Computer problems

[Androidpk]

So my other computer was working fine the other night, now when I turn it on it automatically turns off after about 15 seconds. From the way it sounds when it starts up it sounds like the power supply is the issue but i'm not sure. Anyone know how to make sure it's the power supply without trying to use another PSU?

[Sean of the Thread]

how does it "sound" like it's the power supply? Describe the sound. Beeps?

Really the only thing you should here from your PS is the fan.

Oh you also deserve a high five for logging in and posting this help thread all in under 15 seconds!

hehe

[Bobmuhthol]

Power supplies don't make noise themselves (inherently, anyway), so I'm not sure what you'd be hearing that would lead you to that conclusion. I would disconnect all non-motherboard devices (hard drives, optical drives, anything USB, video cards) and power on the machine, then see if it turns off. Start adding your devices one at a time (hard drive last), and determine if it fails because of the addition of new devices. If the hard drive is the last thing you reconnect and then the computer starts to power off again, there might be something wrong with your boot sector.

[Sean of the Thread]

Ehhhh you can get to bobs suggestion later. Start off with more of a description for us first.

[Androidpk]

So my other computer

Keywords :)


When I said the sound it makes, I meant that it sounds like it's trying to power up but just can't do it. Like a car with a low battery trying to turn over.

[Sean of the Thread]

Ok now follow bobs post.

Sounds like Harddrive.

[Androidpk]

Ok I tried that out, nothing happens period now.

[Bobmuhthol]

Theoretically nothing noticeable should happen other than the CPU fan should spin -- if the power indicator isn't coming on at all, then there is either a disconnection between the power supply and the motherboard or the power supply is more fucked up than we thought.

[Sean of the Thread]

Does your motherboard have a LED indicator (usually green) on the mother board itself?

[Androidpk]

I've checked and double checked and all the connections are solid. There is an led it doesn't turn on at all now.

[Drew2]

It sounds like your power supply to me. lol @ HD boot sector, it wouldn't cause the computer to shut off on its own. The only thing that does that (9/10 times) is the power supply.

[The Ponzzz]

Late coming, but I would 99% say it is the power supply.

[Bobmuhthol]

<<lol @ HD boot sector, it wouldn't cause the computer to shut off on its own.>>

Uh, yeah, it would. It can very easily trigger a shutdown, which is different from a power failure. But I guess I don't work for a middle school so I don't know anything.

[Methais]

So my other computer was working fine the other night, now when I turn it on it automatically turns off after about 15 seconds. From the way it sounds when it starts up it sounds like the power supply is the issue but i'm not sure. Anyone know how to make sure it's the power supply without trying to use another PSU?

Psinet hacked your computer.

[Drew2]

<<lol @ HD boot sector, it wouldn't cause the computer to shut off on its own.>>

Uh, yeah, it would. It can very easily trigger a shutdown, which is different from a power failure. But I guess I don't work for a middle school so I don't know anything.

It's not because you don't work for a middle school, it's because you don't work in IT at all, whereas I've been doing this since I was younger than you.

Also, I worked for an elementary, not a middle school, but now I'm an IT Consultant for a private firm. And whether you'd like to believe it or not, I pretty much know what I'm talking about.

[Bobmuhthol]

IT Consultants aren't Computer Technicians. Throwing around your amazing ability to go from job to job in IT means shit here.

[Drew2]

IT Consultants aren't Computer Technicians. Throwing around your amazing ability to go from job to job in IT means shit here.

Teenage boys with l33t calculus skillz aren't computer technicians either. Constantly reminding us that you're in advanced math classes doesn't mean shit around here, either.


edit: I'm obviously not referring to this thread with that last statement.

[Bobmuhthol]

Okay? The difference is I didn't say, "I know what I'm talking about because I know calculus," however, you did say, "I know what I'm talking about because I work in a field that's somewhat related to the topic."

[Androidpk]

Going to order a replacement PSU and see how it goes from there.

[Methais]

Teenage boys with l33t calculus skillz aren't computer technicians either.

Are you trying to say that Bob = Warclaidhm?

[Drew2]

No. Alex can actually perform calculus, whereas Warclaidhm can actually suck dicks.

Anyway, part of my (current and previous) job(s) involves fixing hundreds of computers. IT Consultant is a pretty broad term, but that's what my business card says so that's the easiest way to explain my job.

[BigWorm]

http://www.chs.org/graphcoll/images/1995_36_1304.jpg

[Androidpk]

Ok so I replaced the power supply and the computer turns on now... But I don't get a signal to my monitor and the mouse and keyboard do not turn on with the computer. :(

[Bobmuhthol]

(I win.)

[Bobmuhthol]

If you're using onboard video, your peripherals not working could be a sign that your motherboard sucks.

[Sean of the Thread]

(I win.)

Or not.

[Bobmuhthol]

I never gave a concrete diagnosis, unlike the people who screamed that it was definitely the PSU and that everything would be solved.

[Celephais]

Yeah... if he says he replaced the power supply and the shut downs stopped, you might have won if he replaced the HD and they stopped... it doesn't mean the HD cannot cause a shutdown, but it certainly didn't affirm your win.

The "15 seconds" you get of it being on, what was happening? Were you getting anything on the screen or any beeps or keyboard lights? I've seen shit like that happen where people shorted their MBs to their case... (this could be the case if it shorted, you fried both MB and PSU, then in your fiddling "removed" the short... so now you're just witnessing an F'd MB)

If you cannot get into BIOS then I would say the HD has nothing to do with the issue... I would suggest pulling your CMOS battery, reseating it, then if you have multiple sticks of ram, switching to just one (might have to swap between them if one works and the other is bad). Is your keyboard a USB or a PS/2, if you can get one that's PS/2 that'd be a safer bet for holding down the appropriate F-key (changes based on MB)... but certainly shouldn't be the cause of the other issues.

And no, this isn't a statement of what it is one way or another, just some things to help diagnose.

[Bobmuhthol]

<<Yeah... if he says he replaced the power supply and the shut downs stopped, you might have won if he replaced the HD and they stopped>>

Except I never said the hard drive was the problem. My only argument was that it wasn't definitely the power supply.

[Celephais]

<<Yeah... if he says he replaced the power supply and the shut downs stopped, you might have won if he replaced the HD and they stopped>>

Except I never said the hard drive was the problem. My only argument was that it wasn't definitely the power supply.
Which is accurate, but that's like claiming "It may be this, or it may not be" then claiming "win" regardless of outcome.

[Sean of the Thread]

Sorry bob you lose.

In all actuality I win for suggesting the proper path to redemption.

You're a bright kid no doubt... but you're still a kid.