Computer won't stay on for more than a couple seconds

[Spar2588]

Today when I went to turn on my computer, as I touched the power button (I didn't push it in) I got a really bad shock from the case. When this happened the computer turned on for about 2 seconds (lights, fans, everything), then turned off. After this the power button wouldn't do anything anymore. So I switched off the power to the PSU, waited a little bit, then switched it back on. After a couple seconds the computer just turned itself on (again, lights, fans and everything) then just shut off after a couple seconds.

The fans on the PSU, CPU and GPU all start spinning slowly and then just fizzle out. Nothing I've done so far gets me past this. I've tried reseating RAM, reseating the heatsink on the CPU, unplugging everything except the essentials, and still the same thing. The power button doesn't work, flipping the PSU off then back on starts the computer for a couple seconds.

However, what I did find was that there's a square cable with four square holes in it that connects from the PSU to the motherboard. When I unplug that and flip on the power supply, the computer will turn on and stay on. I don't get any signal through the monitor, and holding the power button won't turn off the computer (I need to flip the PSU off), but it does get going at least.

So this makes me think it's the motherboard. Unfortunately it looks like I'll have to order a new motherboard online to get a new one, and if it's not the motherboard, naturally I don't want to wait the three or four days to get it, then have to ship it back. So I'm wondering if I can get a second opinion. Everything in the computer has always worked just fine, and it's three or four years old with never a problem.

The motherboard is an ASUS, I can try and find the exact model if that's necessary. One last thing, this seems really stupid in hindsight now, but there were a couple cable ends from the PSU touching the carpet when this happened. So I don't know if that could contribute to something getting fried. Unfortunately I have no other motherboards or CPUs (I'm fairly positive it's one or the other) to test in the system.

Thanks for any help, and sorry if this was a bit long-winded.

[uethello]

If you can get ahold of a voltmeter, you can test your PSU. They're cheap to buy and you probably have a friend who would lend you one if you didn't want to buy it. Any way, I would not hook up a new mobo to this PSU without testing it first. Highly unlikely that a Power Supply would fail in a way that destroys a motherboard but it is possible. I'd check it.

Here's an excellent article on the subject:
Techrepublic

Quote:

The motherboard is an ASUS, I can try and find the exact model if that's necessary. One last thing, this seems really stupid in hindsight now, but there were a couple cable ends from the PSU touching the carpet when this happened. So I don't know if that could contribute to something getting fried. Unfortunately I have no other motherboards or CPUs (I'm fairly positive it's one or the other) to test in the system.

With conductors and non-conductors mixing, you probably have several different ways to turn the area into a capacitor, I wouldn't do this in the future. In theory, the PSU is grounded... but it just seems like tempting fate to me.

[Spar2588]

I don't think it's the PSU since without that one cable plugged in everything turns on and stays on. And even though it's a little old, it is a good, high-quality PSU. But I'll be sure to make sure the PSU's good first. Thanks for the advice.