PSU went up in smoke. New PSU won't boot PC

townsbg said:

With age the capacitors might go bad but why else might a motherboard scorch other than a bad power supply?

Another powered off a computer that was always on for months. It would not repower. That proved (using wild speculation) that power cycling is destructive. Then I took it. A pullup resistor had one function. To bootstrap the power supply controller during power on. Sometime over many months, that resistor failed. It was scorched. But I did not notice until test equipment found it faster.

That resistor failed due to a manufacturing defect - the most common reason for electronics failure. Power cycling only created a symptoms - it would not power on maybe one month after that resistor failed. A classic example of how wild speculation jumps to conclusions rather than first learn how electronics really work.

Most failures (even years later) are due to manufacturing defects. We all learned about electronics failing because some company counterfeited electrolyte. That manufacturing defect only became obvious in all electronics many years later. So many, instead, blamed fictional surges. And bought a UPS or surge protector. They could not first learn facts provided by the fewer who actually do this stuff.

OP's problem is addressed productively and immediately had he used recommendations that provide numbers. It required minutes of labor. Apparently fear and myths from others means that defect remains for days - when it could have been resolved in minutes.

Why would that part smoke? Only observed after the shop did shotguning - and did not use a meter. A burning smell only existed after it went to a shop - that also made bogus claims about short circuits. Just another reason why informed tech do not shotgun.

Had the meter been used, then reasons for the failure could also be discussed. Shotgunning means one must cast blame using wild speculation such as power cycling, surges, voltage variations, heat, ... maybe even an earthquake. Why not? Wild speculation can take liberties. Great nations are founded in liberty.

Layback Bear said:

Most members requesting help don't have a quality DVOM, oscilloscope, or a signal generator along with the schematics and training to do such test.

A smelly PSU was replaced. Computer still did not work. How can that be when you know a burned smell from a PSU means it must be defective?

Who said anything about complex equipment? Read requested instructions or just invent fears. Spend $10 on a meter. Solution is that expensive. How much does a shop repairmen cost? $80? He could not even fix it. Why make assumptions about a DVOM, oscilloscope, or a signal generator? The emotional assume rather than first read simple instructions. Please learn what is required rather than deluge us with bogus speculation.

An eight grade education is sufficient to collect and post three digit numbers - in minutes.. Then the few, who actually know how hardware works, post a solution. Without mocking expressions such as "it might be... " or "maybe you could try ..." Amazing (actually scary) how difficult this is for some adults. To read and learn before knowing something.

What determines when a computer can power on and off? A power controller. What is the OP's problem? Power cycling does not work. What determines that? A power controller. A meter, some requested instructions, and minutes of labor answers. That means numbers. Eyes must glaze over so that a power controller does not burn out retinas. Lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh my. Cue the music.

Somehow a $10 or 600 rupee meter costs a thousand dollars? He feels. So it must be true. Entire problem can be answered in minutes. But that means a layman must read instructions that even an eight grade science student can perform. Of course, someone must provide the kid with a $10 meter and a screw driver - a complex task.

Mellon Head said:

Glad you got it running probuddha. Give it a few days of operation and let us know how it is running. :)

Surely. Thank you so much for all your help