Friends PC Won’t Power ON. What Should I look For?

August 25th, 2013

A friend of mines called me up an told me that his PC dies not power up when it hits the start button, he said that he just changed the power supply, I don’t know the specifications of his rig or what name brand power supply that he brought?
All I know is that he called me up telling me he need me to come over an look at it with him??
Just wanted to know what are the key elements that I have to look out for regarding this guys problem.
I just need some suggestions as to what the possibility might be before I get there being I have not seen the problem physical yet?

Answer #1
Change switch from OFF to ON!
Answer #2
is the psu correctly connected up ?
Change switch from OFF to ON!
LOL only if
Answer #3
wo_Ot? replied: Change switch from OFF to ON!
You have been working with apple customers too long
On topic. Firstly i would check the PSU is hooked up correctly to all components.
Then check the connection from the board to the case.
Answer #4
is the PC making any beep ?
Answer #5
jock_juffalo replied: wo_Ot? replied: Change switch from OFF to ON!
You have been working with apple customers too long
On topic. Firstly i would check the PSU is hooked up correctly to all components.
Then check the connection from the board to the case.

It was worth of trying… Anyway, my job description is a bit different.. I work in office, not in Store…

Answer #6
1. Check on-switch is on first
2. Check it’s connected to socket and back of psu firmly.
3. Make sure if there is a voltage switch that it’s set to the correct value (110v for US I think, 240 for UK).
4. Make sure the case’s on button’s wire is connected to the proper pins on the motherboard and the correct way (+ and -).
5. Make sure all the appropriate leads in the pc are connected..
6. Does the PSU give any LED lights to signal that theres power to it? is there an LED light on the psu even if it’s not lit up?
Check these…
Answer #7
there’s a switch at the back panel of the CPU just on the power supply, make sure its on
Answer #8
wo_Ot? WROTE: Change switch from OFF to ON!
Nice Try thou
jock_juffalo WROTE: On topic. Firstly i would check the PSU is hooked up correctly to all components.
Then check the connection from the board to the case.

Noted
Thanx
Oinz >_< Oinz WROTE: is the PC making any beep ?
Don’t know?
Won’t know till I get there, but I believe his exact words were no power at all.
A beep would be a indication the MOBO is working, so I probably doubt he heard a beep if he said there is no power at all?
shifty27 WROTE:
1. Check on-switch is on first
2. Check it's connected to socket and back of psu firmly.
3. Make sure if there is a voltage switch that it's set to the correct value (110v for US I think, 240 for UK).
4. Make sure the case's on button's wire is connected to the proper pins on the motherboard and the correct way (+ and -).
5. Make sure all the appropriate leads in the pc are connected..
6. Does the PSU give any LED lights to signal that theres power to it? is there an LED light on the psu even if it's not lit up?
Check these...

