TSGL: Something seriously wrong with my PC

[Tilman Brandl]

Hi Bo,

I'm following this, and while I'm not sure about which remedy might be best, I *guess* that changing the PSU is rather easy, cheap, and could help. Getting a new power switch might be easy, but maybe not one that's exactly the size of the original? 

I've seen a puzzling problem myself recently (though without the tick, tick ...) after I had shut off my PC. When I tried to switch it on again, it didn't give a sound, just sat there in silence. Unfortunately I have no idea what exactly has happened. I turned around the box (flat on the floor), rattled the PSU and a few cables, the power switch on the backside, etc. Thereafter it started working ok. (I've had severe problems with a stuck PS fan recently, which I solved by spraying it with oil like WD40). I wonder wheter these are harbingers of things to come ...

As to the tick-tick ... IMHO this needn't be a mechanical noise, but could be the switching power supply - trying to switch and failing (to put it that way). Also - maybe a dead capacitor ...?

Tilman
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bo Maurin 
  To: Tech Support Guy Mailing List 
  Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 9:21 AM
  Subject: Re: TSGL: Something seriously wrong with my PC


  Hi Davis and all others who aswered my question,
  Is it not unlikely that the power switch is to blame? I'm thinking of
  the fact that the PSU light is blinking and there is a small tick-tick
  sound from the PSU. How about the cmos battery? Should I try to change
  that?

  Regards / Bo

  -----Original Message-----
  From: list-bounces at tsgserver.com [mailto:list-bounces at tsgserver.com] On
  Behalf Of H Davis
  Sent: den 10 oktober 2007 18:38
  To: Tech Support Guy Mailing List
  Subject: Re: TSGL: Something seriously wrong with my PC

  Bo,  

  A cheaper first repair attempt might be to replace the power switch. 
  It's possible it's defective and prevents the PS from turning on. By
  detaching the control cables the switch is effectively removed from
  controlling the PS and it comes on. You might even find some info on the
  net about jumping or otherwise manipulating the control signals that are
  provided to the PS through the control cable to simulate the switch
  actions to further diagnose things.

  Some links from quickly googling around:
  http://case-mods.linear1.org/case-mod-101-the-atx-power-switch-demystifi
  ed/
  http://www.duxcw.com/faq/ps/ps1.htm
  http://www.formfactors.org/FFDetail.asp?FFID=1&CatID=2

  Power switch for sale here for $2.99. Cheap enough to try before
  replacing the PS:
  http://www.cables4computer.com/CasesandEnclosures/PCCases/MidTower/CON-6
  310.html?gclid=CJXPxYjhhI8CFVB1OAodNS4K3Q

  HTH
  H Davis

  Michael Sweeden wrote:
  > It does sound like a PSU. I've replaced the PSU in several Compaq PCs 
  > with a green light on them with a standard ATX power supply with no 
  > problems. Your unit may be different, but it may not and may take a 
  > standard power supply just fine.
  > Michael
  >
  > -----Original Message-----
  > From: list-bounces at tsgserver.com [mailto:list-bounces at tsgserver.com] 
  > On Behalf Of Bo Maurin
  > Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 5:57 AM
  > To: Tech Support Guy Mailing List
  > Subject: TSGL: Something seriously wrong with my PC
  >
  > Hi all,
  > I have a four year old PC which is quite up to date as I have upgraded

  > HW as years went by.
  > Last week I realized that I could not turn it on. At the back of the 
  > PC, there is a diode light which is supposed to have a green solid
  light.
  > That light is now blinking and there is a small tick-tick sound from 
  > the PSU. When I press the "On" button nothing happens. Not even the 
  > fans starts spinning.
  >
  > I followed an advice a got from a friend to detach the PSU-MB (24 pin)

  > cable in the PC, connect the PSU to a power outlet and then re attach 
  > the PSU-MB cable. The computer then booted normally. But when I shut 
  > it down, leaving the PSU-MB cable in place and try again, the computer

  > is once more dead.
  >
  > I except that the PSU will need to be replaced, but is there anyway I 
  > can confirm that the PSU is the issue? The PC is from Compaq which 
  > means I can not use just any ATX compatible PSU.
  >
  > Regards / Bo