PC Wont Boot

[Jay007]

Ok so i woke up today went to switch on my PC and nothing, PC suddenly doesnt boot after being fine for the last 5 months since i put it together. Open it up to check to see that the mobo lights were not on and niether was the power supplies. My guess is it seems it is the PSU thats gone which surprises me as its a Silverstone ST75ZF which was raved about its Stability. I disconnected it from the rest of the pc and took it out the case to test it serperatly and the back LED still does not light up(which it would right if it was working? even though it was not connected to the mobo).

The problem i have is that i cannot test any of the other components to see if they are fully working and just wondering if the PSU going out could have affected any of the other components? Seeing as there was no short circuit and surge of power or anything like that.

[vinnyT]

One thing to check is the plug socket at the wall. Plug in something the you know works (bedside lamp, etc.). If it works, then check the power lead fuse.

It's unlikely that if the psu did fail in the manner you say (overnight, having worked ok last time used/turned off), that it would damage any other components. Possable, but unlikely.

[ultimate]

How did you test your psu?

[Jay007]

I use a Powersurge Power socket adaptor(cost a ****load) and all other stuff connected to that still work and have not faults or issues, ive even tried a couple of different power cords and different sockets.

I tested the psu by itself to see if the back LED would come on and nothing. Im pretty sure the LED would come on if the PSU was fine but i cant be 100% sure about that. I havent got another compatible mobo to test the PSU with. looking at this image http://www.***********.net/image.php?id=862 it seems the led should come on without being connected to a mobo.

[vinnyT]

How did you test your psu?

Good point! Just plugging the psu into the wall socket and flicking the switch won't do anything, as it has to be connected to the mobo to complete the cicuit.

Disclaimer: Attempt the following at your own risk

The following web shows you how to test your psu without it connected to a mobo. http://modtown.co.uk/mt/article2.php?id=psumod

When you have followed the above instructions, try connecting something like a floppy drive (or other useless/small component), if the psu is ok then lights/motors will work, if not, you know your psu is most likely dead.

Hope this helps.

[aidanjt]

Try using another kettle lead to the PSU, could just be a blown fuse, normally when there's a supply of energy to the PSU hitting the case power button will start the PSU and motherboard fans unless the motherboard went nuclear or the PSU is dead.

[aidanjt]

Good point! Just plugging the psu into the wall socket and flicking the switch won't do anything, as it has to be connected to the mobo to complete the cicuit.

Disclaimer: Attempt the following at your own risk

The following web shows you how to test your psu without it connected to a mobo. http://modtown.co.uk/mt/article2.php?id=psumod

When you have followed the above instructions, try connecting something like a floppy drive (or other useless/small component), if the psu is ok then lights/motors will work, if not, you know your psu is most likely dead.

Hope this helps.

++

This is a good technique for ruling out motherboard problems, watercooling users do this to fill their loop and clear air bubbles.

[Jay007]

I thought testing the PSU by itself may not work, unfortunetly i dont have any wire strips laying around to test the method VinnyT pointed out. Looks like ill have to send the PSU, Mobo and CPU back to scan to test for me.

Cheers for the help guys!

[aidanjt]

I used a paperclip once before *shrug* Remember you can use any black pin to short the green pin, it's only an interface to the PSUs switch on mechanism.

[Jay007]

Well i tried it with a little speaker wire and attached the green to the black and no light came on the PSU, seems like the PSU has gone and will need to be RMA'd i just hope i dont get a replacement and find out other components have gone to.

[aidanjt]

Yeah, that would be major suckage.

[corylus]

Good point! Just plugging the psu into the wall socket and flicking the switch won't do anything, as it has to be connected to the mobo to complete the cicuit.

There is this: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=391645

Only costs about a tenner and looks like a handy gadget

Rgrds

Peter

[shaithis]

Unless there is black marking around the ATX socket on the mobo, blown capacitors on the motherboard, or the PSU went up in sparks and a loud noise, I would expect the rest of your hardware to be fine.


Its extremely rare for a PSU to take other components out, especially a decent brand.

[Jay007]

Well ive got the new PSU and alls well, PSU was dead. It still boggles my mind as to what could have caused it to die. Nothings been overclocked and the PSU has plenty of power for the components I have. Just worried it might happen again.

Only thing comes to mind is that I have vista and when I switched it off I think it just went into sleep mode and maybe that lead to something but its a mystery to me.

[jamespetts]

Maybe something like this happened?

[vinnyT]

Tech support accross the country are now adding a new item to their callout charges