PC won't turn on

So last night when I shut down my desktop, I got a blue screen error, but I didn't write down what it was or really pay it much attention.

Today when I try to turn on my desktop, I hear 3 or 4 angry buzzes and there is nothing on the monitor. The hard drive is spinning and the noise appears to be coming from my video card.

Anyone have any idea what's going on and/or how to approach this problem?

 

Buzzing sounds lead me to believe it's the power supply. I would test the power supply or swap it with another one if you have a spare one.

 

the video cards power supply? how might one check that?

I'm not super computer savvy, lol

 

The video card doesn't have a power supply it connects to the power supply. If you think it is the video card I would try swapping it with another one or try on-board video if you have it.

 

all the fans and the HD are spinning, would that lead you to think its not the power supply?

 

Well it could be ok

Do you another video card to try or onboard video if you know as you said you think it's coming from the video card.

 

i dont know what onboard video is, and i dont have another video card

 

Onboard video means that video it built onto the motherboard.

Is this a pre-built computer such as HP dell etc. or a custom built comptuer? If it's a pre-built could you tell us the model?

 

It's a Dell from 2006

 

Could it be possible to provide a little more information such as the model of the dell?

 

is that written on the comp somewhere? i dont have that info saved anywhere

the video card is an nvidia g series

 

G series I think you mean GeForce.

I would try looking at the back on your comptuer. It may be on the side or bottom of it also.

Also if you know does the back of your computer have more then one video port?

 

the video card has a big white one, a smaller blue one and an s-video out

 

Are you able to take pictures? If so could you take a picture of the back of your computer with everything unplugged as well as a picture of the inside near the pci cards?

 

here we go

 

Ok your pc doesn't have on-board video. So when you turn your pc on you hear buzzing sound coming from your video card? Also I would remove the video card and see if the buzzing noise continues and if you get any beeps.

 

video card out, same beeps

I think it's coming from the big black box in the middle which i assume is the power supply?

 

What happens when you remove you video card?

 

its exactly the same

 

If it still makes the buzzing sound it's likely your power supply.

2.jpg that you posted is your power supply.

 

the metal box at the top or the plastic box on the left? I think the sound is coming from the plastic box.

How interchangeable are power supplies? Is that something I can easily replace?

 

If you look at 2.jpg that you posted it's the top right silver box.

You can replace it but dell is known to have weird shaped power supplies. I would try and contact dell to get a size of the power supply.

 

Sorry it's just 2.jpg that you posted.

 

I have an old dell desktop. The plug from my current power supply to my motherboard has 24 prongs. The old one has only 20 prongs. Any chance they can interchange?

 

You can buy a 20 to 24 pin adapter but you need to make sure the old psu has enough wattage to power the pc. Could you take a picture of both psu's labels so I can compare them?

 

The old power supply doesn't have a proper label. That PC is old, from like 2000 though.

 

If you are unsure and the age of the power supply I think it would be smart to buy a new one for the pc. If you try and risk it you can blow up the power supply and it could damage parts in the pc.

I would contact Dell and see if you can get a demotions for the power supply.

 

A new/upgraded power supply is $100 and a refurbished replacement $65

I'm not quite sure that's worth it for a 4 year old desktop PC

What do you think?

 

To be honest that's way to pricey for a dell power supply. My high end Corsair one cost like 110.

Did you get a size perhaps?