bad psu?

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-08-2007, 10:27 PM

Hi, first I will just say I am useing my cell to check this and I am sorry if there is a thread already about this.

Last night the power went out and my computer was on. Computer went off and it always been on a surge protector. Power was out for about 11 hours so I didn't get to turn computer back on till just tonight. When I went to turn it on all it did was the power light flashes. So did the light on the PSU. I tried pluging it in at a different outlet to make sure it wasn't bad voltage going to the computer or bad surge protector now. But all it did was the lights flashed. It is an HP and is a lil over two years old. Can anyone help me to determine what happened to it and how to fix it?
Thank you and sorry if I can not check back a lot

Tumbleweed36 · 08-09-2007, 05:59 AM

Clear the CMOS by either removing the battery or moving the board jumper for a few minutes. Be sure you have the unit turned off when you do this and ground yourself before you get inside that case. When it comes back up, set it to default and see if this fixes it.

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-09-2007, 06:53 AM

I just left the battery out for a few mins and it is still acting the same.

**mattlock** · 08-09-2007, 10:13 AM

There's a little green light on the PSU. When you hit the power that comes on briefly then fades out? If so it's highly likely you PSU is toast. I just had one in last week that displayed the same symptoms. Could you post the model number of the HP?

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-09-2007, 03:32 PM

Hi, its an HP pavilion a705w and the green light on the psu would come on for a second then it started flashing and it also looked like it was not even as bright as it should be all the time. The blue light on the front of the computer that stays on whenever the computer was on was flashing a lot too.

Also is there any way to tell if anything else in the computer could have went bad?

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-09-2007, 05:35 PM

Hi, its an HP pavilion a705w and the green light on the psu would come on for a second then it started flashing and it also looked like it was not even as bright as it should be all the time. The blue light on the front of the computer that stays on whenever the computer was on was flashing a lot too.

Also is there any way to tell if anything else in the computer could have went bad?

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 08-09-2007, 10:45 PM

When my cable was not pluged in all the way my front light flashed could you make sure they are connecteD?

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-09-2007, 11:06 PM

The cable has been plugged in all the way. I also tried useing that cable in a different outlet down stairs to make sure outlet was good and I also used the cable from the monitor to make sure the cable was not burned out somehow

**1 g0t 0wn3d** · 08-09-2007, 11:09 PM

OH i was talking about inside the computer it may have wiggled out if you moved the computer

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-10-2007, 05:35 AM

Sry for the multiple posts before

And I took out the psu alreay and put it back and check the rest of the wires inside the case and any on the outside

**mattlock** · 08-10-2007, 10:08 AM

Hello again Snoop.

Unplug the PSU from the wall and disconnect everything from the PSU. MB, CD/DVD Roms, HDs, etc and then plug it back into the wall outlet. If the light is still flashing, you need a new PSU.

If it's not flashing then unplug the PSU and reconnect the motherboard. Plug the PSU back into the wall outlet if it's flashing it's the motherboard, if not flashing repeat the steps adding one part at a time until the PSU light is flashing again. When it's starts flashing or doesn't come on at all, that's your bad part.

Please post back with your results, questions, or concerns.

BTW your sustem takes a standard ATX PSU. So if your PSU turns out to bad I recommend the Antec Earthwatts 430 from Newegg. It's only $45 after $20 rebate w/ free shipping and it's a very good unit. The sale ends on the 8/12/07.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371006

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-10-2007, 07:43 PM

the PSU alone did not flash, as soon as i plugged the motherboard in it started to flash.

is there any way to tell if the CPU is ok and the RAM and everything else is ok and if just changing the motherboard will fix t his?

**mattlock** · 08-10-2007, 09:23 PM

Remove everything from the motherboard. CPU, ram, video card, keyboard, mouse, etc. Is your PSU light still flashing? If so, you MB is likely toast. If not, add your hardware 1 piece at a time (starting with the CPU, then ram, and so on) until it starts flashing again.

There's no other way to check the CPU and ram without having another computer to test it with.

BTW, if you were using a surge protector, some of manufacturers offer upto $5000 in insurance if something is fried while plugged into thier surge protector. This might be something worth looking into.

Once again, post back with your results, questions or concerns.

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-11-2007, 07:33 PM

doing what you said, it still flashes with just the MB

i am not sure if it is worth trying to fix at this point if i might have to take the chance of needing a new CPU and memory plus if i get just a MB that fits into the case instead of the origninal MB would the OS still work since i know some come up with errors saying it must be used only in computer bought with.

i have been thinking of getting a laptop since it would be easier for college but i really don't have a lot of money to go spend on a laptop that will have everything i need unless i get a refurished one off ebay or something. any ideas on what would be best for this?

**mattlock** · 08-12-2007, 02:57 AM

It's possible that the CPU, RAM and evn PSU need replaced also. My guess is that the RAM and CPU are probably still good but the PSU is a coin toss.

If you just buy another socket 478 MB then ou have to buy another Windows XP license. If you get a replacement board from HP (or Ebay) then your OS and recovery cds or partition will be reuseable.

I don't suppose you live in NE Ohio? If you do I'd be happy to test is all out for you.

