Help! PC just "died"...

phreaktor · 10-11-2009, 12:52 PM

I know that sounds vague, but that's exactly what happened. I was just watching a YouTube video and my PC made a pop sound and shut off. Now when I turn it on there is no video and the HDD activity light only comes on for a second and goes off. The CD drive appears to be functional.

What steps should I take to troubleshoot? I tried reseating the HDD connectors and unplugged all USB devices.

phreaktor · 10-11-2009, 01:01 PM

It's a Asus P4S800 rev. 2.00 motherboard with 1 GB ram and an addition 512 ram... Also, there is no POST beep at all.

token5gtd · 10-11-2009, 01:02 PM

if you heard a pop i'd say check ur power supply first. in my experience i've seen several fried PSUs

cheshirecat79 · 10-11-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by token5gtd

if you heard a pop i'd say check ur power supply first. in my experience i've seen several fried PSUs

Yep.

0jiggy0 · 10-11-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by token5gtd

if you heard a pop i'd say check ur power supply first. in my experience i've seen several fried PSUs

This.

phreaktor · 10-11-2009, 01:21 PM

Ok I'll get my multimeter. Thing is, the fan is on and so is the MB light. I suppose it could be an issue where it can't deliver the current needed?

edit:I just removed one RAM module at a time and it turns out that the 1GB DDR was keeping it from booting. I just bought it this summer.

Edit 2: pc booted normally without the 1gb module, made it to the login screen then shut down again and went back to square 1. Is my MB frying my memory????

0jiggy0 · 10-11-2009, 01:23 PM

Sucks, if it was that recent you should be able to exchange it.

phreaktor · 10-11-2009, 01:27 PM

^see edits

situation is still the same but the HDD activity light flashes as if it is booting normally then goes dead. I'm gonna try rmoving a 512MB module now.

phreaktor · 10-11-2009, 01:31 PM

Still nothing with only 512MB of RAM in. Bad MB?

0jiggy0 · 10-11-2009, 01:34 PM

At my last post i was actually going to post wow its acting just like a bad power supply. Is it still getting to the login screen or do you hear the power supply go for like 2 seconds then cut back off?

phreaktor · 10-11-2009, 01:51 PM

The power wire leading from the PSU to the MB is reading 14.37 volts and it seems to be on. The fan is running. No it will not even boot now. Isn't 14.37 v 2.37 v higher than it should be? Could a voltage regulator in my PSU have went and caused the MB to be overpowered thus smoking all of my memory modules?

Edit: nevermind my meter was set to ohms lol. 12/5 v is good. I think it's either the mb or the memory

rxkevin · 10-11-2009, 02:12 PM

If it was a popping sound, it is most likely your PSU. I would either try to find a cheap PSU out of an old computer.

phreaktor · 10-11-2009, 02:29 PM

I'm on the fence. The psu voltages checked out good. I do have a couple other supplies but I am more concerned that thenpc booted when I pulled out the 1GB RAM module and then it went right back to the same situation...

Coffeemaster · 10-11-2009, 06:42 PM

Get a bios dump of all voltages and post them here instead of saying "it looks allright". Pops are usually caps.

WhiskeyHotel · 10-11-2009, 07:22 PM

I agree - "pops" are usually capacitors or diodes. The power supply provides several different DC voltages: + - 12; + -5; +3.3 volts. A failure in any stage might not affect the others. In addition, you may see good voltage unloaded but add a load (say, a RAM chip, etc.) and the voltage will go to crap. The fan will likely run on a partial failure - depending on what part fails.

jeffie7 · 10-11-2009, 08:45 PM

sounds like PSU to me.

I've had all kinds of weird issues with bad power supplies from random over heating style lock ups to having the monitor only work over 4th or so boot up.

I'd put my money on the PS.

michaeljr6 · 10-11-2009, 09:05 PM

PSU. happened to me before.

michaeljr6 · 10-11-2009, 09:06 PM

buy this one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817709010

PRuane · 10-11-2009, 09:15 PM

No buy this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139011

That's what I'm currently using. Its DOPE

michaeljr6 · 10-11-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRuane

No buy this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139011

That's what I'm currently using. Its DOPE

because he needs to run that much power to run his 478 socket (pentium 4) and possibly an onboard vid card. he could actually get a 200 watt supply and it'll be fine.