PC Getting No Power At All

Hey everyone.

I built my box last summer and everything has been running fine since then. I don't leave it running extended periods when I'm not using it.

I was using Remote Desktop (MS's) to remote to it from my laptop last night (it is in another room and has a USB wireless adapter).

After about 30-45 mins, the RDC connection was lost and I had to manually reboot the PC in order to re-connect.

After the second time it lost the connection, I looked at the USB adapter and the "busy" light was off, so it had stopped working.

I tried plugging it in, in the other back USB ports but to no success, the light remained out.

Then I tried a front USB port. That didn't work. So I did a restart.

However, the machine powered off and has yet to come back on.

There is no sign of life. The mobo doesn't have any lights lit. Manually pressing the power button on the inside (on the mobo) didn't do anything.

I'm wondering if the front USB port shorted my mobo (or PSU) or if the PSU itself died (without affecting the MB).

I'll get a new PSU and try. Then I'll look at perhaps the MB was fried. I REALLY hope the CPU is unharmed.

The PSU itself doesn't light up (has an internal red light) anymore or spin.

Anyone have ideas or advice before I shell out another $500 for PSU and Mobo?

(My specs are below)

Ciara said:

Hi Win7User512 :), Have you checked the fuse in the mains plug as there is no sign of power to your PSU ?, if you use a surge protector that may need checking as well.

What fuse are you talking about? I did try another PC power cord that should be working (I used it on another PC).

I have to check the surge protector (it is lit, but I'll make sure stuff is powered by it).

I reseated the battery.

Later, I'll take the PSU out and try to power it disconnected from the MB.

You can't just power on a disconnected PSU! In order for that to work 2 pins need to be shorted. But if you plug in the PSU and not even the fan starts spinning it either gets no power from the outlet at all or the fuse is blown or the PSU is fried. Since the capacitors inside the PSU still hold dangerous charges after unplugging I don't recommend to check for/replace a possibly blown fuse yourself. That's something to be left for a trained tech !!

-DG

SledgeDG said:

You can't just power on a disconnected PSU! In order for that to work 2 pins need to be shorted. But if you plug in the PSU and not even the fan starts spinning it either gets no power from the outlet at all or the fuse is blown or the PSU is fried. Since the capacitors inside the PSU still hold dangerous charges after unplugging I don't recommend to check for/replace a possibly blown fuse yourself. That's something to be left for a trained tech !!

-DG

If the PSU went bad/died. Do you think it would kill the mobo?

I'd much rather just have to replace the PSU than the board.

The fuse in the 3 pin plug that goes in the wall socket (I did say >

the fuse in the mains plug

it depends on how much damaging current got into the board before the fuse blew. There is no way I could say that from here but if you see damaged caps on the board it's safe to order that too


If you're lucky your board and CPU are still ok.

@Ciara: That you did only I was talking about the fuse inside the PSU



-DG

Well I will be ordering a new PSU tomorrow so I can try powering up again.

I tried the "paperclip test" for testing the PSU and it showed no signs of life.

Hopefully my problem will only be the PSU.

SledgeDG said:

it depends on how much damaging current got into the board before the fuse blew. There is no way I could say that from here but if you see damaged caps on the board it's safe to order that too


If you're lucky your board and CPU are still ok.

@Ciara: That you did only I was talking about the fuse inside the PSU



-DG

I looked over all the capacitors and NONE looked damaged, so hopefully the board and chip are OK.