Computer Tech help needed.

[Stratos]

Hello fellow Ironworkers,

I have a small problem with my computer, sometimes when I try to start it nothing happens. Doesn´t matter how many time I press press the ON button still nothing. This doesn´t happen all the time but I´ve had it three days in a row now and it´s getting annoying. I still managed to start the computer these days but I had to fiddle with the cables and choose another wall socket and today it happened again. Could there be something wrong with my computer ( it´s only about 6 month old), the cables or the wall sockets? I can use other electric devices with the sockests, it´s only the computer that messes up. Am I connecting too much stuff on one socket (comp., monitor, speakers, modem and router?)

[Larry_OHF]

Not being an expert in problem solving...still I would think of the following:

1. Your power cable may be bad.
2. Your power supply box could be the problem.
3. Hard drive is bad (happened to a friend, similar to your story)
4. Start-up button may be faulty.

Did you buy it under warrenty? Is that warrenty still effective?
No reason for you to suffer the suspense of finding the problem.

[Brennihelvete]

It might just be the cable from your on off button to the motherboard thats faulty or not plugged correctly. Check that first [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Xero279]

sounds to me just like a cable problem. i doubt it is something with your actual computer if it works when you plug it into a differnt socket. although, it could be with the actual button.

have you tryed pushing it harder or softer, or holding it in for a sec longer? (dont hold it in too long).

[andrewas]

I have seen motherboards that get part-fried or just plain old and behave very much like you described. But its not common and Ive never seen it in a machine this new.

I suspect either a dying PSU or maybe just a dodgy switch. You could try getting another machine and trying its switch and PSU with yours. Goes without saying that you should also check all the cables and connectors in case one of them is lose or damaged.

[Stormymystic]

also, check the prongs, sometimes they come lose from the wires, if that is the problem, then just buy a new cord, and as everyone else said, check the switch, see if it is properly

[Reeka]

Hhmm......I can't really sayig because I know that outlets and plugs are different in Europe than the US. But, if it is only MONTHS old I would call the manufacturer. Surely it is still under warranty and if not, they ought to have some sort of user support and could maybe fix you up. What kind of computer is it? I would start there. As I said, I won't speculate because European plugs and sockets are different, but I went through 3 power cords in a year with my comp--they were just faulty. The one I have now works though and has for some time. Good luck, hun.

[Stratos]

Thanks! I´ll try to check with another power cable. I had another comp. before this one and IIRC it behaved the same occasionly. But I´m not 100% sure of that since it was some time ago I had it. My dad has it now and he claims it works just fine. The problem with the warranty is that, as far as I know, only applies to each individual component and not the comp. as a whole (yes I know it was a bad deal.) And the company I bought it from, an internet company, have some really complex rules as to return it. You have to pay for the shipping yourself and they pay for the reurn to you once they fix the problem. That is IF they find a problem.
If it´s just the power cable or power supply box then it´s cheaper to buy a new than to return it to the store. I´m gonna let someone check the wall sockets though, they might be old and one of them is actually a bit loose.
The comp. have behaved like this a few times before but not as often as recent weeks and definitly not three days in a row.

[Stratos]

BTW what´s happening when I turn on the computer is that the small lamps on it lights up briefly and then goes black. Perhaps this will shed some light on things.

[Animal]

Power supply is fried. Replace with a known good one to verify.

WARNING: Dell computers use a proprietary power supply. It looks the same, but it will fry your mobo if you connect a Dell PS to a regular motherboard or vice versa, so consider yourself warned.