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I'm having problems with my computer again. (Writing from another one.)
When I press the ON button, nothing happens at all. Does it have power?
Yes - the little green LED on the motherboard is lit just fine. I just can't
turn the thing on...!
Any suggestions what to do, or even just finding out in which part of the
computer the problem lies?
(Remember that I am totally clueless when it comes to hardware...)
It worked just fine last night. Shut down normally and everything. Then
simply didn't work this morning... :(
Rune
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Rune <aut### [at] runevision com> wrote:
> Any suggestions what to do, or even just finding out in which part of the
> computer the problem lies?
Power supply, most likely. Even if that led in the motherboard is on
it's still a typical broken power supply symptom.
--
- Warp
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Wow, sounds bad. Things I'd try...
Unplug it, plug it back in.
Look for a little breaker switch on the back of
the computer near the top. I think it's usually red.
Do the same for the power strip.
Open up the case and vacuum out the dust.
Check the monitor on another computer if possible.
Make sure stuff is actually plugged in, like the keyboard.
Does the box beep? If so, the beeps are an error code
you can look that up to see what hardware it thinks failed.
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm
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Rune wrote:
> I'm having problems with my computer again. (Writing from another one.)
>
> When I press the ON button, nothing happens at all. Does it have power?
> Yes - the little green LED on the motherboard is lit just fine. I just can't
> turn the thing on...!
>
> Any suggestions what to do, or even just finding out in which part of the
> computer the problem lies?
> (Remember that I am totally clueless when it comes to hardware...)
>
> It worked just fine last night. Shut down normally and everything. Then
> simply didn't work this morning... :(
>
Of course - look at all of the hardware issues - it is likely hardware.
But I did run into one case with the exact same symptoms that was not
hardware, but a software problem.
When the computer was shut down it would not turn back on. And there
was nothing that we could do to get it to come on. We went as far as
replacing the motherboard (under warranty), but the problem didn't go away.
Reformatting the PC made the problem go away. Apparently win2K was
doing something on shutdown with the power settings that prevented the
computer from coming back up. Reformatting with the same win2k made the
problem go away and the machine worked well from then on.
I believe that it had something to do with the power state that the OS
put the computer in on power down. Some states allow power on by
different activities - such as keyboard events or WOL - while other
states might restrict this to one or two events. As the power button is
'soft' now days, it may not be looked at any differently than a keyboard
or WOL event - which can be set to not power on the system.
Some options are in the BIOS, but not all of them (if you can get to the
BIOS :-)
I've been talking way over my head here and put together two things that
I worked on years ago that were completely unrelated, but when I think
about them it all starts to make some sense.
So if anyone here knows better, please set me straight.
BUT - it is likely that your trouble is due to hardware and I wouldn't
spend a lot of time on the software unless you have no other routes and
want to learn some deep ACPI (or is it APM) lore....
good luck!
Tom
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> I'm having problems with my computer again. (Writing from another one.)
>
> When I press the ON button, nothing happens at all. Does it have power?
> Yes - the little green LED on the motherboard is lit just fine. I just
> can't turn the thing on...!
>
> Any suggestions what to do, or even just finding out in which part of the
> computer the problem lies?
> (Remember that I am totally clueless when it comes to hardware...)
As Warp said, likely the PSU, or just the On switch has broken/disconnected.
You're going to have to get inside the PC to diagnose the problem further.
Step 1 : Unplug the big connector that goes onto the mainboard from the PSU.
It will have 20 or 30 small cables going into it all different colours.
Once unplugged, look for the green one (there should only be one, pin 14
IIRC) and then find a black one (probably more than one). With power
disconnected, insert a paper-clip (or a bit of wire) into the socket where
the green and black cables are, thus joining them together. Then turn on
the mains, the PSU should spin-up. If it doesn't get a new PSU.
2) If the PSU is working ok then next check the On switch is working. Look
where the on switch is connected to the mainboard (usually in the bottom
corner somewhere) and unplug it. Try jumping the two connectors on the
mainboard with a paper-clip again. If the computer works then you have a
problem with the On switch. If it doesn't then you have a problem with the
motherboard. You could then try forcing the PSU to start by jumping the
green and black wires as in step 1) while it is connected to the mainboard.
Of course you could just unplug and plug in everything to make sure first.
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This may sound crazy, but if the inside is dusty/dirty (particularly the
power supply), try blasting it with compressed air and vacuum it out
*really good*. I recently had a problem with one of my systems here
locking up (not exactly the same problem as you) about every 3 hours;
pulled it open and cleaned it out in a desperate attempt to get it
working properly, and it hasn't hung up since.
Jim
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I had exactly the same thing happen about a month and a half ago, right
down to the green LED still working, no beeps. My Hardware Guy (who is
also my nephew) had me check the on/off switch, bridge the pins from the
switch, etc., and finally reached the conclusion that the motherboard
had just gone belly up. He said he'd seen other boards of similar age
(about 5 years old) do the same thing and that I probably just needed a
new one. :(
On the other hand, he was giving me instructions and diagnosing the
thing over the phone (having just moved a few hundred miles away,
dammit). The good news was that I lucked into a replacement computer of
similar age and quality that ended up not costing me anything. Hey, I
don't mind replacing things like sound cards, but thinking about that
motherboard kept reminding me that programmers don't change light bulbs.
