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Nothing happens when I hit power

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Name: Rob
Date: August 26, 2003 at 07:25:13 Pacific
OS: N/A
CPU/Ram: N/A
Comment:

I have a computer that worked fine yesterday. Today, it will not start. I hit the power button and absolutely nothing happens. I tried replacing the power supply, but it's still the same thing. Can somebody please give some suggestions on what it could be and how to fix it? Thanks.



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Response Number 1
Name: RayMan
Date: August 26, 2003 at 07:32:56 Pacific
Reply:

what kind of motherboard and operating system are you using? the motherboard controlls the power supply in an ATX style computer. if this is the case then the motherboard has problems. when you click the power on, does the power supply fan move a little and shut down?


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Response Number 2
Name: robphillips79
Date: August 26, 2003 at 07:48:26 Pacific
Reply:

No, nothing at all happens. Not even a spike of power seems to get through. I don't know if it's a bad wire from the power button to the mobo, or if maybe the power supply slot on the mobo is bad, or if there is a bad fuse. No idea. I just know absolutely nothing happens when I hit the power button.


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Response Number 3
Name: schwentner
Date: August 26, 2003 at 09:27:46 Pacific
Reply:

it's plugged in, right? and if it's in a power strip, the strip is turned on? I know this sounds like a smart ass answer, but it happened to me once....just a thought


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Response Number 4
Name: cc0537
Date: August 26, 2003 at 09:42:36 Pacific
Reply:

make sure it's set to usa and not europe on back of psu


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Response Number 5
Name: robphillips79
Date: August 26, 2003 at 10:56:23 Pacific
Reply:

all of that has been checked. I even took a different computers front casing off for their power supply switch and plugged it into the other computer with the same result. Maybe the mobo is fried.


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Response Number 6
Name: gerry
Date: August 26, 2003 at 11:51:40 Pacific
Reply:

Pull all the cards except the video card and disconnect all the drives (power and signal).


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Response Number 7
Name: RayMan
Date: August 27, 2003 at 07:10:15 Pacific
Reply:

OK. The ATX standard requires the motherboard to signal the power supply (pin 14 goes to ground) to turn on. The power supply checks +3.3 and +5 volts. if they are in spec, the power supply signals back to the MB (pin 8 goes to 5V) to begin the POST process.

if pin 14 is floating when you press the on button then the path from button to MB or MB to power supply is broken.

the power supply can be forced on by connecting pin 14 to ground (or maybe pins 13 or 15) but I wouldn't run it that way. it will however tell you if it POSTs. If the MB is bad it will surely tell you.


If pin 14 is being grounded by the motherboard when the button is pressed and pin 8 is low or floating, then the power supply is bad. If 14 is low and pin 8 is high, then the motherboard is probably bad.

use this for reverence. ATX PowerSupply


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