DIY computer repairs

CHR15

I would say hardware is much simpler than software. It is all essentially plug and play once you know which bit goes with what and how it all bolts together.

Other than fans and the odd quirk (bent pins) there is little to go wrong.

Software on the other hand stands in front of you with big Clown feet and a squeeky nose taunting you until you get it right.

basmic

Going by the multimeter clue, I guess the machine would either refuse to turn and/or kept crashing, so you measured the voltage on one of the lines, and determined that the voltage the PSU was outputting was low/high.

A true geek can fix this, providing the PSU isn't dying, by adjust one of several variable resistors sometimes found in PSUs.

esuhl

Conrad wrote: »

Your'e right, I was refering to the software monkeys that portray themselves as engineers - you know the ones that think reinstalling windows or setting up ports is rocket science:rotfl:

Yeah - I know exactly what you mean, but couldn't resist pulling your leg!

CHR15 wrote: »

Software on the other hand stands in front of you with big Clown feet and a squeeky nose taunting you until you get it right.

Ha ha - that's funny! You need to find your inner clown and try to work out what kind of bizarre interpretation of a problem the original [STRIKE]clown[/STRIKE] programmer had in mind... otherwise the door falls off and all your hankerchiefs end up knotted together.

spud17

Big plug on the end of a spare PSU [ ATX connector ] has twenty [ or more ] coloured wires, see the GREEN [ pin 14 ]. Then ANY black wire, there should be one right next to the GREEN.

Cut a piece of wire and bare the ends [ to make a jumper / or / use a paperclip ] then stick one end of the jumper in GREEN and the other end in BLACK.

Which is exactly what I did.

But I have a 'special' piece of bent wire with tinned ends, to avoid any loose strands causing a short circuit.

When the psu fan didn't even spin, I didn't bother any more, just swapped it.

Richie-from-the-Boro

spud17 wrote: »

Which is exactly what I did.

But I have a 'special' piece of bent wire with tinned ends, to avoid any loose strands causing a short circuit.

When the psu fan didn't even spin, I didn't bother any more, just swapped it.

"" with tinned ends "", now your showing off cos you have a shouldering / soldiering / soldering thingy !

Richie-from-the-Boro

Lil306 wrote: »

The budgie is the safeguard, it dies your know it's not safe

I would have summised it being a PSU fault if testing with a multimeter but that's just me. I'll admit I wouldn't know which wires I'd have to check with a multimeter without reading up on which colour was -5,+5v etc.

I just get my PSU tester and it does the job for me in about 2 seconds

Not lazy, efficient :cool:

Only someone from a proud mining county : "" The budgie is the safeguard, it dies your know it's not safe ""

debitcardmayhem

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Only someone from a proud mining county : "" The budgie is the safeguard, it dies your know it's not safe ""

Why use a multimeter if there is firedamp in the case :Abye budgie

Richie-from-the-Boro

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

Why use a multimeter if there is firedamp in the case :Abye budgie

There's enough gas seepage in this thread already, without you oozing methane into the debate ' debitcardmayhem '

Hey Lil [the Peugeot ] fellah is a bit posh isn't he, he's got a PSU tester !. I'll bet he got one of those red plastic screwdrivers with a non-magnetic end too, flash sod !

Lil306

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

There's enough gas seepage in this thread already, without you oozing methane into the debate ' debitcardmayhem '

Hey Lil [the Peugeot ] fellah is a bit posh isn't he, he's got a PSU tester !. I'll bet he got one of those red plastic screwdrivers with a non-magnetic end too, flash sod !

Me posh....noooooooooooo, I'm a pit yacker

It would be good to know how to troubleshoot a PSU with a multimeter, I did actually find a link in favourites to research at some stage if I ever was interested

I just prefer to use a PSU Tester for the fact it saves me the time.

I think I'll have to test out a PSU at some point, just so i get annoyed at probing the wires

And yes, spudgie the budgie is your safeguard. If he dies, then you know it's time to skedaddle.

amcluesent

>What does a multimeter do?<

Measure the amount of data on the disk, if too much has drained away, the PC won't work. I was learnt that at Uni.