HAY GUYS

Sakabadger · Local time: Dec 23, 2006, 06:07 PM

I turned off my computer so I could vacuum yesterday (turning the vacuum cleaner even manages to dim the lights), but when I finished and went to turn it back on, I couldn't.

No lights, no fans, not a single sound. (Yes I made sure the little flip on the back of the PSU was on and that the power strip was working).

I swapped the PSU with the one from the family computer, and... still no go. Am I right in assuming that the problem does not lie with the PSU then? How do I check to see if it's another issue, like the motherboard/CPU? I've read that sometimes the power on button craps out, but I have no idea how to check that.

This is like the second time this year my computer's had a major crap out, so annoying.

Any help or suggestions you guys can give me would be great.

Here are some of my crappy computer specs, if they are helpful:

P4 2.4GHz
512MB RAM
450w PSU
ATI Radeon 9200 SE
I put the computer together about 2.5 years ago, so it's not a pre-assembled one.

Also a random tidbit of info:

Starting from maybe half a year ago, if I was playing Ragnarok Online or Albatross18 or something, the screen would start getting staticy, I'd hear the whir of a fan going crazy and then it would power down. This happens without fail unless I remove the side case and direct a large fan (like a desk fan) straight into the case. I thought it was the graphics card that was screwing up, but it's flawless every other time. Plus it doesn't have a fan on it to start with, so... Is that indicative of the CPU overheating or something? Might that have something to do with my current problem?

Sorry for the tl;dr. Thanks!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Snowknight · Dec 25, 2006, 11:47 PM

Try turning the thing on with the case open. If the fans (namely the CPU fan) begins to spin and then stops, it's most likely the motherboard.
...actually, I'm betting on the motherboard being dead either way.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Sol · Local time: Dec 25, 2006, 11:53 PM

There isn't really anything you can do to test a motherboard if the computer will not boot, so that leaves you pretty much screwed. The best thing to do is see if you can purchase the exact type of motherboard to replace it. This way you need only swap out the physical components and not have to backup and reinstall your OS. Newegg.com is a good place to start looking for one.

Also, the problem you have with the computer shutting down while playing games is an overheating issue, like you suspected. The simplest thing to solve this is to clean out the whole case with some canned air and make sure the CPU/graphics card fans are working properly.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.