;) So the dead computer is still sitting here next to the live one.
But, anyway, Tom mentioned a situation a situation with Win2K...which my
computer was running...and the motherboard's an Asus A7V266-C...don't
suppose that gives anybody any clues about *my* dead computer...?
Just hoping,
Sherry Shaw
--
#macro T(E,N)sphere{x,.4rotate z*E*60translate y*N pigment{wrinkles scale
.3}finish{ambient 1}}#end#local I=0;#while(I<5)T(I,1)T(1-I,-1)#local I=I+
1;#end camera{location-5*z}plane{z,37 pigment{granite color_map{[.7rgb 0]
[1rgb 1]}}finish{ambient 2}}// TenMoons
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"Jim Henderson" <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote in message
news:46fd5352@news.povray.org...
> This may sound crazy, but if the inside is dusty/dirty (particularly the
> power supply), try blasting it with compressed air and vacuum it out
> *really good*. I recently had a problem with one of my systems here
> locking up (not exactly the same problem as you) about every 3 hours;
> pulled it open and cleaned it out in a desperate attempt to get it
> working properly, and it hasn't hung up since.
I've even been *inside* the power supply and cleaned it out! Now
there's a sight for sore eyes! ;)
It's amazing how the dust builds up in there.
~Steve~
>
> Jim
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On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:56:46 +0100, St. wrote:
> I've even been *inside* the power supply and cleaned it out! Now
> there's a sight for sore eyes!
>
> It's amazing how the dust builds up in there.
Yeah, it really is. We've got three cats as well, so not only does dust
end up in there, but cat hair. I need to replace a couple of the fans,
too - I've got three half-height 5.25" bays with bay fans in them, and at
least one of them has stopped working (the fans have snapped off the
motors).
Jim
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Rune wrote:
> When I press the ON button, nothing happens at all.
My guess is power switch, per se. I've got a box where the power switch
fell out of its casing and now every time I have to turn it on with two
hands and a pencil.
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Jim Henderson escribió:
> On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:56:46 +0100, St. wrote:
>
>> I've even been *inside* the power supply and cleaned it out! Now
>> there's a sight for sore eyes!
>>
>> It's amazing how the dust builds up in there.
>
> Yeah, it really is. We've got three cats as well, so not only does dust
> end up in there, but cat hair. I need to replace a couple of the fans,
> too - I've got three half-height 5.25" bays with bay fans in them, and at
> least one of them has stopped working (the fans have snapped off the
> motors).
>
> Jim
Dust is a big problem for POVers. POV-Ray uses 100% CPU. More CPU usage
= more computer heat. Dusty fan + POV-Ray = very hot CPU.
But then, I run BOINC too, so the CPU on my Pentium IV computer has been
at 100% for around two years (not exactly continuously, uptime record is
27 days). I once cleaned it, then opened it three months later and it
was all dusty again. >_> CPU reached 75°C sometimes (according to Intel
it's the limit; knowing it was not surpassing the limit made me worry less).
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On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:53:21 -0300, Nicolas Alvarez wrote:
> Jim Henderson escribió:
>> On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:56:46 +0100, St. wrote:
>>
>>> I've even been *inside* the power supply and cleaned it out! Now
>>> there's a sight for sore eyes!
>>>
>>> It's amazing how the dust builds up in there.
>>
>> Yeah, it really is. We've got three cats as well, so not only does
>> dust end up in there, but cat hair. I need to replace a couple of the
>> fans, too - I've got three half-height 5.25" bays with bay fans in
>> them, and at least one of them has stopped working (the fans have
>> snapped off the motors).
>>
>> Jim
>
> Dust is a big problem for POVers. POV-Ray uses 100% CPU. More CPU usage
> = more computer heat. Dusty fan + POV-Ray = very hot CPU.
It does tend to drive the utilization up; in my particular case, the
system isn't used for POV; but I've got a new dual-core Athlon system on
its way next week, and I anticipate it being used for some more
rendering. I've not done much serious with POV since I had to give my
dual-processor Dell system back to work (changed jobs and it was a lab
machine that the department wanted back). Pity, because I loaded it up
with memory - it had 4 GB thanks to finding a very difficult-to-find
memory expansion board.
But I miss that system.
> But then, I run BOINC too, so the CPU on my Pentium IV computer has been
> at 100% for around two years (not exactly continuously, uptime record is
> 27 days). I once cleaned it, then opened it three months later and it
> was all dusty again. >_> CPU reached 75°C sometimes (according to Intel
> it's the limit; knowing it was not surpassing the limit made me worry
> less).
