Question for your computer nerds (hardware related)

1421 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by timallen, Sep 7, 2006

the blue potato

Discussion Starter · Sep 5, 2006

Trying to fix my mother in laws PC - will not come on at all - zero power. Mother board diagnostic lights are off, etc. Therefore, I fugured it was the power supply.

Just bought new ATX supply - get it into the CPU - plug in and again, NO power. Nothing - but I see a small light or two on the motherboard is lit - no fan, no noticible power yet. Now I am thinking to the front switch may be bad.

Anyone know if it is ok to plug in a 115v power supply outside the cpu? Meaning, I just want to see if this thing is working and not sure if it is self grounding, etc.

Any advice would be great.

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timallen

· #2 · Sep 5, 2006

Don't plug in power from the wall directly to the board!

The "power supply" also converts the 115 AC to considerably lower DC power.

Did you look on the back of the power supply? Sometimes they have a toggle thumb switch to turn it on.

How old is the computer?

I wouldn't buy a new MB for the computer unless it's new enough to warrant it because you'll have to make sure the new MB is compatible with the RAM and the CPU, etc.

MBs can be had for reasonable prices and you could build a decent computer (meaning just the tower with recommended new HD) for your mom for less than $250 and use the monitor, mouse, and keyboard she already has.

the blue potato

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 6, 2006

Got it Tim - it is not the PS - may now be the MB

MCarp22

· #4 · Sep 6, 2006

Lightning could clobber both the power supply and the motherboard.

Black

· #5 · Sep 6, 2006

The best thing to do is register in a hardware forum, preferably in the motherboard maker's forum. They're allways full of techies.

LagunaMiata

· #6 · Sep 6, 2006

You can plug in the PS outside of the case to see if there's a problem there.
Our neighbor had a similar problem. I tried a new PS, no luck. It was the motherboard, easier ot buy a new computer.

Good luck Pete!

the blue potato

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 6, 2006

Yes but an ATX PS uses some kind of (I kid you not) smart circuitry logic - where it needs to be connected to MB in order for it to power up.

I am now looking to register in the manu. MB forum - thanks guys for the tips!

a13n0rma1

· #8 · Sep 7, 2006

the blue potato @ Wed Sep 06 said:
Yes but an ATX PS uses some kind of (I kid you not) smart circuitry logic - where it needs to be connected to MB in order for it to power up.

I am now looking to register in the manu. MB forum - thanks guys for the tips!

Take a paper clip and ground the green wire.

Goooodbye "smart circuitry logic!"

The trick to not damaging the PSU while doing this is to keep a load on the 5V and 12V circuits, I used a couple of fans (one on each circuit). Been using it for years to show people case mods without powering up their box.

Black

· #9 · Sep 7, 2006

http://sdat1333.com/tutorials/testing-and-troubleshooting/how-to-jump-start-an-atx-power-supply.html
And as a13n0rma1 wrote, don't jump start the psu without load.

the blue potato

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 7, 2006

Thanks for the heads up!

toofarfromjune

· #11 · Sep 7, 2006

pardon me but i don't see how this relates to miata/roadsters at all.

threatening to close the general section of this message board because of off topic posts?

too much more of this hypocritical bullshit and you'll be shocked how fast this board becomes a ghost town like streetracing.org did a few years back.

they went from thousands of users per hour, to a handful per day, all because of the same reason.

sideshow

· #12 · Sep 7, 2006

toofarfromjune @ Thu Sep 07 said:
pardon me but i don't see how this relates to miata/roadsters at all.

threatening to close the general section of this message board because of off topic posts?

too much more of this hypocritical bullshit and you'll be shocked how fast this board becomes a ghost town like streetracing.org did a few years back.

they went from thousands of users per hour, to a handful per day, all because of the same reason.

i so agree with you check my reply in the nuts and bolts section about vote for a thread

superboosted

· #13 · Sep 7, 2006

...This board is goin' down the shitter..... #-o ONLY MODS CAN POST LIKE THIS!

...Even Maxx know's this is BS!

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sideshow

· #14 · Sep 7, 2006

nice MOWHAWK

jesseclee

· #15 · Sep 7, 2006

Alright guys, do you know the meaning of:
The straw that breaks the camel's back?

An occasional bit of stooopid slack-off doesn't hurt anybody, but Nooooooo you guys had to overdo it, until we had no choice but to step on you.

Please reread Tim preamble:

"ClubRoadster.net is a virtual car club for all Mazda Roadster Tuning enthusiasts.

We are here to share the fun of tuning our Roadsters in the spirit of the Roadster-only Japanese quarterly magazine "Road&Ster." If you haven't picked up an issue of this wonderful magazine, it is a MUST for all Roadster enthusiasts. "

That is the original purpose of this forum. There are a few of you who contribute nothing of value towards this purpose. All you do is treat this forum as a time-wasting party chat-room. If you are one of these individuals- you know who you are. Please stop doing it. If you have a lot of valuable contribution to this forum, people will cut you more slack. If you contribute nothing except retarded blab, don't get all surprised and hurt when people come down on you.

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sideshow

· #16 · Sep 7, 2006

overdo it???? people talking about useless stuff on this forum??? after they have read this forum searched the classifieds, read about who has what steering wheel, why they run that size wheel, who has flares, look at pics of cool jdm parts and cars, add to the garage on your site,etc etc etc.. talk about useless stuff on other forums??? then they go there the post stupid things. they reply to them, they stay there more they come here less. can't you get bigger sponsers by showing that more people surf this forum then the "supra forum" or such.. and a section titled general discussion. it wasnt mohawk in the exterior section. more traffic usually means more or better sponsors.. but on another note. dont the mods stay in contact.. non miata threads got locked but mods post other non-miata related topics.. do you know the meaning of"THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK"

the blue potato

Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 7, 2006

toofarfromjune @ Thu Sep 07 said:
pardon me but i don't see how this relates to miata/roadsters at all.

threatening to close the general section of this message board because of off topic posts?

too much more of this hypocritical bullshit and you'll be shocked how fast this board becomes a ghost town like streetracing.org did a few years back.

they went from thousands of users per hour, to a handful per day, all because of the same reason.

Really - and you are the expert here, ehe? The mods and Tim are trying to figure out how to satisfy all parties so that everyone is happy and with your remarks above, you really do not add an ounce of help to the issue. But thanks for the warning - we'll be sure to make sure the site does not become a "ghost town".

timallen

· #18 · Sep 7, 2006

Alright, I think Peter got the answer he needed or has found a resource to do so.

This one is locked now.

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