PC won't start up

[DaveGSCymro]

Just got back from holiday and pressed the button to turn the PC on and nothing happened. Had a look at the back and the green light on the power unit is flickering. Opened the PC up and disconnected the power supply to the motherboard and the light on the power unit turns permanently on. My first question is, should the power light be on permanantly or should it flicker? If it should be on permanantly, is it likely to be the motherboard that is faulty?

I have disconnected all the drives and sound cards etc, to see if this makes a difference, but the light still flickers. Neither of the fans kick in and the on light on the front of the unit doesn't come on.

Any ideas??

 

[centaur]

Sounds like the PSU is knacked, how old's the 'puter ?

 

[Dickieboy]

Dave it could be the motherboard or hard drive, I'm assuming that you left the machine plugged in when you went away, so the next question would be is it plugged into an anti-surge socket or directly into the mains socket? If it's plugged directly into the mains it may well have had a power surge which is very common in the circumstances you describe. If it has had a surge you are generally covered by your contents insurance.
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Edit. power light should be on all the time when switched on.
the only flickering light should be the HDLED which is the one that comes on when the computer is actually doing something.

 

[DaveGSCymro]

Sounds like the PSU is knacked, how old's the 'puter ?

Thanks for the reply, it is about 4 years old.

 

[DaveGSCymro]

Dave it could be the motherboard or hard drive, I'm assuming that you left the machine plugged in when you went away, so the next question would be is it plugged into an anti-surge socket or directly into the mains socket? If it's plugged directly into the mains it may well have had a power surge which is very common in the circumstances you describe. If it has had a surge you are generally covered by your contents insurance.
.
Edit. power light should be on all the time when switched on.
the only flickering light should be the HDLED which is the one that comes on when the computer is actually doing something.

Thanks for this reply. It is plugged directly into the mains, so there could of been a power surge. The only problem with the contents insurance is the excess, with a PSU being available for about £25 and a motherboard from about £35, probably not worth putting a claim in. Is there a way of testing either the PSU or motherboard?

 

[Iain Hogg]

Bought a PSU for under a fiver just the other week.

Only problem was the £5 P&P - it cost me a fortune buyingn extra bits to justify that

 

[centaur]

Thanks for this reply. It is plugged directly into the mains, so there could of been a power surge. The only problem with the contents insurance is the excess, with a PSU being available for about £25 and a motherboard from about £35, probably not worth putting a claim in. Is there a way of testing either the PSU or motherboard?

If it was a power surge I'd have expected some fried components in the box.
If this is the case and you have 'new for old' contents policy, try a claim.

If on the other hand there is no sign, it's prob worth a punt on a cheapish PSU, but MoBo's have moved on apace in the last few years and may not be compatible with the processor chip on yours. Sometimes the effort of sourcing stuff compatible with older 'puters isn't worthwhile and a newer model (even secondhand) may be easier all round.

Assuming the Hard drive is ok, your files can be transferred to the next 'puter easily enough.

 

[DaveGSCymro]

Fixed it!! Tried another PSU from a mate and hey presto.

Thanks for all you replies.