Computer will not power on

amandacatto

My main office home computer will not power on. When I press the usual on button on top of the tower there is nothing - no light, no fans etc. There is nothing wrong with the electrical supply. Swapped a lead from another computer. When I plugged it in the back a little green light came on momentarily and I thought I had sorted it. Pressed the on button - there was a milli second of light and then nothing.

I hope someone can help me - I am not particulalry techie - have tried to do a search on these forums and people were talking about PSU's and motherboards......

Thanks in advance - Amanda

12bdebt3

PSU is a power supply unit. If that's gone then your computer won't come on. I'm not as up to date on hardware as I am software but it does sound like that's the problem. I don't think it costs too much for a new one, but if you aren't able to install it into your tower yourself that's what might cost you. I could be wrong and it could be a different problem, but it does seem like it's your PSU. There is also a possibility it could be the fan. The fan might have gone; which could have overheated the PSU.

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/motherboard-callouts.jpg

That's a basic motherboard. I think the processor socket is what connects the motherboard with the PSU. If the PSU is sending the motherboard energy and a connection and the processor socket is broken then it won't receive it and the computer won't load anything. As I previously said I'm not as good with hardware but that's my conception of it.

enigma52

could be that it is just clogged up inside with dust.is it sited on a desk or on the floor + how old is it

amandacatto

Prob only about 2 years old. Tower sits underneath the desk with plenty of room and I do manage to keep it quite dust free. Think I may try to go via the install a new PSU (or get someone else to do it for me!!).

Many thanks for quick responses - Amanda

DatabaseError

Usually hardware failure is accompanied by "beeps", as a general rule, no beeps + fans spinning = CPU/motherboard, no beeps or fans spinning=PSU. I'm guessing you don't have access to a spare, so best bet to get a similar one is take the side off the PC, take a couple of photos of the connections, and unclip the PSU from the motherboard (2 connections) and the drives (1 connection each) make sure there are no extra connections (graphic card, fans... etc..) remove the 4 screws holding the PSU to the case and carefully remove from the case. Take it to a PC shop as say "one of these please" ..or even better "could you test this..."

There is a 'ghetto' PSU test, connecting a wire (or paperclip) between the GREEN wire on the ATX block (long block) and any BLACK wire on the block, which won't check voltages across the rails etc.., but it will provide a simple "it should work" , or not, power up the PSU, if it comes on (fan spinning) it's probably working, could even leave it connected to the drives, if they power on it's almost certainly NOT the PSU at fault. Obviously nor recommended for anyone to try, regardless of skill-set :P

spakkker

Look at the power rating on the current psu -prob 250 ,350 , 400 , 500 watts - ring local shops for a price for same power unit ,then ask how much to fit it.
Fitting is pretty straightforward -only 4 screws at back , everything else push fit.

googler

amandacatto wrote: »

I hope someone can help me - I am not particulalry techie - have tried to do a search on these forums and people were talking about PSU's and motherboards......

Well, now is the time to become techie. Time to learn what a PSU is, and what it does, etc.

I could write paragraphs on how you could buy a multimeter, check the output from the PSU, check the switch, etc., but we can't do the checking for you - you've got to acquire knowledge in order to do this yourself, or - take it to a PC repairer.

If you DO take it to a repairer, my advice would be to remove the hard drive first. Any competent repairer will be able to analyse power problems without it, and given some of the horror stories posted here recently about people losing their prized picture when 'menders' wiped their hard drives for them ....

amandacatto

Many thanks for your help will give it a go.

Cheers Amanda