Computer doesn't boot up more and more often

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FlyingMandarine

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Oct 24, 2013
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Hi everyone! :)

About ten days ago, my desktop computer didn't work properly; I would turn on the computer, but nothing would show up on the screen and the red LED showing the HDD working would simply not display any activity. I turned off the computer, then on again, and after two or three tries, it finally booted up. Then no problem for a few days. A few days later, the same thing happened, except I had to turn the computer on/off a few more times for it to work. Then same thing happened two days later, and now it's happening every day.

Today, I had to turn it on/off perhaps a dozen times. What I do is, I turn off the computer, turn off the power supply switch, turn it back on, then try again. I sometimes fiddle with the power strip, turning it on and off too, but I have no idea what makes the computer end up booting properly, and more importantly, what makes it not boot properly in the first place. Once the computer booted successfully, however, everything works as usual, even if I leave the computer on for the whole day. I'm afraid it's going to work less and less, and that in a couple of days, I might not be able to turn it on anymore.

In case you think this might be related, I moved from France to London a couple of months ago. So this computer is a French one; it is plugged in my French power strip ( http://i.imgur.com/cCzOM3o.jpg ) which itself is plugged in using an adapter to make it work on English electricity ( http://i.imgur.com/zsa7VmH.jpg ). Could it be that the slight difference in voltage is damaging my power supply?

My specs:
AMD Radeon HD 5800 Series
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz
RAM: 8.1 GB Corsair DDR3
Corsair GS600 ( http://i.imgur.com/7ucnOBt.jpg )
Microsoft Windows 7

The France-to-U.K. plug adapter I'm using has a fuse in it, but I'm not sure if the problem has to do with it or with the power strip, as the TV screen, plugged in there too, works well even when the computer itself doesn't.

Thank you so much to everyone who would be so kind as to spare a few minutes helping me out. :)
 
Solution
J
Well, the life expectancy should be longer than 3.5 years. I have a GS700 powering my first build and it's still going strong after about 4 years. It could be the PSU, but the only way to find out is to purchase another PSU (preferably higher grade) and plug it in to see if there is a difference. If there is not then it could be your motherboard. Right now I do think it is just a coincidence for the change of country aspect, but there could have been enough difference that the PSU did not like it. However, I feel it to be a voltage regulator that went bad in the PSU and now will not deliver adequate amounts of power to turn your system on 100% of the time.
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jdcranke07

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Feb 10, 2014
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It shouldn't be the power from the wall, but it might. I'm in the US and have never been to France, so I can't really say. However, how long have you had that HDD? Kind of sounds like it might be dying. And as long as your PSU is getting enough from the wall then you shouldn't have an issue power wise. Double check to see if the voltages match up on the PSU and what should be coming out of the adapter you have plugged into the wall.
 
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FlyingMandarine

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Oct 24, 2013
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Thank you for replying so fast! :)

I've had that HDD (which I believe is a Seagate Barracuda, but am not sure) for about a year, so it's pretty recent!

If it were the HDD though, the computer would be able to boot and at least show up some info on screen, and I would be able to reach the BIOS, wouldn't I? What happens right now is that when it doesn't work, nothing works at all, as if the computer was a living shell of nothingness. Nothing shows up on screen.
 
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FlyingMandarine

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Woops, sorry; I only now saw that you edited your post.

I'm really bad at electronics I'm afraid: do you mean that I should take a device that measures voltages (which I don't think I have, unfortunately), or can I just look it up on the adapter and on the power supply themselves?

Possibly unrelated, but I also used a French laptop (with the same kind of adapter) for over a month since I arrived in London, and there has never been any problem with it not turning on, as far as I recall.
 
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jdcranke07

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I was just meaning to match what your power supply in the computer and your international adapter say they are rated at. The best way would be to take a voltmeter and test to make sure you are getting the proper amount though. But, it kinda sounds like the power supply in pc is going out as you can power everything else just fine and your HDD is relatively new.
 
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FlyingMandarine

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Merci beaucoup for all your tips, jdcranke07!

I am looking for the date at which I bought said power supply; unfortunately, I don't think it's that old, but I'll get back to you on that. And it looks like it's a good quality one (tier 2, according to the pinned post on that forum), so I'm puzzled... Say it really is the power supply; do you think me replacing it with the same one or a similar one would make it all okay, or is there a risk of something I'm not factoring in, and that would make that new power supply not last long as well?

I have another adapter -- same brand and model. I won't risk turning off my computer now, but I will try it tomorrow and get back to you as to whether or not it made a difference. :)
 
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jdcranke07

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I would definitely try the other adapter first to rule out the adapter as an issue. And if you did go with a different power supply, I would recommend the AX series by Corsair. Same company as the one you have, its just in the flagship line. I know that would probably be a bit too much cost wise for most people, but they are some of the best PSUs on the market and not to mention the warranty is way better than the GS versions.
 
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FlyingMandarine

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I just looked up the prices for AX series; they are a little on the pricy side indeed!

But one thing at a time. :) I'll be sure to reply to that thread tomorrow morning (if my computer starts at all) once I tried the other adapter.

Thanks so very much for your help so far!
 
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FlyingMandarine

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Hi again!

I tried another adapter; unfortunately, the same problem happened. I managed to start it on my third try, which is better than the previous days, but I think that's more to do with luck than anything.

I also looked up how old my power supply is: I bought it in May 2011, so it's slightly past the warranty. Even though it's ranked as a tier 2 power supply, which is pretty good, is three years and a half a normal life expectancy for the product? Would you think the power supply is then the very likely culprit? And if so, is the fact that it failed barely a month after using it in a new country a mere coincidence?

Thanks in advance for your help! :)
 
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jdcranke07

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Well, the life expectancy should be longer than 3.5 years. I have a GS700 powering my first build and it's still going strong after about 4 years. It could be the PSU, but the only way to find out is to purchase another PSU (preferably higher grade) and plug it in to see if there is a difference. If there is not then it could be your motherboard. Right now I do think it is just a coincidence for the change of country aspect, but there could have been enough difference that the PSU did not like it. However, I feel it to be a voltage regulator that went bad in the PSU and now will not deliver adequate amounts of power to turn your system on 100% of the time.
 
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FlyingMandarine

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Thanks for getting back to me, jdcranke07!

I hear you. I followed your advice and ordered a Corsair AX760. I should get it by the end of the week, and hopefully that problem will be sorted. It's got a 7-year-long warranty, and if it ends up being something else than the power supply being the problem, I can always send that one back.

I don't know if I'll be able to reply anymore once I selected your last message as the solution, but I'll do so whenever I receive my PSU and will keep you up to date as whether or not it solved my problem. :)

Thank you so much for your help!
 
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jdcranke07

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Yeah, not a problem. You can still comment on this thread in the future if you do pick a solution. There is a link in your tracked threads that will lead straight to this conversation.
 
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jdcranke07

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Yeah, not a problem. You can still comment on this thread in the future if you do pick a solution. There is a link in your tracked threads that will lead straight to this conversation.
 
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