Whole damn thing just died on me.

My computer that is. It's been running fine and there were no problems with it until yesterday night that is when I was checking my mail (and therefore not on a virus prone site), and suddenly it shut down with the message "power suspended" and refused to switch back on. The CPU switches on to the extent of lighting up but not doing anything, while the monitor just says "no signal." So I switched it off at the plug in the hope that that it would be alright by mornin but it's not. It is just rubbish quite frankly, and I really need to get it working because it has a 8000 word essay on war literature which I cannot write again, but need to get into uni. I am so desparate I am willing to hook a cable into my arm as a type of IV to bring it back to life.
...I am also computer retarded, so vaguely simple instructions would be nice.

Meg

 

that sucks man, i had/have the same problem. check out the posts on my problem: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=91836 (start at the beginning, we got kinda off topic lol) Im testing my CPU today to find out if its the mobo or the CPU. Its not a power supply problem tho, i tried 2 different ones with the same result.

 

Make sure no wires have become loose on your motherboard. Be sure to push all them back in as this has happened to me.

 

tim: ermmm...what red switch? I can't see one in mine, whereabouts shout I be looking? Also I have one of those storm plug thingys which stops my computer from getting a power surge in really bad weather, so is it okay if I just unplug the mains?

viper boy: thank you, but I only really know the alphabet so I don't understand those abbreviations and what in the name of hell they all mean. But thanks

hype: my motherboard? which is inside my cpu? if it means i have to take it apart...i don't even have a screwdriver so I may save this for last

 

I think TimW might be correct. But just to say you checked it, check the cable running from the monitor to the back of the computer, make sure both connections are tight.

Steve

 

TimAlright, the switch at the back of unit seems to be behind the panel and actually says 230, can't switch this back and forth without unscrewing the panel bit.
Tried the 30 second hold thing, but that hasn't helped, still getting the no signal msg.
The power supply exhaust doesn't smell of burnt leather at all...doesn't really smell of anything.
Bypassed the surge protector and nothing happened.
However, the good news, I realised I've saved my essay onto a disk anyway so I now have that and don't need to worry about it, but I'd still like my pc to live. Do you think rebooting the entire system from the CD would work?

Matacumbie I didn't actually think of this but yeah they're both secure.

 

No, the computer definately doesn't start up, the fans don't start nothing happens, the monitor only gives the no signal sign. I can't see if the toggle switch is off or on but I wouldn't have been able to switch it off as it is under the screwed on panel. no way I could've done that. There nothing else I can say, this is all that's happening.

 

Hey does the monitor receive it's power independently or is the power cable plugged into the computer's ps? If it gets its power from the wall then it will say 'no signal input' as long as it doesn't get any info from the cpu - so if that is your setup it sounds like your ps has blown - btw, I replaced my friend's ps yesterday, didn't smell anything or notice anything strange either - thing just 'died' (old age I guess)

 

Hey does the monitor receive its power independently or is the power cable plugged into the computer's ps? If the monitor's plugged into your wall and gets it's power apart from the computer then it will say 'no signal input' as long as it doesn't get info from the cpu and that's normal. If this is your setup then I'd agree, sounds like your ps has blown. Btw, I replaced my friend's ps yesterday - the thing didn't smell strange or look weird or anything, just 'died' (old age I guess)...

 

sorry for double entry got a bit click-happy ignore 11 please!!!

 

There are two cables, one's linked into the cpu and ones plugged into the surge protecter. Does the power supply affect the drives as well? Because mine aren't open...I only got this computer like a 1 year and a half ago which is quite annoying. But thanks!

 

ok it sounds like the monitor is powered seperately - so don't worry about the 'no signal' message - the issue does sound like the ps, if it's has blown chances are pretty good nothing else has been damaged, but unfortunately, you wont be able to do anything or run a diagnostic tool on your pc unless you can power it up - so no power, no pc!!! (It's pretty easy to replace a ps though, just be sure you get one big enough to support all the stuff on your system - a 350W or so - depending )

 

If theres a cable coming from the power supply to the CPU, thats for the CPU fan. Don't worrie about that. You might want to test your power supply with a voltimeter. To see if its good.

 

By CPU she's referring to the computer case. Not to the actual cpu. Findmeg, the cpu is a chip inside the computer. That is what closet haxzor is referring to. Just so you are not confused by his statement.

 

a quick test of the powersupply to see if it is dead, or something else is all done. This is to be done when you are about to replace the power supply. To see if the discounect the big plug from the motherboard (12 to 14 wires go into this plug so you can't mistake it) then take a paper clip and cross the green wire, with the blackwire next to it. If the fan comes on, it may not be bad. If not toss the thing out get a new one, four screws, and a few conectors, and you'll be back running again.

 

Thanks for the help, think I'm going to replace the power supply, but thanks again for all the help given!