[H-GEN] Dead PC

[David Ash]

Geoff Shang wrote:
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> 
> Hi,
> 
> Not sure if anyone can help, but figured it was worth trying before I 
> run in blind panick to my nearest computer store.
> 
> We just noticed my partner's pride and joy was no longer running.  I 
> don't know when it failed, but it was running this morning.
> 
> The thing seems to be, as far as my limited ability can tell, completely 
> dead.  The On button doesn't do anything no matter how many times I 
> press it (whose smart idea was it to have soft-buttons anyway?).  I've 
> done the usual tricks of pulling out the power cable, I even changed 
> power sockets and power cables, but no luck.
> 
> I don't know much at all about the power side of things, but as far as I 
> can tell, all the plugs seem to be secure.  The places where the cable 
> from the power button attaches to the motherboard doesn't look very 
> solid, but I guess it's solid enough.
> 
> The supply has a switch on the back of it, presumably On/Off, but I've 
> been unable to find any lights anywhere to confirm whether the thing is 
> getting power.
> 
> Being Blind and not knowing where I'd test for it anyway, I've no idea 
> if there's any power coming from the supply or not.  I guess there's a 
> fuse somewhere, so maybe this is a simptom of some other problem, who 
> knows.
> 
> The computer was recently shipped from Israel so it's possible something 
> has gone wrong with it.  But last I saw it it was running fine, with no 
> complaints.  The PC has 3 fans in it and I don't detect any burned-out 
> smells, so I doubt that it's heat that's been the problem.
> 
> If anyone can suggest anything at all, I'd be very greatful.  My partner 
> is not taking this at all well and I'd love nothing more than to be able 
> to fix it for her, though I'm rapidly coming to terms with the fact that 
> this could need a professional.

Do you hear a spark when you plug the power cable in?  If not then 
possibly power supply.
I've also seen motherboard/bios problems with power, solved by doing a 
cold boot.  Which is where you pull out power cable (or leave earthed 
with power switch turned off at wall), and then press and hold the power 
button in.  And then try pluggin in and turning on again.
If you *are* hearing spark and nothing above is helping you could also 
check for bulging/leaking capacitors on motherboard, which was a common 
problem a few years back.  But by the sounds of it, doesn't sound like 
the symptoms are exactly the same.  Although I've also seen bulging 
capacitors within power supplies also.  But I *wouldn't* advise opening 
these up.

Regards
Dash