Now we are getting down to brass tax
Good suggestions, especially the LED light suggestion, will be on the look out for these factors.
What about the BIO battery, I remember years ago my PC would not start an it was the battery, it needed changing.
Anyway, what would be the worse case scenario, fried motherboard, etc………
Bit Rate WROTE: there's a switch at the back panel of the CPU just on the power supply, make sure its on
I hope he would not call me over there for something as simple as a flcik of a switch
Answer #9
The power switch / IO on the front of the puter could be worth checking if the cables are all connected and the psu works.
Answer #10
some psu do have switch so please look and responded so members don’t repeat the same answer
so you say the pc won’t turn on so that mean it might be the psu is gone bad or not connected properly or the pc power button is broken or the motherboard is fried
but it possible that he fried is motherboard when he was changing the psu
Answer #11
i remember recieving an old laptop from a friend of mine few years ago, said it wouldn’t power on, and it would emit a blinking troubleshooting code.
after doing research and digging around, turns out that the motherboard was fried and the voltage wasn’t enough to do the job.
so my guess is, your motherboard is kaput and needs replacement
though a shot in the dark: most power supplies have a small red switch on the back (that changes the voltage regulation settings for either USA, or europe), could it be possible that switch was in the wrong position and fried it?
Answer #12
Thanx…….. actually he has not gotten back to me after he made his house call to me, he dabbles in the stock market an is out the door at any given second.
I am assuming that he will get back to me sometime this week?
So till then, this thread is “To Be Continued”
Thanx for the suggestion guys, I will report back when I’ve seen the problem physically, first hand.
Answer #13
Lots of replies, I skimmed through most of them. Saw people saying to make sure the PSU is on, and connected. I doubt your buddy has disconnected his PSU. But, they go out ALL the time. His PSU probably died, make sure you bring a tester for that. I am willing to bet that is your problem.
PS: When ever I go on location to diagnose a problem of the computer not powering on, I bring an extra psu with me, cuz I always need it =D
Answer #14
I’m not to certain but I believe you have to have a compatible power supply as well. some are made to work with atx12v like lets say your machine needs an 20 pin and a 4 pin molex to power up and the power supply only came with a 20 pin and not a 4 pin.
Answer #15
Darkhero replied: I'm not to certain but I believe you have to have a compatible power supply as well. some are made to work with atx12v like lets say your machine needs an 20 pin and a 4 pin molex to power up and the power supply only came with a 20 pin and not a 4 pin.
You are mistaken,All ATX PSUs from the last 11 years comply to one ATX12V standard or the other,Older motherboards had a 20PIN
main connector while modern ones have 24,This makes no difference as current PSUs come with a detachable (20+4) connector for compatibility,And also have an additional 4PIN for the CPU regardless.
Answer #16
Did the PC die before or after he changed the PSU ?
Answer #17
Nel replied: Did the PC die before or after he changed the PSU ?
No word yet from this guy, I saw suppose to go over there yesterday, he has not called me back.
He is always busy, but will call as soon as he touches down at his house.
Hope he did not have me make thread inquiring help from my fellow WAREZ-BBian technician section area for nothing.
Thanx Nel… will have to consider that when I see his PC for myself.
Thanx too all fr your replies…… still examining all the possibilities thou?
Could be anything really???
Answer #18
SABERWOLF replied: Could be anything really???
Could only be 4 things:
1. He didn’t properly connect the PSU to the motherboard.
2. The PSU is turned off (New PSUs come off by default,have to be turned on from the back switch)
3. The PSU is DOA.
4. The motherboard is dead.
In order to test #3,Hotwire it:
http://www.techwarelabs.com/guides/misc_mod/psumod/
You could also use a bent metal paperclip instead of a wire,But either way you should first switch it off or remove the power
cord before inserting,Also,If using a paperclip,Place it on a piece of cardboard,You wouldn’t want it to cause a short circuit.
Answer #19
If you’re in the UK, check the fuse in the plug.
Answer #20
^If your referring to the PSU’s input voltage,He has no reason to fiddle with it,None whatsoever,Most modern PSUs have
automatic voltage sensing and no switch,And if the switch is there,A PC shop will Never,ever sell it set to the wrong voltage
not to mention it would’ve fried and go down with a boom if that was the case.
Answer #21
SABERWOLF replied: A friend of mines called me up an told me that his PC dies not power up when it hits the start button, he said that he just changed the power supply
SmAsHeDr replied: I doubt your buddy has disconnected his PSU. But, they go out ALL the time. His PSU probably died, make sure you bring a tester for that. I am willing to bet that is your problem.
Only if it was new and DOA or he installed a used a PSU, don’t you think?
Answer #22
Roberto400 replied: ...,And if the switch is there,A PC shop will Never,ever sell it set to the wrong voltage
I have purchased loads of psu’s here in the UK in the past, and you would be surprised how many of themwere set at 110v
*Edit, here in the UK we have 3 pin plugs/sockets for the mains supply, in which you can generally change a fuse.
Roberto400 replied: ^If your referring to the PSU's input voltage,He has no reason to fiddle with it,None whatsoever,Most modern PSUs have
automatic voltage sensing and no switch,And if the switch is there,A PC shop will Never,ever sell it set to the wrong voltage
not to mention it would've fried and go down with a boom if that was the case.

no I wasn’t
Answer #23
I appreciate all the comments
I am banking on seeing him probably this weekend, then an only then I can concluded what his dilemma.
I will report back here with his recorded problem.
Answer #24
Roberto400 replied: ^If your referring to the PSU's input voltage,He has no reason to fiddle with it,None whatsoever,Most modern PSUs have
automatic voltage sensing and no switch,And if the switch is there,A PC shop will Never,ever sell it set to the wrong voltage
not to mention it would've fried and go down with a boom if that was the case.

^ Must work at a pc hardware store LOL….I hope this problem gets solved
edit: btw if you are in america, and you set it to 220 or was set to 220…it would be IMPOSSIBLE for it to fry or even go boom lol.

 

| Sitemap |