Power gone

J

Jamerson

New Member
Hi.

Newbie here, so hope this is the right place.

I have a Packard Bell PC. Last night it was fine, now today it won't power up. At first, pressing the power on button caused the lights on the front to blink once, momentarily, as if it were about to start up, but now it won't even do that. The stage where the lights would blink lasted until I removed the side covers.

It is now completely dead. Power supply to the PC has been checked and is fine. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks.

Update: Just discovered, directly under the mains in socket, a small socket for 12v, which I presume is available to run the PC from a 12v DC supply. Tried it with a working 12v supply, and it's exactly the same - completely unresponsive.
 
Last edited:
So you say you changed nothing from the time it was working- yesterday- to today?

I once had a problem like this before, completely unresponsive after I had done some cable management with the leads coming from the PSU. I realized that I had accidentally pulled the PWR SW lead off of the pins on the motherboard.

Make sure that if you did get into the case, that the PWR SW lead is still snuggly on your motherboard :)
 
Thanks, I'll check.

I did nothing to the PC - just shut down and went to bed. Next day, it wouldn't start.

Interestingly this morning, the lights blink again just as the on button is pressed. That tells me something is getting through, it's just not initiating the startup.
 
Either your power supply has failed or your motherboard has failed.
Try another power supply if you can to eliminate whether it is psu or board.
 
Cheers - a new development:

Today I pumped the on switch repeatedly for about 20 seconds, and the machine fired up as normal. I got as far as the log-on screen, but unfortunately I didn't have a mouse connected so I shut down again. I wish I'd had the presence of mind to restart rather than shut down!

Now I can't get it to go again - but does this perhaps rule out a serious problem? Looks like just a problem with getting the power through?

I'll keep trying, and see if I can get it to go - not that it will resolve the issue, but at least I could use it!

Does trying a new power supply involve tapping into the circuit? I suspect I'll have to take it to a shop to do that.
 
No offence but going by your statement of tapping into the power supply indicates it would be safer for you to take your PC to a computer repair shop and let some one who is qualified to diagnose it.
 
So when you say try another power supply, you mean install a different power supply unit as opposed to whacking 12v onto the existing output?

I guess I will take it to the shop as I know next to nothing about PCs and don't have spares. Thanks for the advice. I think (and hope) it's nothing too serious.

Cheers.
 
Jamerson said:
as opposed to whacking 12v onto the existing output?
Click to expand...

Dont really know what that means. But it doesnt sound good.

Jamerson said:
I guess I will take it to the shop as I know next to nothing about PCs and don't have spares. Thanks for the advice. I think (and hope) it's nothing too serious.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

My guess would be the power supply or the power button/switch on the case has went out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top