PC Goes Pop!

[Se7en]

This morning i moved my PC desk + PC as i have fitters coming tomorrow and they needed access to the piping systems behind my PC desk, anyway after moving everything and plugging it all back in (I have a Belkin Extension) I turned my PC and Monitor on to hear a loud bang and then a spark followed by a burning smell, at first i thought it was the Belkin Extension but on further inspection i was able to rule that out, which then left me with either the PC itself or the Power lead, after trying another power lead i still encountered the same problem, so i have taken off the side panel of the PC and there is a very strong burning smell coming from inside, does anyone know what the problem could be and how i would go about fixing it?

Thanks,
7,

[kalniel]

Power supply or motherboard most likely. Fix is to replace the faulty part.

[moogle]

Could have blown your other components too. What PSU was in your PC?

[Se7en]

You guys are joking right?? There must be another way....

[moogle]

You guys are joking right?? There must be another way....

....

No I don't think I was


Do a PSU jumpstart and see if it runs (without it plugged into your bits and bobs).

[Se7en]

....

No I don't think I was


Do a PSU jumpstart and see if it runs (without it plugged into your bits and bobs).

PSU Jumpstart???

[0iD]

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/guide...start-psu.html

[kalniel]

You guys are joking right??

Yes, that's why I included a multitude of smileys indicating the fact I wasn't completely serious. Oh wait, I didn't.

[Saracen]

If you've got a strong burning smell, then that rather suggests something has failed catastrophically. A close look might identify what (burn marks, damaged chips, etc), and your nose might identify it too. If it's failed that badly, there'll almost certainly be visible signs, like burn masks or damaged chips, but they might be inside sealed items like the PSU.

If you're lucky, all that's died is the part that actually failed. If you're very lucky, it was a simple short circuit between some exposed electrical connection and the case chassis, and maybe it's just blown a fuse. But if you've got a strong, acrid burning smell, that sounds more like an electronic component has been destroyed. A remarkably small electronic component can make one hell of a stink, and a simple short usually doesn't.

On the up-side, it might just be a fuse. If nowhere else, you'll likely find some on the main PSU circuit board, but if you don't know what you're doing, I suggest you don't open that yourself. There are some capacitors in there that can pack quite a wallop even if you've disconnected from the mains.

On the downside, if it's a PSU that's failed (and especially with cheap PSUs, it's one of the more likely components to fail), then the question will be whether it failed elegantly and protected the rest of the system, or if it didn't and took other bits with it. I had a PSU that that cooked an expensive graphics card, three hard drives and a £200 DVD writer (some years ago).

Without seeing the machine and investigating, I'd say it's impossible to tell which of those extremes, or where in-between, you are. If you don't know someone that's capable and competent, then I'd suggest your local paper as a source of a PC repair guy.

[Se7en]

Hmmm think its time to return it to the manufacture and see if they will fix it under warranty "fingers crossed"

7,

[handscombmp]

How was the psu company anyway?

[moogle]

How was the psu company anyway?

Yes who was the culprit? Go on, tarnish their reputation a bit

[Se7en]

The PSU is a 850w Silverpower

[moogle]

The PSU is a

Fixed Link


Not surpising

[Se7en]

Fixed Link


Not surpising

But still an unwanted kick in the face at possibly the worst time...

I have contacted the PC supplier and it is covered by warranty and they will up-lift it from my home tomorrow and I should get it back Monday/Tuesday

[moogle]

But still an unwanted kick in the face at possibly the worst time...

I have contacted the PC supplier and it is covered by warranty and they will up-lift it from my home tomorrow and I should get it back Monday/Tuesday

You still don't know if it's damaged your hardware yet either. BTW what are your system specs?