Solved Computer turned off suddenly, now doesn't turn on

[praeambulus]

i was working in Maya..actually just browsing.i havent even created anything.the scene was empty.and i just started to make a basic model the computer suddenly turned off.then in 2 seconds turned on again (almost) but the monitor wasnt showing anything.hdd light was off (everytime my computer starts normally it's ON)..cpu fan was rotating slowly.and the diagnostic lights (i guess) were on on the motherboard..i was afraid that cpu may get overheated (because the fan was rotating very slowly) i cut off the electricity.then started the comp again..this time..the fan didin't even start rotating (just showed little signs that it kind of wants to start rotating)..2 seconds that last..then it turned off again..after that it's on for a second then off for another..it just turns on and off if i dont cut the electricity
and the thing that.if i wait some time.then turn on the comp it goes a little long and wants to start ( maybe for 4-5 seconds) and then the same thing..so i thought it might a overheating problem (though i haven't done anything that could cause that) and disconnected the graphics card, the drives and the hdds..didn't help

havent' had these kind of problems before.the comp is in good conditions.bought in 2009

the specs are:

Quad Core 2.66
4GB RAM
GTX 560Ti
Windows 7
580w power supply

and there's a ups..600v/s i think..it's old..dunno if this can cause the problem.just additioanl info

this is urgent..please help with anything u can.thank u very much

 

[TVeblen]

I hate to guess, but my initial reaction is Power Supply. But the UPS could be a complicating factor.

First, I would remove the UPS from the system and test.

Then, try another power supply in your system or try your power supply in another system. Do you have access to another PS you could test with?

Another thing you can try is to disconnect all external devices, all drives, and any other power draws that you can and see if the system will boot with just basic components: PS, MB/CPU, RAM, Graphics.

If we can eliminate the power supply as the cause (prove that it is good) then we can move on to the other potential causes.

 

[FaberTech]

i havnt seen something like that happen since my bios update failed and i didn't have a bios. the other time was on a laptop because the cmos battery was dead.

Id replace the cmos battery before replacing the power supply

The other times when i have seen similar issues was with bad ram or cpu. but start with the little things first. make sure your psu 4-8 pin CPU power cord is still plugged in and didn't come loose. and make sure your heat sink didnt come loose as well. after i moved to another apartment and didn't notice my heat sink came loose until i hooked my computer up and it would not last more than 20 seconds

 

[praeambulus]

thank you guys for replies

@TVeblen

i disconnected the ups.didn't help.so the ups is ok
i even disconnected all 'non-important' devices: all hdds, graphics card, drives.still same thing
unfortunately i don't have another ps to test with

@FaberTech

thanx for the suggestion.i'll change the cmos battery.but is it normal for it to be dead this soon? or it's not that soon? (3years in july)
'psu 4-8 pin CPU power' sorry, how exactly can i find it? cpu fan does work.all fans work.psu's as well

 

[FaberTech]

thank you guys for replies

@TVeblen

i disconnected the ups.didn't help.so the ups is ok
i even disconnected all 'non-important' devices: all hdds, graphics card, drives.still same thing
unfortunately i don't have another ps to test with

@FaberTech

thanx for the suggestion.i'll change the cmos battery.but is it normal for it to be dead this soon? or it's not that soon? (3years in july)
'psu 4-8 pin CPU power' sorry, how exactly can i find it? cpu fan does work.all fans work.psu's as well

3 years is normal. actual rated life of those things. if you have a 4-8 pin power plug for extra cpu power on your board, it will be located right next to the cpu and is reqired if located on your board.it will be either 4 6 or 8 pin plug. good luck

P.S. it could never hurt to try a different power cord on your psu. borrow a monitor cord if you don't have an extra one lying around.

 

[TVeblen]

All good suggestions by FaberTech.

To be clear: this just happened out of the blue while running Maya? Have you made any recent changes to the PC (hardware, BIOS settings, moved the unit)? And there have been no previous symptoms?

 

[FaberTech]

you should also reset the cmos while your in there. if the battery isnt dead, it may be your bios is goofed up. you could try resetting it.

