Computer Wont Turn On, Have Tried Everything.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
V

Valena

Reputable
Dec 5, 2014
7
0
4,510
I can't take this anymore.

On Wednesday, I woke up, powered on my computer and played games on it for a few hours. I left the house for 30 minutes to run an errand and powered down my pc while I was gone. I came home, hit the power button, and nothing happened.

Suddenly, my computer wouldn't turn on. I tried clearing the cmos; didn't help. I tried using my husbands case to power my computer on by hooking his power switch jumper to my mobo, nothing happened. I took his psu out of his pc and put it in mine (we have the same one), nothing.

My pc is a few years old, so I assumed that the old hardware must have died. So I went out and bought a replacement cpu, mobo, ram, and graphics card. It wasn't cheap, but I figured that replacing that much hardware would have to make a difference. Right?

Wrong.

The only way to get my computer to start after powering it off is to unplug the psu from the wall, flip the switch, and leave it alone for a good hour or so. Then, sometimes, it will power back on. Sometimes. It was the same with my old hardware as well.

I am at my wits end. I can't think of anything else to do at this point to solve this problem. I can't believe that after replacing the core of my machine, I am right back where I started.

What do I do? Please someone help me! I have spent so much time this week driving back and forth to my nearest tech shop, which is a good hours drive one way, to purchase, exchange and return parts that haven't worked. I have spent so much time slaving over my pc trying to get it to just WORK. I need it for my college semester, but at this point I have spent so much time and money on a dead brick that I just want to scream! Please please help!
 
Solution
Silverbear
That is quite the head scratcher. It's not uncommon for a motherboard to work perfectly fine while being at risk for a short, I've seen many people screw the motherboard down in the case without the stand-offs, some get lucky and can use their computers for months before encountering a problem.

Inspect the screw holes very carefully on the motherboard, it's rare, but possible that an imperfection or a soldering mistake could be touching the screw and causing a short. You can also pick up some small rubber or plastic nuts from just about any hardware store and use them on all the motherboard screws.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Belphegore

Belphegore

Respectable
Mar 27, 2016
366
0
2,160
Since you only tried the power cord from his PSU on your PC, it really sounds like it was your PSU.

I know it's too late now and probably no help, but always try a new PSU before buying the more expensive parts like mobo, cpu, etc.

Another alternative could've been that the power cable from your tower that plugs into the motherboard could've died, or been dying, since the PC wasn't randomly shutting down at different points.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Silverbear

Silverbear

Honorable
Feb 24, 2015
593
0
11,360





OP: "I took his psu out of his pc and put it in mine (we have the same one), nothing."

Since you have tried a different PSU, it sounds as if the motherboard is shorting out, do you have the proper stand-offs installed in the case, nothing touching the back of the motherboard? Have you tried bread-boarding? (Taking the motherboard out of the case and powering on the system with just one stick of RAM)

Another problem might be the wall socket, are other things working when you plug them into the same socket? Have you tried your computer in a different socket? If you're using a surge protector, have you tried a different one? Does your husband's computer still work with yours and his power supply?

Also, what is your Power supply and other system specs?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
V

Valena

Reputable
Dec 5, 2014
7
0
4,510
I do think have the exact specs, and right now I'm too stressed out by all of this to spend the time getting into them.

The wall socket is working fine. I've used two different surge protectors, same issue. I don't know for certain if nothing in the case is touching the motherboard, but I find it extremely hard to believe since my pc was working fine for years and then, all of a sudden, this begins.

I've breadboarded my current build and it worked fine outside the case, but as soon as it went in I couldn't get it to power on reliably.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Silverbear

Silverbear

Honorable
Feb 24, 2015
593
0
11,360
That is quite the head scratcher. It's not uncommon for a motherboard to work perfectly fine while being at risk for a short, I've seen many people screw the motherboard down in the case without the stand-offs, some get lucky and can use their computers for months before encountering a problem.

Inspect the screw holes very carefully on the motherboard, it's rare, but possible that an imperfection or a soldering mistake could be touching the screw and causing a short. You can also pick up some small rubber or plastic nuts from just about any hardware store and use them on all the motherboard screws.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
Vic 40

Vic 40

Titan
Ambassador
Oct 22, 2013
20,885
994
87,990

If it works outside the case are the parts good.Maybe the power button of the case isn't working right anymore,can you take the cables from the button that go to the motherboard off and jumpstart the pc by connecting the right pins with a screwdriver when in the case? See if it will start up then.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Netsurfer733

Netsurfer733

Distinguished
Oct 13, 2013
59
0
18,530


My wife here (Valena) is having the same issue as me now. She took the wires from the PSU and replaced her own with mine... And then when we put them back in mine, it suddenly won't turn on either. It's like voodoo magic.

She thinks also that all of this happened on the day of a storm. We just confirmed also that when we try to turn on the computer (mine), the light in the room will actually flicker. My computer is hooked up to a electrical surge protector with a battery (it's a big thing) so I didn't think it would make the lights flicker like that. Could there be a short in our home, perhaps? But what's the deal with the wires to the PSU being replaced that have caused this mess for *my* computer?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Vic 40

Vic 40

Titan
Ambassador
Oct 22, 2013
20,885
994
87,990
@Netsurfer733,

i guess that we solve this thread here too?
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-3179755/computer-suddenly-turn.html

Valena says that she swapped the whole psu,you talk about switching cables which is it?

Can Valena take the pc complete of the power (cable out of the wallsocket) ,take the motherboard battery out and push the power button on the case for a few minutes? See if this get's rid of any current in the system.

Did you two try without a power surge protector? Can try it on one of the pc's to see if this works.

@ Netsurfer733,

did you breadboard as well? did it work as well then?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Netsurfer733

Netsurfer733

Distinguished
Oct 13, 2013
59
0
18,530


Hey Vic, I just wanted to say that I think that is a surprisingly awesome idea o.o We never thought purging the current of a system was a thing at all. I just wanted to chime in and ask you to stay tuned though - life has been a bit crazy! But we've been thankful to have you around so we'll get back to this in a few days when we have a chance :)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Vic 40

Vic 40

Titan
Ambassador
Oct 22, 2013
20,885
994
87,990
Just try some of the things i said and see if it works,after that will i hear from you.


Some questions that i didn't get an answer to like this one ...



 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom