Help me troubleshoot this power problem?

betona · 05-28-2008, 09:10 PM

We came home knowing that we'd had a brief power outage while we were gone because the garage door opened slo-o-owly meaning it was reset. Both my good PC and my son's basic PC (simple homebuilt ATX) were powered off when they had been left on. But the outage wasn't long enough to have messed up the clocks. There hadn't been any weather issues like t-storms so no lightning.

So on my son's PC, pressing the switch to turn it on didn't do anything--the power light would flash, but nothing. I detected a minty-burnt smell around it, kind of like when a fluorescent light ballast goes bad.

Figuring it was a cooked power supply, I bought a replacement power supply today, hooked it up today and ... nothing.

Upon pressing the power button, the fan on the new power supply nudges just a tad, like maybe a quarter turn and the power switch flickers. And then it's totally dead. I have to turn off the switch on the PS to get it to repeat this behavior; otherwise nothing.

So now I'm left thinking perhaps the power switch has failed, or else there's something that's trying to protect the computer that's immediately killing it. The latter might mean a failed mobo or processor.

Any ideas on next steps to take tracking down the culprit? I've built and fixed dozens of PCs but knock on wood, this is my first ever power problem and it's a stumper.

**manic** · 05-28-2008, 10:25 PM

What killed your power supply probably zapped the board. The Cpu
usually survives.,along with everything else. If a psu goes its about
a fifty to fifty chance the mobo will to.
Or you may have got a bad psu,, it happens....

betona · 05-29-2008, 07:03 AM

Thanks, man. Problem is this is a Socket A board with DDR 266 RAM, and it may be a little difficult finding one that supports this discontinued format locally. If I do find one, it oughtta be dirt cheap.

As soon as the parts stores open I'm going to dig into it--good thing I planned to take a few days off (just not to fix a computer).

betona · 05-29-2008, 03:54 PM

Problem solved.

I can't say where it started, but in the original configuration, both the power supply and the motherboard were cooked. I tested the new power supply and it was ruined too - apparently the motherboard immediately killed it when I first plugged it in. That stinks.

So now, with yet another power supply and a new motherboard with a new processor and new RAM, (and about 2 hours letting XP fix itself from the CD) the machine is back in business. I sure didn't set out to go this far.

**manic** · 05-29-2008, 04:17 PM

Dont bet on that cpu, and ram being bad. Rarely will those items fry.
Unless you got a big jolt......Food for thought...spare parts can be
good,,lol

betona · 05-30-2008, 05:14 AM

Yep, I kept them. I can't see that old 266 RAM being all that valuable--I'll try to sell it on Craigslist or something; or maybe even FreeCycle it.

05-28-2008, 09:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
betona Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Help me troubleshoot this power problem? We came home knowing that we'd had a brief power outage while we were gone because the garage door opened slo-o-owly meaning it was reset. Both my good PC and my son's basic PC (simple homebuilt ATX) were powered off when they had been left on. But the outage wasn't long enough to have messed up the clocks. There hadn't been any weather issues like t-storms so no lightning. So on my son's PC, pressing the switch to turn it on didn't do anything--the power light would flash, but nothing. I detected a minty-burnt smell around it, kind of like when a fluorescent light ballast goes bad. Figuring it was a cooked power supply, I bought a replacement power supply today, hooked it up today and ... nothing. Upon pressing the power button, the fan on the new power supply nudges just a tad, like maybe a quarter turn and the power switch flickers. And then it's totally dead. I have to turn off the switch on the PS to get it to repeat this behavior; otherwise nothing. So now I'm left thinking perhaps the power switch has failed, or else there's something that's trying to protect the computer that's immediately killing it. The latter might mean a failed mobo or processor. Any ideas on next steps to take tracking down the culprit? I've built and fixed dozens of PCs but knock on wood, this is my first ever power problem and it's a stumper.

05-28-2008, 10:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Help me troubleshoot this power problem? What killed your power supply probably zapped the board. The Cpu usually survives.,along with everything else. If a psu goes its about a fifty to fifty chance the mobo will to. Or you may have got a bad psu,, it happens.... __________________ Last edited by manic; 05-28-2008 at 10:26 PM.

05-29-2008, 07:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
betona Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Re: Help me troubleshoot this power problem? Thanks, man. Problem is this is a Socket A board with DDR 266 RAM, and it may be a little difficult finding one that supports this discontinued format locally. If I do find one, it oughtta be dirt cheap. As soon as the parts stores open I'm going to dig into it--good thing I planned to take a few days off (just not to fix a computer).

05-29-2008, 03:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
betona Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Re: Help me troubleshoot this power problem? Problem solved. I can't say where it started, but in the original configuration, both the power supply and the motherboard were cooked. I tested the new power supply and it was ruined too - apparently the motherboard immediately killed it when I first plugged it in. That stinks. So now, with yet another power supply and a new motherboard with a new processor and new RAM, (and about 2 hours letting XP fix itself from the CD) the machine is back in business. I sure didn't set out to go this far.

05-29-2008, 04:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Help me troubleshoot this power problem? Dont bet on that cpu, and ram being bad. Rarely will those items fry. Unless you got a big jolt......Food for thought...spare parts can be good,,lol __________________

05-30-2008, 05:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
betona Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Re: Help me troubleshoot this power problem? Yep, I kept them. I can't see that old 266 RAM being all that valuable--I'll try to sell it on Craigslist or something; or maybe even FreeCycle it.