Help! My computer just died.

[AntiGuv]

If your monitor is still running off that power source, then it's almost certainly a bad motherboard.

[Fiddlstix]

No beeps. Nothing. What is a multimeter?

A "multimeter" is a kinda of voltmeter/milliamp/ohm meter although it may have other functions depending on the particular make/model.

In this case it would be used to check voltage of the power supply. I would go for the power supply first and work from there.

From what I have read on this thread so far I wouldn't suppect the hard drive just yet. It could be the mother board too. There are several possibilities.

Go with the power supply for now

Good luck

[Petronski]

Thank you. Where would I get one of those? Would Frys Electronics have one?

Walmart. Ten bucks for a simple one.

[xander]

First thing is to check that your circuit breaker did not pop on either the power strip or the house panel. Then make sure the power cord is securely plugged into both the outlet from the power strip, and the cord from the computer power supply to the power strip, both ends, are securely plugged in. Lastly, check to make sure the switch on the power supply is on. If all of the above are fine and working properly and you still have no life at the computer, then more than likely it's the power supply.

Power supplies can feed out a number of voltages, so there is a chance that the little 5V power is still available to LED's, but that the 15V that runs the Mobo and the fans, etc is dead. In this case you may see an LED, but not get any response from the fans or the drives. LED's may remain on for a short period after a power supply or power in general is cut off. This is due to Capacitors which hold a charge and may provide enough juice to keep low power consumption components, like LEDs, illuminated after power is terminated.

This is all based on what you wrote, if there are more factors, such as power outages and other user error causes, that's the best diagnosis I can give you.

If power supply is working and the motherboard is shot, you would typically recieve some sore of beep codes or at least fans turning on, so I'd say PS.

Good Luck

[teletech]

I just FReep mailed you.

[annyokie]

Good job. Husband did the same with a wireless kepboard that died and got a new one and a new mouse for free.

[freedumb2003]

I have had my Sony Vaio for over 2 years -- 1 memory upgrade and switched to XP from that Gawdforsaken ME. No problems.

But when a computer decides to die, it is basically disposable (unless you get lucky and it is just the power supply).

Thanks for the advice on the long-barrel. Someday I'll have to take this one out to pasture like Old Yeller.

[Uncle Meat]

No beeps. Nothing. What is a multimeter?

Not poking fun,but if you don't know what a multimeter is,you better get somebody that does know check your power supply.

[maxwell]

They should if they're any kinda electronics shop. Also check Radio Shack and the like. A google search indicates that Sears carries 'em also. You wouldn't need anything super-duper hard-core; if it's rated to a couple hundred volts and a few amps then it should be more than fine. Shouldn't cost you much more than $30-50 or something.

[Feckless]

some newer switching power supplies need to be unplugged after a power "event" (power outage, surge, brown out, etc). Unplug from the wall for 5 min.

[longjack]

Right, about the monitor, but sometimes you just have to check everything. Maybe there's a bad circuit on the UPS. Most likely not, but you never know.

If the machine is on warranty it still doesn't hurt to get another power supply now. Let the warranty replace the bad one and you'll have a spare.

Power supply failures are fairly common.

longjack

[annyokie]

When was the last time you cleaned it, ie: took the panel off and blew it out with canned air? It could just be dirty or your fan is stuck.

Good luck!

[poindexters brother]

I just fixed a friends computer that was dead. No beeps and no video signal, but there was a green LED illuminated on the mainboard, and the fans were all running. Had me completely stumped. First I thought power supply, but with the LED and fans, that seemed unlikely, then I thought mainboard, but that wasn't it. Then I thought CPU and was ready to swap that out, but instead went onto EBay and bought one of these:

http://www.kanospeaks.com/dman/pciisawr.html

Identified the problem in less than 5 minutes as a stuck reset switch. Unplugged the reset switch leads from the mainboard and the system lives again!

Of course, your problem is probably something completely different...

[Snowy]

It's your power supply. They don't cost very much, if you want to do it yourself. Then, if I were you I would check your outlet where it was plugged in. My son fried two power supplies before we replaced the socket. Good Luck!

[Rebelbase]

Be sure to delete the cookies after posting from your neighbor's computer. They might be a DU subversive who could use your account to throw the election for Kerry.

[Fiddlstix]

You have room on your credit card? time to get a Dell dude!

Screw Dell (as well as others)
Buy the components and build the thing yourself. That's the only way to really get the computer you need. :)

[MarkeyD]

It's an altimeter for voltage/current/resistance.

[BrooklynGOP]

Probably the power supply. You can get a new one for ~$20.

[js1138]

When was the last time you cleaned it, ie: took the panel off and blew it out with canned air? It could just be dirty or your fan is stuck.

That might be the cause of death, but cleaning a dead power supply will not restore it. They are under $30. Take it out and make sure you get one that is the same physical size and with the same type connector.

[BrooklynGOP]

Don't look at the cpu when firing -- it just makes it more painful.

Not if its a Celeron.