My PC is dead - please HELP.

[ktnwin]

I have been using my 1.2GHz PC for video editing, DVD making, etc... for two years. It was great.

Last weekend, I turned it ON and absolutely nothing happens.
I checked the power cord upto the power supply, yes, it was plugged in and there is AC voltage there (110V or 120V) using a voltmeter.
I was in the middle of a video project and want to finish up my DVD !!!

Can someone tell me what the problem is ? is this is power supply that went dead on me or the motherboard or ???

[Red96TA]

Sounds like your PSU crapped out. Change it out and see what happens.

Better yet, upgrade the whole darn thing...by the looks of it, it's about that time.

[kyemeng]

Most likely the PSU is dead. Have you check the output from the PSU?

[Scottie]

Uplug the Power suply for your motherboard and but it in your mouth....


oh yeah I'd say PSU to

[redwudz]

Another possibility is the 'on' button at the front of the computer. This is what tells the MB to turn on the power supply. Check the connections to the MB. While you're at it check all internal connections, especially the PS connection. You can jumper across the 'on' button safely. Usually, though with newer computers, the CPU fan will give a little jerk when the line cord is first plugged in, even with the front switch inoperative. You might check that also.

If that fails, PS replacement.

[Capmaster]

Uplug the Power suply for your motherboard and but it in your mouth....


oh yeah I'd say PSU to

Do you have anything helpful to add, or just this?

[bazooka]

A good way to test if it is your power supply is to use the probe in the big atx plug while the power supply is hooked up and see if the motherboard is getting twelve volts.

If not, then the power supply is bad.

[ktnwin]

Thanks for all the good suggestions (I always ignore bad comments).
I will try to short the Power ON button first, if this does not work then I will replace the power supply.
And Yes, I am thinking about replacing it with a new computer too. However, if a new power supply does it then why spend a few hundreds $$$ for this stuff. This PC is doing everything I need for my home video works (editing, makeing DVD etc..and that's all I used it for), replacing it with a newer one adds no value or just very little value.

[zzyzzx]

I'm still using the same 230W power supply that came with my AT case that I bought in 1994. Are the ATX ones that unreliable?

Tom's Hardware has a nice review about how manufacturers are overstating the ratings of their power supplies and some vendors (like Directron) even sometimes state the weight of the power supply as a crude measurement of power supply quality (i.e. - if brand A 350W ps is noticably lighter than brand B then it's probably not as good, etc.)

[ktnwin]

Finally, I got sometimes to go get a 350watts ATX power supply from Frys for about 35$. Replacing this and my PC is up and running again as it used too. It's pretty straightforward.
I can still use this PC (1.2Ghz) to do all my video works.