PC died, not switching on.

dal2000

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So this morning while using my pc, it suddenly and instantly just died. It would not switch back on at all, just a once off death. Now when I unplug the 4pin connector that connects to the motherboard, everything lights up and switches on albeit silently. When I connect the 4pin back onto the motherboard, it doesn't switch on. The only thing that does happen, when I press the power button, is the cpu fan jolts for a split second and then nothing.

Anyone got any ideas?
 
dying mobo, damaged PSU power line or maybe even CPU.. But I'd bet on the mobo.
 
I would change the powersupply first as it is possible that it's very badly damaged.
Also
look for swollen caps on the board.

If you dont see swollen caps & tested with another psu then you can assume it's another problem on the mainboard.

Psu & caps can be replaced.
 
Once replacing the PSU, take everything out of the case or just simply unplug it (Everything that is not absolutely vital to start the PC up)
This includes: Graphics cards, Modem cards, SCSI cards, hard drives, disk drives, fan cards, fans etc (NOT CPU FAN), lights, any other expansion cards.

IF the PC starts up fine and goes into BIOS, turn it off and start plugging components in. Start with the HDDs and your GPU (If you have one) - This could help eliminate the problem if it isn't the motherboard or CPU. This does however sound like a bad mobo problem.
 
unplug the main power plug off the mobo and reinsert it after 5mins, next what you can do is start unpluggin all your addon cards until it switches on.
 
unplug the main power plug off the mobo and reinsert it after 5mins, next what you can do is start unpluggin all your addon cards until it switches on.

I think it would be better to verify the system actually works by unplugging everything and making sure it turns on and then plug components in until it no longer turns on. It could be more than one item.

But guess it is 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.
 
tl;dr

maybe try different socket on you're wall outlet

We have plug extender on the wall and one stopped working, my screen came on but not my box so I switched around the plugs and voila. maybe it could be the same for you? :D
 
Tried everything, unplugged all the components one by one. In the end it seems to be as I suspected, the 4 pin connection to the mobo. When I remove that, it switches on. When I leave it in, it doesn't switch one. Seems like a PSU has gone faulty.
 
I was in the same situation about 2 months ago. I also thought it was the PSU, even got a new one to test with, but my pc wouldn't switch back on. Sadly it was my motherboard that died, and I had to replace it. Luckily I found a new one for under R800 which I was really stoked about ! :D
 
Yeah it does sound like either the PSU or the motherboard.. but you can just test it at a shop, or if you have any spare PSU, you can try it..
 
Had the same issue a while back found out my mobo said bye bye. Your board is gone since your power supply does function when not connected to the board.
 
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