computer is dead - where to troubleshoot?

**stevew** · 02-16-2012, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Westy

Just wear your wife's jeans, and makeup.

buy these?

**Westy** · 02-16-2012, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by stevew

buy these?

Do they make a turtleneck version? Sleeves are for pussies.

**H8R** · 02-16-2012, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by stevew

will you be able to pass the smug test?

Just sharpen a pencil in your own asshole like every other Apple fan boy can do.

**stevew** · 02-16-2012, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by H8R

Just sharpen a pencil in your own asshole like every other Apple fan boy can do.

i'm hurt.

but i'm strictly a quill & inkwell motherfvcker.

**canadmos** · 02-16-2012, 03:14 PM

It's a lot easier to find out what your problem is if you use a multimeter to back probe the connections on your mother board. At least then you could tell where the general area of the problem is.

When you turn it on does the hard drive spin? Does the CPU fan turn on? Does it beep? Do nothing at all?

[edit] Nevermind, I see you have already answered these. Just like the power on switch (there is also a power good signal that must be made from your mother board to PSU for it to start..), another simple thing that could happen is some power supplies have a switch on the back. Try flicking it if yours has one. I know one of my old computers had this and I could not for the life of me figure out why the computer would not turn on it. It was almost like a built in breaker switch.

My hardware professor has taught us that its just easier to replace crap than it is to repair it.

**narlus** · 02-18-2012, 09:25 AM

so i took a closer look at the problem w/ the panels off the machine...looks like the power supply is at least getting some power to the unit, as the back network connection jack LED and MoBo LED light up when the PS is on.

pushing the main power button makes the front drive LEDs flash momentarily, but fans don't spin up.

off to get another machine...my tolerance for troubleshooting PC problems is pretty fvcking tiny.

i did manage to pull off the cooling fan to check out the CPU and all the heat transfer paste was caked and dry, and it looked like there was some dust that managed to get in there...maybe i could try re-seating the CPU and reapplying the paste to see if that helps.

**H8R** · 02-18-2012, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by narlus

i did manage to pull off the cooling fan to check out the CPU and all the heat transfer paste was caked and dry, and it looked like there was some dust that managed to get in there...maybe i could try re-seating the CPU and reapplying the paste to see if that helps.

If you want, you can ship the machine to me and I'll see if I can resurrect it. Consider it payment for photographic services. (pull the hard drive before it ships)

**narlus** · 02-18-2012, 03:54 PM

appreciate the offer but i don't think it's worth it.

i might try to salvage it later but i need a functioning machine pretty quickly.

**Silver** · 02-19-2012, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by narlus

so i took a closer look at the problem w/ the panels off the machine...looks like the power supply is at least getting some power to the unit, as the back network connection jack LED and MoBo LED light up when the PS is on.

pushing the main power button makes the front drive LEDs flash momentarily, but fans don't spin up.

off to get another machine...my tolerance for troubleshooting PC problems is pretty fvcking tiny.

i did manage to pull off the cooling fan to check out the CPU and all the heat transfer paste was caked and dry, and it looked like there was some dust that managed to get in there...maybe i could try re-seating the CPU and reapplying the paste to see if that helps.

Unplug everything from the motherboard with the exception of the switches, the power supply, the CPU and the CPU cooler, and the RAM. Does it POST?

If not, move the RAM to the other slots. Try it now?

**narlus** · 02-24-2012, 01:05 PM

ended up getting a Dell....had 'em pop in a 120GB SSD and more RAM. should get it tmrw from Micro Center

**canadmos** · 02-24-2012, 01:30 PM

You say the fans didn't turn on (I know you already got a new computer, but yeah..), is the cpu fan plugged in? I'm almost positive that almost all computers won't start if the motherboard detects that the CPU fan isn't spinning.

If you can pinpoint the problem on this one you could use it as a dedicated backup machine on your home network. Comes in handy sometimes.