Dead PC diagnostic help needed!

Hello chaps - not sure if this is the right subsection, but the problem could be many things.....

I normally turn off my PC's 4 way adapter at the wall each night, so that the ancillary peripherals are powered down too.

Anyway, this morning when I flicked the switch on at the wall, the PC just whirred into life. It shouldn't do this, and never normally does - it should only come on when you press the button on the front.

When I say it came on though, it only sort of did. The fans came to life, but there were none of the usual beeps, none of the USB powered stuff lit up like normal, and after a couple of seconds, there was a tick-tick-tick sound, in time with the flashing hard drive light, with a frequency of about 2 Hz.

Nothing whatsoever appeared on the monitor.

I have tried turning it off and on a couple of times, but always the same result. None of the cables at the back are loose, and I haven't taken the case off in months.

Anyone have any ideas, or maybe a good troubleshooting flow diagram?

Three cheers for having more than one computer hey!

ATB

Gav

Other one's a laptop :S

Great. :-) Maybe try disconnecting some components like the cd-rom and any other components that are not needed to try and boot the system. Try re-seating the graphics card, memory etc.

Sounds like the PSU kicked the bucket.

I have seen many computers that fans start up and such when the power is "plugged in" or in your case switched on via the power strip. So the fact that it did that doesnt really bother me. (only that it is the first time its done it)

I would do what everyone else suggests. Unplug unnecessary parts ect. Even fans, i've seen PCs that wont run because a fan died. Strip it to the bare essentials. Even if all your trying to do is get it to POST and get into bios. If none of that works try a different power supply if you can.

But...

Do preliminary testing first of course, check connections move wires make sure molex connectors are firmly in place etc etc.

Does your Mobo get power light to it? (some boards have a LED on them when they have power)

Does your lan port get lights?

Check to make sure the PSU is on the correct Voltage setting. 115 or 220 depending on where you are (Doubt it changed but hey you can rule it out)

Try plugging PC into different circuit on your house/check your circuit breaker(s).

What happens when you turn off/on the PSU, or the power strip.

List what your PC can do and cant do if none of the above solves the issue. Maybe someone on the forum can fig it out based on diagnostics.