Ok quick question..... PSU went out in comp ordered new one and case. installed everything ( 1 HDD, Floppy, Cd-rom) now on boot up I get no video. Now before PSU went out comp was working ( with video). Now question is ow likely is it that when PSU went out it took out ram and/or MB and CPU. When I replaced the PSU it was a really cheap one (POWMAX 400w) only weighted maybe 2pounds is that how I know its possible for it to go out and take something with it but how likly? Just for general info MB/CPU new and Ram is well over 4 years old.And yes I will start with the ram when it gets replaced. Thanks for the replys guys and gals....... BigJerry1979 A+ Network+ MCP

Allright, IT IS HIGHLY LIKLY THAT A PSU CAN KNOCK OUT YOUR MOBO, RAM, CPU, EVERYTHING IT POWERS. Allthough it is more likly that it would only kill 1 component. My questions are these. 1) What was the old PSU? 2) What did that old PSU die?(explode, smoke, just stop working) 3) We are talking about non-onboard video, right? 4) Are thier any beeps on POST? Based on those questions I may be able to give you a more detailed answer. For now though i would have to sugest that you be absolutly possitive that all your card are in perfectly as well as all cables are in deed pluged in.

The old PSU was a 400w Powmax unit and it acted like it had a short in it ( cutting on and off thought it was the power switch, but switched it out and same effect till it just died one day) and yes we are talking about on-board video with no cards in the PCI or SGP slots and no beeps on post. I'm thinking that its the Ram that died I will be able to check that later tonight but i have no way of checking the cpu/mb. I'll give results on the ram ( I'm thinkin thats the problem cause like I said the ram is atleast 4 years old.) Thanks for the replys BigJerry1979 A+ Network+ MCP

Took Old power supply apart the fuse wasnt blown but there was ( looks like ) melting of some of the plastic parts inside and black melting parts on the curcit board itself......... BigJerry1979 A+ Network+ MCP

Had this question debated at length by a couple of electrical engineers. The power supply failing will not of itself cause damage to other downstream components, however a failure of a downstream component such as motherboard can/will cause a cascade of upstream failures the last of which will be the powersupply when it overloads. You will have to test each component separately to determine which have failed. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life.