That is quite warm, yeah. My laptop has burned out a couple of times
(but not due to CPU overutilization, more because of a faulty suspend
that would put the fans to sleep but not the CPU or the video card).
Jim
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1. The power switch isn't working.
2. The power switch isn't connected properly. (Usually a thin 2-strand
wire to a pair of bare pins on the motherboard.)
3. The power supply unit is faulty.
4. The motherboard is faulty.
Pick one of the above.
I don't know about where you are, but over here a new power supply is a
pretty cheap item, so maybe start with that? (It's also quite simple to
replace.)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
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"scott" <sco### [at] laptopcom> wrote in message
news:46fcfde5$1@news.povray.org...
>> I'm having problems with my computer again. (Writing from another one.)
>>
>> When I press the ON button, nothing happens at all. Does it have power?
>> Yes - the little green LED on the motherboard is lit just fine. I just
>> can't turn the thing on...!
>>
>> Any suggestions what to do, or even just finding out in which part of the
>> computer the problem lies?
>> (Remember that I am totally clueless when it comes to hardware...)
>
> As Warp said, likely the PSU, or just the On switch has
> broken/disconnected. You're going to have to get inside the PC to diagnose
> the problem further.
>
> Step 1 : Unplug the big connector that goes onto the mainboard from the
> PSU. It will have 20 or 30 small cables going into it all different
> colours. Once unplugged, look for the green one (there should only be one,
> pin 14 IIRC) and then find a black one (probably more than one). With
> power disconnected, insert a paper-clip (or a bit of wire) into the socket
> where the green and black cables are, thus joining them together. Then
> turn on the mains, the PSU should spin-up. If it doesn't get a new PSU.
I don't like this approach. Though I have found a green and a black wire,
I'm not 100% certain I understand what you mean I should do with them, and I
don't like risking damaging my hardware (or myself).
Isn't there some way to test the PSU without using paper clips or cables? I
have an old motherboard I don't need that can be used for plugging the PSU
in if it helps any...
> 2) If the PSU is working ok then next check the On switch is working.
> Look where the on switch is connected to the mainboard (usually in the
> bottom corner somewhere) and unplug it.
Problem here is that several cables are coming from a closed area of my
case, so I can't see which one is for the On-switch and which is for reset,
LEDs etc. I can't even imagine how to open this part of the case - I can't
see any obvious screws to unscrew... Can I deduce it from where the cables
are plugged in? I found this image of my motherboard:
http://www.thetrailingedge.com/images/products/asus-a8n-sli-big.jpg
> Try jumping the two connectors on the mainboard with a paper-clip again.
Won't that equal to holding down the On-switch = signalling a shut-down?
> If the computer works then you have a problem with the On switch. If it
> doesn't then you have a problem with the motherboard. You could then try
> forcing the PSU to start by jumping the green and black wires as in step
> 1) while it is connected to the mainboard.
I don't understand how the wires can be jumped while the cable is
simultaneously plugged in. I don't think I'm skilled enough with hardware to
operate at this level.
Rune
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Ok, I tried plugging in the PSU to my old computer, and it correctly started
humming and could be turned on and off with that computer's ON-switch. It
also made some beeping. PSU fault ruled out.
Back to problem computer I wanted to test if the On-switch was at fault.
There was a cable labeled M/BSW that was plugged into some pins labeled
PWRSW so I guess that's the On-switch one. I tried unplugging that cable and
replacing it with a jumper while the power was off. That I turned the power
on and ... nothing happened.
So what does that mean? Can I be completely sure that the motherboard is the
fault, or...?
Rune
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Rune <aut### [at] runevisioncom> wrote:
> Ok, I tried plugging in the PSU to my old computer, and it correctly started
> humming and could be turned on and off with that computer's ON-switch. It
> also made some beeping. PSU fault ruled out.
Technically speaking, not necessarily. That's because the old computer
might require less watts and the failing PSU may just be alive enough to
run it, but not your watt-hungry newer computer.
It wouldn't be the first time that a dying PSU runs the computer for some
minutes but then it just shuts down. When it's left to cool for a moment
and the computer is turned on again, the same thing happens.
--
- Warp
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Rune wrote:
> Ok, I tried plugging in the PSU to my old computer, and it correctly
> started humming and could be turned on and off with that computer's
> ON-switch. It also made some beeping. PSU fault ruled out.
>
> Back to problem computer I wanted to test if the On-switch was at fault.
> There was a cable labeled M/BSW that was plugged into some pins labeled
> PWRSW so I guess that's the On-switch one. I tried unplugging that cable
> and replacing it with a jumper while the power was off. That I turned the
> power on and ... nothing happened.
>
> So what does that mean? Can I be completely sure that the motherboard is
> the fault, or...?
>
> Rune
Are the B-line capacitors on the motherboard OK? We had a dell that controls
one of our mass spectrometers blow its "b-line" capacitors on the
motherboard with similar results to what you describe. You can usually tell
by looking at them if they're bad or not.
http://www.windows-help-central.com/windows-xp-shutdown-automatically.html
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