not open it up and check if the caps are bulging, if it is either you replace the caps yourself or just buy a new psu or why not reseat everything maybe just a loose somewhere.

paddya · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:04

Yep, that is what I was hoping to do but I only have a 300w in my office here which doesn't have the extra 4pin connector

paddya · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:11

I also work with electricians, so hoping that maybe one of them can test it for me with a multimeter. Hopefully that might show a fault.

AtaRo · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:24

Multimeter will only check for voltage but you need an ESR meter to check for capacitor fault or just check them visually.

paddya · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:25

ah ok, so that probably won't tell me anything?

paddya · 14 Oct 2008 at 13:49

right ok, think I might have found a solution.

Sat in my office I have an old server here that's about to be thrown out. It's running an Epox EP-8KTA3 Pro and an Athlon 1600.

Now I'm guessing my XP2400 mobile is going to be better than this 1600, not sure how much better, bearing in mind that it's just for someone's mum.

If need be though, I'm thinking I could take this motherboard and put my 2400 in it with the other bits and bobs and use a spare 300W PSU that I have here. The motherboard doesn't have a northbridge fan, but hopefully I can take the fanless one off the other one.

paddya · 15 Oct 2008 at 11:16

Sorry just to refresh this again.

I think I've found the fault as the PSU, although the mobo light came on, nothing else came on.

I've just tested with a 300w unit I have spare here and although it doesn't have the extra square 4pin plug which the mobo has, it starts up.

Should this be ok? It's only running a Radeon 9600 Pro, XP2400M, 1hdd, 2 cdrw's, 512mb ram.