 

[praeambulus]

that's the thing.i haven't made any changes to the hardware or bios..yes it just happened out of the blue
i'll replace the battery..i have extra cord coming out of ps..if i fond that 4 pin power cord.where do i plug it in? but the extra cords always been unplugged

thanx

 

[FaberTech]

this post and another are so similar that im going to post a link to the other on each one to help boost the solution to the problem.

http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-...uter-freezes-startup-before-beeper-posts.html

 

[FaberTech]

that's the thing.i haven't made any changes to the hardware or bios..yes it just happened out of the blue
i'll replace the battery..i have extra cord coming out of ps..if i fond that 4 pin power cord.where do i plug it in? but the extra cords always been unplugged

thanx

psus often come with a four and a six pin plug because the motherboard uses one or the other. if you have one, your six or four pin plug should be next to the processor. it would help if you could post your motherboard model to find out if you require one or not. also, applications can change bios settings even without telling you.

P.S. my motherboard on the computer im using right now uses a six pin plug. my other micro atx computer uses a four pin plug. thats why power supplies often have both. in case you need one or the other.

 

[FaberTech]

here are some examples of power ports on your motherboard.

ATX power port

 

[FaberTech]

4 pin

 

[FaberTech]

6 pin

 

[TVeblen]

If you have made no changes to the PC, did not move the machine, or drop it it is more likely to be a piece of hardware that blinked out. The power supply is the obvious one, but Maya is a graphics intensive program and it is also likely that the graphics card faulted.

It is difficult to diagnose bad parts without replacements, so at some point you need to consider bringing it to a shop where they have everything to switch out without you having to buy components willy-nilly.

The following is a standard diagnostic we do on new builds that do not boot. The purpose is to isolate the offending part. You should try this to see if you can determine what part is defective before considering outside professional help.

*****
New System Failure Diagnostic

Basic diagnostic procedure is to uninstall the entire build and start over. Some people do this out of the case by placing the motherboard on an anti-static surface. This eliminates the possibility that there is a short circuit between the motherboard and the case through the connection posts (stand-offs). A standoff in the wrong location or a sloppy job will cause a short.

The Test (power off, power cord unplugged):

• Disconnect everything externally connected except the mouse and keyboard (printers, USB devices, etc). If you are not using a wired mouse and keyboard see if you can borrow one. The wireless device is just another component you have to deal with.
• Disconnect the power and data cables from all the drives inside the computer (Hard drives, DVD/CD drives, etc).
• Remove all the cards installed in the expansion slots (PCI/PCI-e) including the video card. (Be careful handling them and place them on a non conductive surface while testing).
• Remove all the RAM sticks (same rules as above).

Now connect the power cord and turn the PC on.

• The motherboard should start beeping. You should get a beep code that tells you there is no memory. This is good, it means the processor is functioning and the motherboard is good so far.
• Now add one stick of memory in Slot A1 and power on. More beeping: "no video card" beep code. This is good.
• Then add the video card and connect it to the monitor. You should get no beeping and you should see the BIOS start screens, ending with the message that there is no boot device.
• If you get no video then switch the one memory stick installed for another one and test.
• If you do get video then start adding components back, one at a time, until the system fails to boot. The last component you added is then the problem component.

 

[FaberTech]

also make sure these are not coming loose. they are for your case power button, reset switch, and system speaker and are usually located at the bottom of the board

 

[FaberTech]

make sure the red switch at the back of the power supply is at the right setting as well. in the us it would be 115v and in Europe it would be 230v. although it is unlikely it switched itself as you need a tool to move it. just a thought

 

[usasma]

Is the fan still not working?
It sounds like the CPU fan bearings are gunked up. See if you can free it up by spinning it back and forth using some canned air.

Cautions-
- case unplugged from wall
- hold onto metal of case while working inside of it
- don't spin fan too fast/long - may cause damage
- don't use vacuum cleaner or air compressor as the may cause damage to system

Good luck!

 

[FaberTech]

Is the fan still not working?
It sound like the CPU fan bearings are gunked up. See if you can free it up by spinning it back and fort using some canned air.

Cautions-
- case unplugged from wall
- hold onto metal of case while working inside of it
- don't spin fan too fast/long - may cause damage
- don't use vacuum cleaner or air compressor as the may cause damage to system

Good luck!

If the fan is not working and other ones are you should also check the power plug for that fan and make sure no wiring is caught up in it.

 

[praeambulus]

thanx guys
all the fans are working
I think i found that 6pin cord.it's connected.it's on the upper right corner of the heatsink..it's getting late.i couldnt find a cmos battery.ill look for it tomorrow.but i reseated the battery.no result..
I guess got to do the diagnostic test.ill post the results.thank u very much

 

[FaberTech]

good luck