What Did This PC Die from

IvanV · Mar 12, 2009, 05:32 PM

It's a friend's PC and I didn't get a chance to see it yet, so I'm trying to get the best possible guess for when that happens because I'll probably be the one fixing it.

The PC suddenly shut down and refused to power on. When my friend tried to power it on nothing happened except that the power LED was blinking. She also says that she caught a smell of something burning.

My optimistic theory is that her PSU is malfunctioning. It's been noisy for awhile so I suppose it wasn't properly cooled.

Still, there were other strange things going on with that PC (a couple of times, it refused to boot and just made a repeating beep indicating a memory problem, but after removing and reinserting the first of the modules it would work fine), so I fear that it may be something more expensive like the motherboard.

It's an old AthlonXP system with an nForce2 motherboard, Audigy2, a modem, a 360W PSU by Chieftec, GF 4 Ti 4200...

Chaos · Mar 12, 2009, 05:47 PM

I would go with your gut instinct and check the PSU before anything else

Tyrsonswood · Mar 12, 2009, 06:00 PM

I agree, probably the power supply. With the age of the system there could be some contact corrosion too..... Like the ram sockets.... reseating can "cure" this sometimes.

Look for swollen caps too.... you're right in the era where bad caps were common.

IvanV · Mar 12, 2009, 08:05 PM

Thanks, guys, I appreciate your input.

Apparently, my friend is having second thoughts on whether she wants this fixed at all since she was planning to get a new PC anyway, but if we do try to revive it, I'll keep you posted.

Mac Daddy · Mar 12, 2009, 10:29 PM

A little late just got home but going with PSU as well Ivan.

Keep us posted I read your above post

IvanV · Mar 14, 2009, 02:32 PM

Hi guys, here's the update. Not wanting to bother me, my friend took the computer to a repair shop and, as we collectively guessed, it was the PSU. They replaced it and also cleaned up the RAM contacts and it's all working fine now. I thank you all once again.

P.S. Tyronswood, I was unable to add to your rep, as I found out, I have to give rep to 20 people before I can give it to someone for the second time. Obviously, I don't click those buttons often enough.

Mac Daddy · Mar 14, 2009, 02:44 PM

Thanks for the rep Ivan and glad your friend got it sorted

Mar 12, 2009, 05:32 PM	#1
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,911 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	What Did This PC Die from It's a friend's PC and I didn't get a chance to see it yet, so I'm trying to get the best possible guess for when that happens because I'll probably be the one fixing it. The PC suddenly shut down and refused to power on. When my friend tried to power it on nothing happened except that the power LED was blinking. She also says that she caught a smell of something burning. My optimistic theory is that her PSU is malfunctioning. It's been noisy for awhile so I suppose it wasn't properly cooled. Still, there were other strange things going on with that PC (a couple of times, it refused to boot and just made a repeating beep indicating a memory problem, but after removing and reinserting the first of the modules it would work fine), so I fear that it may be something more expensive like the motherboard. It's an old AthlonXP system with an nForce2 motherboard, Audigy2, a modem, a 360W PSU by Chieftec, GF 4 Ti 4200... __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Mar 12, 2009, 05:47 PM	#2
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Re: What Did This PC Die from I would go with your gut instinct and check the PSU before anything else

Mar 12, 2009, 08:05 PM	Thread Starter #4
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,911 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: What Did This PC Die from Thanks, guys, I appreciate your input. Apparently, my friend is having second thoughts on whether she wants this fixed at all since she was planning to get a new PC anyway, but if we do try to revive it, I'll keep you posted. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Mar 12, 2009, 10:29 PM	#5
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: What Did This PC Die from A little late just got home but going with PSU as well Ivan. Keep us posted I read your above post __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Mar 14, 2009, 02:32 PM	Thread Starter #6
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,911 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: What Did This PC Die from Hi guys, here's the update. Not wanting to bother me, my friend took the computer to a repair shop and, as we collectively guessed, it was the PSU. They replaced it and also cleaned up the RAM contacts and it's all working fine now. I thank you all once again. P.S. Tyronswood, I was unable to add to your rep, as I found out, I have to give rep to 20 people before I can give it to someone for the second time. Obviously, I don't click those buttons often enough. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Mar 14, 2009, 02:44 PM	#7
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 79 System Specs	Re: What Did This PC Die from Thanks for the rep Ivan and glad your friend got it sorted __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen