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won't power up after power outage

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Original Message
Name: XpUser4Real
Date: March 6, 2007 at 12:07:10 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
OS: xphomesp2
CPU/Ram: 2.1/512 DDR
Model/Manufacturer: compaq desktop
Comment:

A friend just called me and said he had a power outage in the middle of the night and now his PC won't power up. He said that the green indicator light on the left (looking at the tower from the front) is flashing and there is no other signs of life on the PC. He has tried to hold the power button in on the PC to see if the PC would power down and nothing happens. He also tried unplugging the power strip for an hour and turning it back on, and only the green light flashes on the front.
What troubleshooting could he do to see what the problem is?
My thought is that it might be the power supply. Funny thing is, his wife's PC is networked in the same room and her PC just booted up fine after the outage.
Any insight would be great!
Thanks

Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks


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Response Number 1
Name: Doctor1954
Date: March 6, 2007 at 12:21:51 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

Have your friend try to reset the BIOS.

Maybe your friend could post his problem using his wife's PC.


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Response Number 2
Name: XpUser4Real
Date: March 6, 2007 at 13:01:33 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

by resetting the bios, do you mean removing the battery for awhile and then replacing it?
My friend is really computer illiterate so he really doesn't know anything about how to post a problem. I'm just trying to save some steps from paying him a visit (which I will do when we can nail down a bit of the problem) so I'm trying to get some ideas together.
Thanks

Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks


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Response Number 3
Name: Tubesandwires
Date: March 6, 2007 at 13:15:22 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

Sometimes a PS will latch itself into a disabled state when it experiences a power spike or surge - the power must be dis-connected to the PS for a short time to unlatch that mode.
If that doesn't help or he has already tried disconnecting the power to it, if his computer and everything connected to it is not protected from power surges and spikes, his power supply is probably fried.
Even if it is protected, sometimes a power surge or spike will damage it, more likely if it is an el-cheapo model.
The only way to confirm that for sure is to try the PS in another computer, or try a known good PS in his comnputer.
Also see response 4 in this:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...



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Response Number 4
Name: Doctor1954
Date: March 6, 2007 at 14:57:45 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

Good luck.


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Response Number 5
Name: XpUser4Real
Date: March 6, 2007 at 17:46:50 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

Thanks for the replies, I'll see if I have a working PSU laying around and I'll try that.
I kind've figured it might be that
Thanks

Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks


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Response Number 6
Name: LinuxOS2
Date: March 7, 2007 at 07:59:18 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

Smells like the PSU to me right now as well, as Tubesandwires has pointed out they could be sitting side by side and only one of them got hit hard enough to hurt it....

Keep the old stuff running


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Response Number 7
Name: XpUser4Real
Date: March 8, 2007 at 17:05:32 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

Just like I mentioned in my post, I had a hunch it might be the power supply. I replaced the PSU and it is smooth sailing once again.
Thanks for all the input!

Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks


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Response Number 8
Name: Doctor1954
Date: March 8, 2007 at 17:08:06 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

I'll call you for advice if I have a power outage in the middle of the night and my PC won't power up.


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Response Number 9
Name: XpUser4Real
Date: March 9, 2007 at 08:14:04 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

Doctor1954, that was pretty sarcastic....here is what I had said in my post...'My thought is that it might be the power supply. '
I appreciated everyone else's input...it was great!


Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks


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Response Number 10
Name: Doctor1954
Date: March 9, 2007 at 08:44:46 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

"Just like I mentioned in my post, I had a hunch it might be the power supply."

You really did hit the nail on the head XpUser4Real. My post was not meant as sarcasm. It is too bad you took it that way.


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Response Number 11
Name: XpUser4Real
Date: March 9, 2007 at 10:27:12 Pacific
Subject: won't power up after power outage
Reply: (edit)

no problem, thanks for adding to the post, I appreciate all the help that comes along

Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks


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