Desktop Won't Turn On

My desktop simply won't turn on. I've pressed the front 'on' button and... nothing. No sounds, no lights, no fan movement. Nada.

Let's dispense with the comical, standard internet "customer service" memes and other common sense check downs:

- No, the computer is plugged into a power source;
- No, my neighborhood isn't blacked out;
- Yes, my surge protector is switched on;
- Yes, the computer power cord is firmly connected to the surge protector, which is turn firmly connected to the wall outlet;

- The wall outlet is getting power (tried a lamp in the socket and it worked fine. And the lamp worked fine connected to the surge protector.);

- Tried switching the computer power cord to other sockets in the surge protector. No help.

- Tried the on/off switch on the back of the computer. Nope it's in the "on" position and toggling it off and on didn't do anything.

- There is a tiny light on the back of the computer near the "on/off" switch which is lit. So, power is reaching the computer. (But is that light as bright as I remember it used to be or somehow dimmer...? Or is my mind playing games with me...?)

OK, I figured maybe the front "On" switch went bad somehow. I've never monkeyed with such before so, for the past few months I've been making do with my laptop while I find the time and to summon up the courage to crack the case open and get my hands dirty, so to speak. It'll keep.

But then... recently, I tried to boot up another desk top at an organization where I do some volunteer work. Well... Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot! Same problem!!! Push the front "on" button and nothing happens. I tried the On/Off switch on the back of this desk top. Hmmmm... The lights and fan run for a second, maybe two, then everything cuts off.

Now I know coincidences sometimes happen, but I find it odd that two desk tops that I use would go down in this fashion in a matter of a few months. Did I somehow offend one of the computer deities or sumptin'?

To sum up... Two seperate desk tops with what appear to be the same or closely related symptoms. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

1.you can test the system with a known good power supply like plodr said also if that doesn't work disconnect all internal and external peripherals, and restart the computer. If the computer boots, add the peripheral cards back one by one until you find the bad one. If the problem persists, the system board is probably bad

 

I take "try a different power supply" to be plugging it into a different wall socket...? Did that with both computers. No help for either computer.

BTW, all external peripherals were and remain disconnected at the time. I'll try disconnecting the internal cards next.

- What do you make of the one computer's fan and lights turning on for a second or two before cutting out, if anything?

 

:-o LOL Figured that's where the problem was headed. But, I thought there was some insanely easy step I'd not suspected.

OK. So, I have an even older computer laying around that I'd kept and always meant to cannibalize for parts (It still has floppy drives, for heavens sake). Are the power supply units readily interchangable/universal? The computers are all PCs but from different manufacturers...

 

Thanks, Plodr! Great tips. I hope to try this "surgery" over the weekend. A fun little tinkering until the Super Bowl comes on. :dancer

 

If you want to test something a little easier first, when you open the case look at the front where the wires for the power switch (two very small ones probably in a group of other smaller ones) which should go to the bottom right corner of the motherboard. If you look the cable is pushed on to two pins on the motherboard (which are hopefully labelled on the motherboard next to the pins). If you want to test the switch you can short these pins quickly with a screwdriver or other metal object by quickly touching to & removing from both pins. This will test the switch but it is very unlikely this is the problem.

 

*performs thread necromancy*

Wow. Real life just won't let me play! Grrr...

Hokay, where were we...? Well, I finally got around to trying the suggestion of replacing the power supply unit. This was done to the desktop that, when turning the on/off switch in back would "come to life" for a second or two before shutting off again. Power unit surgery successfully performed and... No help.

I broke down and took the desktop in and explained the problem. The tech muttered, "That can't be right..." He began to work on it, turning the 'puter on. Sure enough, it stopped working after a second or two. In a short while, he diagnosed the problem to be a short in the mother board. Arrrrrgh! Rather than try to track down a new mother board, I just invested in a new desktop for a reasonable price. *shrug* didn't need much; it's just for wordprocessing and record keeping.

Now I still have to tackle my home desktop. Hopefully, the power supply unit replacement will work well there.

Just wanted to let you good folks know what happened and keep you updated, if somewhat belatedly. I hate when threads just fall off the face of the earth with no resolution posted.