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Computer will not turn on -- stumped
NP
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
OK, this is pretty weird. I've never really seen anything like this, so any suggestions would be much appreciated. My computer was working perfectly fine this morning, and I left it on (as I usually do) when I went to work. I got back today, and clicked on the "Firefox" icon and it wasn't loading up. I started the task manager and it showed 0% cpu usage for everything, but then I noticed that all of my applications (IM programs, email, etc..) that were open were completely frozen. Then after I brought up the task manager, I also noticed that windows explorer was completely frozen. I could still Ctrl+alt+del and bring up the security menu but nothing else on my computer was working at all. So what to do..?
Well, I decided to just fuck it and reboot, so I hit the reset button on my box and nothing happened. Weird. So then I held down the power button for about 20 seconds and nothing happened. Even weirder--it should have forced a shutdown. OK, there's always an easy solution, right? So I hit the power switch on the back of the power supply. Bingo, computer is now off. So I turn the power supply back on and hit the power button on the front of my computer and I'm not getting anything. I tried flicking the power supply switch a few times and still absolutely nothing. I opened up my computer and noticed that the green light on my motherboard is on, so it's getting power, but nothing I was doing got it to turn on. I tried checking if the power cable was loose (no dice), if the power switch on the case was somehow loose (nope again, seems ok to me). I really have absolutely no idea what the problem could be, seeing as my computer was on just a few minutes ago.
I'm guessing that some part of my computer just took a shit, hence why all the programs were hanging, and now it's causing problems with bootup. I seriously have no idea where to start looking. My first instinct tells me it's the power supply, but how come I'm getting the green light on my motherboard? And how come my computer was able to stay on before (I could still ctrl+alt+del, remember..just couldn't load any applications besides task manager)? Second instinct says it's a processor problem, but that wouldn't cause absolutely nothing to appear on bootup. It would most likely just beep to all hell that there's no processor installed. Third instinct, and most likely, motherboard is fried. But how come the green light still comes on?
I'm the only person that uses this computer (and the only person that goes near this computer) so it isn't like any liquids or anything were spilled on it. I checked to see if a bug crawled in there and died on my motherboard but no, my room is pretty clean and there are no bugs in here. I'm seriously at a complete loss. Any advice..?
Well, I decided to just fuck it and reboot, so I hit the reset button on my box and nothing happened. Weird. So then I held down the power button for about 20 seconds and nothing happened. Even weirder--it should have forced a shutdown. OK, there's always an easy solution, right? So I hit the power switch on the back of the power supply. Bingo, computer is now off. So I turn the power supply back on and hit the power button on the front of my computer and I'm not getting anything. I tried flicking the power supply switch a few times and still absolutely nothing. I opened up my computer and noticed that the green light on my motherboard is on, so it's getting power, but nothing I was doing got it to turn on. I tried checking if the power cable was loose (no dice), if the power switch on the case was somehow loose (nope again, seems ok to me). I really have absolutely no idea what the problem could be, seeing as my computer was on just a few minutes ago.
I'm guessing that some part of my computer just took a shit, hence why all the programs were hanging, and now it's causing problems with bootup. I seriously have no idea where to start looking. My first instinct tells me it's the power supply, but how come I'm getting the green light on my motherboard? And how come my computer was able to stay on before (I could still ctrl+alt+del, remember..just couldn't load any applications besides task manager)? Second instinct says it's a processor problem, but that wouldn't cause absolutely nothing to appear on bootup. It would most likely just beep to all hell that there's no processor installed. Third instinct, and most likely, motherboard is fried. But how come the green light still comes on?
I'm the only person that uses this computer (and the only person that goes near this computer) so it isn't like any liquids or anything were spilled on it. I checked to see if a bug crawled in there and died on my motherboard but no, my room is pretty clean and there are no bugs in here. I'm seriously at a complete loss. Any advice..?
NP on
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It's weird though, it's a good power supply: Antec, and it's only a few months old. I bought it in November. I wonder if there's some sort of warranty on this thing..
And which Antec power supply is it? Because one particular Antec line has a very high rate of failure (>20%).
And as far as I can tell the power button is ok. The wires seem to be connected properly, and it worked fine last time I turned it on, which was a day or two ago. And yep, it's still set to 110V (actually, 115V, but same thing).
I'm going to reccomend you remove every single component, excluding the processor but including removing every cable from its connection, from the motherboard. Then, reset the BIOS using the reset jumper. Then, replace only the most critical components (video card, a stick of RAM) and try to boot the machine. See if it POSTs. If it does, connect a hard disk and hope for the best. Continue adding components until something fails.
If the machine won't boot no matter what but the fans come on, odds are good that your motherboard is dead. Motherboards feature voltage regulators and other failsafes that protect components in the event of failure so, with any luck, it's just a quick mobo swap.
Good luck.
open her up, remove everything (Memory, video cards, IDE cables, modems, everything except processor). Leave power supply plugged into mobo. Press power. Does it beep at you? y/n.
if y: Plug items back in one at a time (shutting off each time and turning back on) until you find the culrpit.
if n: You have either a failing power supply or failing motherboard. Borrow a friends power supply and plug it into your mobo, Does it beep? y/n, repeat steps.
If friends PS works, your PS is dead.
If friends PS doesn't work, your mobo is dead.
I forgot to mention this, because it's an unconcious thing for me, but you may not have done it yet. If it doesn't POST, always reset the BIOS.
I had a friend who had a bad power supply. We tried to convince the tech support that it must be the motherboard since the fans worked. They sent a new power supply and the computer worked after that.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
It's the Smartpower. I've lost two so far.
Sucks because I love them when they're working.
Other than the Smartpower (thanks Heir), Antec is up near the top for reliability, and would probably be ranked higher if they would either fix or drop that line of power supplies. They still don't compare to Seasonic, Sparkle and FSP though.
If it does try a quick swap. If not see if you can find one you can borrow of a quick memory test or a place that can test the memory in the system.
I am have missed it in a early post but are you hearing any kind of beeps when you try to start the computer up. POST should give you some kind of sound signal that indicate where its getting stuck.
with problems like this i tend to:
1) swap PSU
2) swap cpu
3) swap mobo
putting your cpu in a buddy's comp would be enough to isolate if that was the problem. i had the same thing happen save that the fans would turn on but no post or anything, i think it was the cpu in the end but i ended up just scapping the mobo as well since the capacitors looked a little shitty
good luck
All the more reason to hold onto old parts (provided they're compatible with your current shit).