Replacement board.on ebay. Auction ends in 6 days.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MSI-MS-6577-VER-...QQcmdZViewItem

**Snoopdogie187** · 08-12-2007, 06:18 PM

thank you, no i live in NJ but i will try to find a local place here to see if they can test what is good. i don't want to take the chance right now becasue i hard that lighting hit the electric lines so it might have damaged more then just the MB. but i will see what i can do.
thank you once again

08-08-2007, 10:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	bad psu? Hi, first I will just say I am useing my cell to check this and I am sorry if there is a thread already about this. Last night the power went out and my computer was on. Computer went off and it always been on a surge protector. Power was out for about 11 hours so I didn't get to turn computer back on till just tonight. When I went to turn it on all it did was the power light flashes. So did the light on the PSU. I tried pluging it in at a different outlet to make sure it wasn't bad voltage going to the computer or bad surge protector now. But all it did was the lights flashed. It is an HP and is a lil over two years old. Can anyone help me to determine what happened to it and how to fix it? Thank you and sorry if I can not check back a lot

08-09-2007, 05:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,662 OS: XP Professional	Re: bad psu? Clear the CMOS by either removing the battery or moving the board jumper for a few minutes. Be sure you have the unit turned off when you do this and ground yourself before you get inside that case. When it comes back up, set it to default and see if this fixes it. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

08-09-2007, 06:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: bad psu? I just left the battery out for a few mins and it is still acting the same.

08-09-2007, 10:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: bad psu? There's a little green light on the PSU. When you hit the power that comes on briefly then fades out? If so it's highly likely you PSU is toast. I just had one in last week that displayed the same symptoms. Could you post the model number of the HP? __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

08-09-2007, 03:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: bad psu? Hi, its an HP pavilion a705w and the green light on the psu would come on for a second then it started flashing and it also looked like it was not even as bright as it should be all the time. The blue light on the front of the computer that stays on whenever the computer was on was flashing a lot too. Also is there any way to tell if anything else in the computer could have went bad?

08-09-2007, 05:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: bad psu? Hi, its an HP pavilion a705w and the green light on the psu would come on for a second then it started flashing and it also looked like it was not even as bright as it should be all the time. The blue light on the front of the computer that stays on whenever the computer was on was flashing a lot too. Also is there any way to tell if anything else in the computer could have went bad?

08-09-2007, 10:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: bad psu? When my cable was not pluged in all the way my front light flashed could you make sure they are connecteD? __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

08-09-2007, 11:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: bad psu? The cable has been plugged in all the way. I also tried useing that cable in a different outlet down stairs to make sure outlet was good and I also used the cable from the monitor to make sure the cable was not burned out somehow

08-09-2007, 11:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
1 g0t 0wn3d TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sedona, az Posts: 6,528 OS: Vista basic 32bit My System	Re: bad psu? OH i was talking about inside the computer it may have wiggled out if you moved the computer __________________ Bench Test \| PC Wizard \| System specs \| PSU info \| PSU calculator \| Memtest86+ \| Speedfan

08-10-2007, 05:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: bad psu? Sry for the multiple posts before And I took out the psu alreay and put it back and check the rest of the wires inside the case and any on the outside

08-10-2007, 10:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: bad psu? Hello again Snoop. Unplug the PSU from the wall and disconnect everything from the PSU. MB, CD/DVD Roms, HDs, etc and then plug it back into the wall outlet. If the light is still flashing, you need a new PSU. If it's not flashing then unplug the PSU and reconnect the motherboard. Plug the PSU back into the wall outlet if it's flashing it's the motherboard, if not flashing repeat the steps adding one part at a time until the PSU light is flashing again. When it's starts flashing or doesn't come on at all, that's your bad part. Please post back with your results, questions, or concerns. BTW your sustem takes a standard ATX PSU. So if your PSU turns out to bad I recommend the Antec Earthwatts 430 from Newegg. It's only $45 after $20 rebate w/ free shipping and it's a very good unit. The sale ends on the 8/12/07. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371006 __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free! Last edited by mattlock; 08-10-2007 at 10:16 AM.

08-10-2007, 07:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: bad psu? the PSU alone did not flash, as soon as i plugged the motherboard in it started to flash. is there any way to tell if the CPU is ok and the RAM and everything else is ok and if just changing the motherboard will fix t his?

08-10-2007, 09:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: bad psu? Remove everything from the motherboard. CPU, ram, video card, keyboard, mouse, etc. Is your PSU light still flashing? If so, you MB is likely toast. If not, add your hardware 1 piece at a time (starting with the CPU, then ram, and so on) until it starts flashing again. There's no other way to check the CPU and ram without having another computer to test it with. BTW, if you were using a surge protector, some of manufacturers offer upto $5000 in insurance if something is fried while plugged into thier surge protector. This might be something worth looking into. Once again, post back with your results, questions or concerns. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

08-11-2007, 07:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: bad psu? doing what you said, it still flashes with just the MB i am not sure if it is worth trying to fix at this point if i might have to take the chance of needing a new CPU and memory plus if i get just a MB that fits into the case instead of the origninal MB would the OS still work since i know some come up with errors saying it must be used only in computer bought with. i have been thinking of getting a laptop since it would be easier for college but i really don't have a lot of money to go spend on a laptop that will have everything i need unless i get a refurished one off ebay or something. any ideas on what would be best for this?

08-12-2007, 02:57 AM	#15 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: bad psu? It's possible that the CPU, RAM and evn PSU need replaced also. My guess is that the RAM and CPU are probably still good but the PSU is a coin toss. If you just buy another socket 478 MB then ou have to buy another Windows XP license. If you get a replacement board from HP (or Ebay) then your OS and recovery cds or partition will be reuseable. I don't suppose you live in NE Ohio? If you do I'd be happy to test is all out for you. Replacement board.on ebay. Auction ends in 6 days. http://cgi.ebay.com/MSI-MS-6577-VER-...QQcmdZViewItem __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

08-12-2007, 06:18 PM	#16 (permalink)
Snoopdogie187 Oh! What shall I be? Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,540 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1, mom: XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: bad psu? thank you, no i live in NJ but i will try to find a local place here to see if they can test what is good. i don't want to take the chance right now becasue i hard that lighting hit the electric lines so it might have damaged more then just the MB. but i will see what i can do. thank you once again