Computer Wont Turn On - Tech Support Forums

lablkilz699 · September 8th, 2004, 12:56 AM

Hi, Ok i've posted before about how my computer turns on for about 3 seconds, then turns off, and wont turn on again unless i unplug it. The only solid suggestion i got was power supply. I tried a very old power supply out of a P3 system with no switch thingy on the back...to see if it was that, and the second u plug it in, it turns on for as long as u want, but wont boot up the computer at least nothing shows on the screen, might be my vid card now in all the way ??....and then i tried a friends newer power supply, and it wouldnt even turn on for the 3 seconds... just the little green light on the mobo lit up...the power button the front of the comp. didnt work....can anyone tell me what is wrong? the computer shop says they charge 40 bucks just to open the case and another 75 bucks to find out whats wrong, and they couldnt specifiy how much parts and labor were going to be so i told them to have a good day, and that was that.

--SYSTEM--

80 gig HD Seagate

2.8 GHz P4 CPU (800FSB) HT

SOYO SY-P4I865PE Plus DRAGON 2 MoBo.

1 gig of ram (512x2) 1-PNY 1-Samsung

Aspire X-Dreamer II (Black - w/ original pws, 350W)

Sony DVD-ROM

Generic Floppy and Media Card Reader

Memorex DVD-RW Drive

Asylum nVidia GeForce FX5200 256MB

HELLLLLLP MEEE!!! PLEASEEEE!!!!!

proffit · September 8th, 2004, 01:02 AM

it is possibly the mobo. it is impossibly to put your graphicscard i the wrong way only not push it in far enough. it could also be the ram if possibly try switching it with another stick

deltaf508 · September 8th, 2004, 12:28 PM

What were the watts of your old PSU you tested it with. It is possible that your old one was'nt powerful enought as well.

My home machine was doing the exact same thing last week. Ran for 2 Seconds shut down, Unplug and plug back in and it would fire up again for 2 seconds. Got a new power supply and everything worked fine.

Did you test your machine with a 300 watt power supply. Based on your machine specs you should be using a 400 watt or so - IMO.

lablkilz699 · September 9th, 2004, 12:54 AM

well i've heard this....but its worked for about 6 months or so with the 350W power supply the case came with.

I will try a new power supply, i hope the HD, mobo, ram etc is ok...

Underclocked · September 9th, 2004, 01:07 AM

Shutdown the power, disconnect all drives and all cards aside from the video. Disconnect power to the now idled components. Make sure there are no foreign objects or case parts touching the motherboard anywhere other than where it should be (the mount screws/retainers)

Try to boot and see if it will post. If it does, go through a sequence of shutdowns and restarts while connecting and powering one additional component between each startup effort.

You didn't say if you have a modem but when such a condition develops for no apparent reason and a modem is present - it's my first suspect.

lablkilz699 · September 9th, 2004, 08:05 PM

ok i unplugged everything, tried it with just the mobo and cpu proped up on a piece of card board and it still does the same old thing...turns on for 3 seconds once u flip the switch, then just turns off...

whats next?

THANKS

Bovon · September 9th, 2004, 11:41 PM

Look closely at the capacitors on the board. These are all about 10 mm in diameter and about 25 mm tall. They are aluminum and have an X on the top. These should be very flat on the top and sides..if any are kinda bulging up on the top or sides, you may have a motherboard dying on you.

When you tested the motherboard outside of the case... how did you turn it on and off?..by the case switch?.. if so try the process again, but this time do not use the case switch connectors..use a small screwdriver or the blade of a small pocket knife to short the two pins where the case switch plugs in. If the case switch goes bad, it can cause the switch to be in the on position all of the time, and the only way to reset an ATX switch is by unplugging it from the house power.

http://home.earthlink.net/~doniteli/index27.htm

lablkilz699 · September 10th, 2004, 12:28 AM

The capacitors look fine. I checked everyone of them and they all look perfectly healthy.

I did turn it on and off with the power switch...the case switch dosent get any response anymore...so i just get a piece of metal...put it on the two prongs the case switch goes on and it should reset and work???