Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Memory > Computer won't turn on...

Computer won't turn on...

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Memory - Computer won't turn on...

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
Armethius   06-24-2007 at 11:38:40 PM

Is this a memory problem?

I have a 3.5 year old HP, and one day it just wouldnt turn on. Instead of a solid green light on the back of the PSU, there is a dim blinking one. I went to the HP webstie for help, and it told me to un-plug the PSU from everything, and then plug it into the wall. I did this and got the normal solid green one, so i believe the PSU is ok. I re-plugged everything one at a time testing the light on the back of the PSU after each plug in. It only starts blinking when i connect the motherboard. Any one have any idea of what this could be? Maybe its just bad RAM?

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
Mondoman   06-25-2007 at 01:31:14 AM
- 0 +

It's extremely unlikely to be the CPU or RAM, since they are just solid-state parts.
Most likely it's your motherboard or power supply. Both have components (e.g. electrolytic capacitors or "tin cans" ) that go bad over time, especially at elevated temps.

Reply to Mondoman
Armethius   06-25-2007 at 03:08:48 AM
- 0 +

is there any way i can test for sure?

Reply to Armethius
dwesely   06-25-2007 at 03:56:05 AM
- 0 +

Your power supply is shot. I've seen this twice.

Reply to dwesely
Crazywheels   06-25-2007 at 04:03:33 AM
- 0 +

Mondoman anything can go go out at any given time it doesn't matter if its solid state, caps, resistors or whatever. We have no idea what he was doing before it stopped working. he could have overclocked the hell out of it the that would be a solid state problem.

Reply to Crazywheels
Armethius   06-25-2007 at 04:33:03 AM
- 0 +

but the HP guide says that if my power supply is making a solid green light with nothing plugged in, then its fine. I wasn't over clocking. THe power might have went out and then surged back on, but I did have it connected to a surge protector. Maybe a high temperature?

Reply to Armethius
dwesely   06-25-2007 at 04:43:46 AM
- 0 +

Dude... replace the power supply. I've seen this EXACT problem - twice.

Reply to dwesely
Mondoman   06-26-2007 at 01:08:17 AM
- 0 +

Quote :

but the HP guide says that if my power supply is making a solid green light with nothing plugged in, then its fine. ...


If it really does say that (and not something like "if the power supply does not make a solid green light, then it is defective" ), it's wrong. Power supplies often don't completely fail at once -- one part can still work while another part has failed.

Reply to Mondoman
Armethius   06-26-2007 at 04:04:13 AM
- 0 +

this is what it says

Quote :

*
If the LED is on solid and is not flashing, the power supply is probably good and the problem is most likely caused by a defective component (processor, memory, PCI card) or a defective motherboard. Have the computer serviced, or remove the components and replace them, one at a time, to find and replace the defective component.
*
If the LED is still flashing (it should not flash with all connectors removed), plug the power cable into a different power outlet that is known to be good. If the LED still flashes, the power supply should be replaced.
*
If the LED light is now off, plug the power cable into a different power outlet that is known to be good. If the LED stays off, the power supply should be replaced.

Reply to Armethius
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Memory > Computer won't turn on...
Go to:

There are 515 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.427 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
How do I win badges?