[floppydisk]

So, my computer definitely crashed the other night after leaving it on for 3 days to downlaod stuff, and now it won't start again. I figure it's the power supply, but it could be anything. Any seggustions on checking/fixing the problem myself?

[Gobbler]

None apart from the obvious... strip your computer down to the basics, i.e. SPU, motherboard, CPU, graphics-card, omit the rest. Try if anything works. If really nothing at all happens after you switch the machine on, then yup, you're fucked. Hooray.

Try to replace the components separately with working hardware (if you've got some handy... I used to tear my mother's computer apart back in the days :3 ) for testing purposes.

Maybe your internal setup caused a heat jam (dunno if that's the right phrase in English), so you might wanna rethink that layout, too.

This post has been edited by Gobbler: 20 March 2007 - 11:30 AM

[Deepsycher]

So it doesn't turn on at all and no power to the board?

I wouldn't say "you're fucked" yet.

Someone who visited me is having similar problems. I will find out tomorrow when brings the computer. His case might be a flexible fuse in the power supply meaning that when the fuse blows the contacts inside will bend back again once the power lead is unplugged. Most likely a fault.

It might be an internal fuse but if you have another working power supply with a similar watt output I think that might be safer for you to try.

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 20 March 2007 - 11:49 AM

[Slade]

What's an SPU? I also agree that you need to try to isolate what's killing your compy. If you get no power at all to anything, it's very likely your power supply kicked the bucket, or your motherboard did. Of course, make sure you do the simple things first, like making sure that all of your power cords are properly plugged in, and that your outlet is still getting power. It could be that.

[Deepsycher]

I was thinking he mean't Supply Power Unit.

[Gobbler]

Argh, darnit, PSU was the abbreviation, I guess I still had that Sound Processing Unit thingy stuck in my head from all the work on the hacked drivers of my soundcard...

[mireaux7]

So, my computer definitely crashed the other night after leaving it on for 3 days to downlaod stuff, and now it won't start again. I figure it's the power supply, but it could be anything. Any seggustions on checking/fixing the problem myself?

did it get attacked by a virus?

[floppydisk]

Nope, not a virus.

Thanks for the replies, I haven't responded cause I've been sort of busy trying to fix it, and fix it I did. It was the motherboard that died, and though we haven't really isolated the culprit (aside from an also fried Power Supply), I do believe it was the battery backup or simply the power outlet in my wall. I think that because whenever I plug my computer into the wall or battery backup it stays on for about thirty seconds and takes another nose-dive, though it's luckily nothing serious. Obviously I got it to work in another wall socket because I'm replying to you guys right now.

Also, I got a pseudo-intern job fixing computers with my mom's friend! Joy! (starts as soon a lacrosse season is over)

[Deepsycher]

So you had an UPS backup power supply in conjunction to the wall socket?

I take it the power supply is broken and now replaced but unclear if you mean whether board now works or has that been replaced too?

Well despite the negative advice I hear I think that maintaining computers is simple with good understanding of what you are doing and being cautious. The person that came round to me only had problems with the power supply. Cheap aluminium and unbranded. I only had a 230 watt spare left which worked well without getting hot. No more problems during the week for him.

If possible can you take a picture of the fried power supply I would like to see?

This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 28 March 2007 - 08:28 PM

[floppydisk]

Power supply is trashed, but the thing that was burnt black on it was a small resistor or something or other poking up near one of the heat sinks.

Just for you Dee, the board works. Computer works. I'm installing shit right now.

[floppydisk]

Also, my secondary hard drive failed as of about an hour ago. Completely gone, I opened up my case, unconnected it and restarted Windows. Works fine now... (Windows, not the F Drive)

This post has been edited by floppydisk: 17 April 2007 - 05:53 PM

[Deepsycher]

On the broken drive did it make clicking sounds or did it just stop?