Computer died, and now...

[serpico]

I need some help. I have an older pc that I use as a backup server and one day it refused to boot. I turned it on but nothing shows up on the monitor screen at all and even the monitor doesn't awake from it's energy save mode. No bios boot up screen at all.

 

I don't hear any harddisk spinning at all. I'm not sure if this is a problem with the power supply, motherboard battery, the motherboard or something else. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on how to go about testing this computer or have a clue of what may have happened? Thanks guys in advance.

[Fran]

I don't hear any harddisk spinning at all. I'm not sure if this is a problem with the power supply, motherboard battery, the motherboard or something else. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on how to go about testing this computer or have a clue of what may have happened? Thanks guys in advance.

 

It sounds like the power supply to me. Had you noticed any strange smells, like ozone or heated plastic before the crash? If you have a PS you can trade it out with, I'd try that first.

[Jape]

Does it even power up ??, (ie do you hear any beeps ??) sounds like it just doesnt power up. Double check if youre cards are place in properly, check if your memory are placed properly, thats usually one of the problems with this kind of thing, though considering youre HD doesnt even spin up it seems like a power problem, maybe try another powercable or replace youre complete power supply and try if that works, eventually if that doesnt work, remove youre HD and place it in a working system to see if it works in there, you can try the same with youre Vid card, that way you can eliminate the components wich don't give you a problem wich leaves you with less options on where the problem lies...

 

Jape,

[serpico]

Smells? Hmm, honestly couldn't recall. My gut feeling is a failed power supply. If it is the power supply, is it easy to replace, does the case design effect which supply I need to buy? It is a standard 17" tower. Or is it safer to just get a new case & power supply and trade the innards to it?

[serpico]

Does it even power up ??, (ie do you hear any beeps ??) sounds like it just doesnt power up. Double check if youre cards are place in properly, check if your memory are placed properly, thats usually one of the problems with this kind of thing, though considering youre HD doesnt even spin up it seems like a power problem, maybe try another powercable or replace youre complete power supply and try if that works, eventually if that doesnt work, remove youre HD and place it in a working system to see if it works in there, you can try the same with youre Vid card, that way you can eliminate the components wich don't give you a problem wich leaves you with less options on where the problem lies...

 

Jape,

 

Thanks Jape. I have exchanged harddisks, still doesn't boot. I've checked the cards and memory too. This system was running as a backup server for months now. When I push the power button on the back and then the front of the PC, the green light turns on but I don't hear anything else. No fans, nada. My gut says the power supply, but never replaced one of these before. This is my first power supply failure, wow, after 20 years of pc use! Still not good...

[Jape]

Then indeed it sound like a power supply faillure, though not an expert on these, but the tower design doesn't matter much, most important is the wattage of the supply, id would just search for the same wattage power supply,

 

Alternatively you could also try vaccum cleaning the power supply, sounds weird but if it is a really old PC there is a good chance it is filled with dust, try cleaning it, last time i looked at a power supply of one of my old pc's (233mhz so REALLY old, i use it for routing i-net traffic) it was filled with dirt and dust, and the fans afterwards were turning around/rotating at twice the speed

 

Jape,

[serpico]

Thanks, I'll check the power supply for dust bunnies and then take it out. Unfortunately, I don't have another power supply to test. Might need to buy a new one.

[Ernest Burden III]

Thanks, I'll check the power supply for dust bunnies and then take it out. Unfortunately, I don't have another power supply to test. Might need to buy a new one.

 

There are about three different types of power supplies, so you need to get ther right one. I can't even remember what they are called. The most likely type for an older machine is an AT, but there was another type common before that, and now the ATs are being replaced by AT-12V or something like that. Look at the removed supply, or check with the motherboard manual or maker's website to find out the type needed.

 

Lastly, do not spend $800 worth of your time to fix a computer you can replace for half that with a much better model. In the end, even fixed, it's still an old machine worth little-or-nothing. As long as its working, that doesn't matter, but when you have to invest time and money into it...

[Jape]

There are about three different types of power supplies, so you need to get ther right one. I can't even remember what they are called. The most likely type for an older machine is an AT, but there was another type common before that, and now the ATs are being replaced by AT-12V or something like that.

 

ahh true.. forgot about that, the new ones are the ATX, you most definetly do not need these. Also you have micro-ATX and AT, so probably AT as Ernest said.

 

You can easily id them cause ;

 

AT --> has an on/off switch (wich doesn't jump back)

ATX --> has an switch wich, when you push it jumps back to original position, (crappy explenation but i think you'll get my point)

mATX--> are those very small ATX towers

 

Lastly, do not spend $800 worth of your time to fix a computer you can replace for half that with a much better model. In the end, even fixed, it's still an old machine worth little-or-nothing.

 

That's actually a smart point

[Ernest Burden III]

AT --> has an on/off switch (wich doesn't jump back)

ATX --> has an switch wich, when you push it jumps back to original position, (crappy explenation but i think you'll get my point)

mATX--> are those very small ATX towers

 

And there is the newer one--maybe called ATX12V I replaced a motherboard in my older machine a few months ago and was surprised that I also had to buy a new powersupply because the MB required this new type--it has an extra 12V four-pin connector.

[serpico]

Thanks guys. I decided not to fix it and use it for parts in the future. There's alot that can be re-used or given away. I might be picking something up soon, my wife has an interview on Monday and promised me that if she gets the job, she'll buy me a new system. Nice wife, now I know why I married her! LOL.