Should I replace my PSU?

HoolyNI

Hello all, my son has a basic set up for doing homework, browsing etc, I added 4gb of RAM to it about 6 weeks ago then last week he said something inside went bang and it stopped working. It's an old refurb: Optiplex 780 SFF and doesn't owe us anything, but would like to get it running again [can replace PSU for £30] and let my 8yo use it as a starter PC if possible.

Have had it apart as much as I dare and checked all the connections and that the start switch still makes contact. I opened the PSU and looked inside but could see no obvious signs of damage....the green LED doesn't light up nor do any fans start. Am pretty sure it's the PSU but wanted to ask if there's likely to be another culprit or any other components are likely to have been damaged?

googler

Get a replacement PSU off eBay or similar and give it a go.

Speculation on whether or not other bits are gone is redundant. You have to test the other components, and you can't test them without a PSU

cx6

have you checked the plug fuse ? also is the psu fused?

googler

You can check some of the static PSU output with a multimeter, but most of a PC PSU only provides voltage in response to the on-off switch, so unless you jerry-rigged the switching .... 

getmore4less

Might be worth a callout on freecycle to see if anyone local has something in their stash.

google found a machine for £35
https://www.itinstock.com/dell-optiplex-760-pentium-dual-core-e5300-260ghz-2gb-80gb-windows-10-pro-sff-pc-71034-p.asp

probably more on ebay

HoolyNI

cx6 said:

have you checked the plug fuse ? also is the psu fused?

I changed the fuse, power cable and tried a different socket.

Cisco001

PSU look like £25.
Don't bother.

Plenty of i3 4th gen desktop on ebay around £45. Much easier just spend that little extra.

HoolyNI

Picked up another refurb but have hit an issue already....everything started up and ran as it should have, performed an update and now the OS wont start up keeps saying "automatic repair couldn't repair your pc"....and when I go in to try and perform a system reset it is saying "there aren't any administrator accounts on this pc" so wont let me do anything...

J_B

Assuming W10 (?) download a frest ISO from MS and reinstall windows?

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html

HoolyNI

Tried that but wouldn't allow a fresh install. Was able to activate admin via the USB drive I made for the fresh install and get in to do a reset, but it wouldn't perform a reset either so it's packed up ready for return and have ordered a different model elsewhere.

getmore4less

Could you access the bios?
Should be able to reset and up date that way.