We bought a refurbished PC for my son for Christmas. It had a 6 month warranty. So now that the warranty is up, it is dead. I cannot even turn it on. I had noticed it seemed to be running hot. I contacted the seller, he said as long as the fans are running it should be OK. The fans were running but it was hot. Now it won't boot up at all. The seller says it probably needs a new power supply. He said it is a fairly easy thing to replace and I could do it myself.

I would attempt this, because in the latest issue of PC World they show you step by step how to do it. My questions are...where do I get a power supply? and what if I replace that and it still won't boot up? Like, what if it burned up something else inside? Is this something a novice should attempt?

System was running fine (other than being hot) up until it just wouldn't start one day. When I press the power button I get a brief flash on the power light, but then it's dead. No whirring sounds.

This is a U-Max P-II 300.

Thanks for your help, Jayn

> When I press the power button I get a brief flash on the power light,
> but then it's dead. No whirring sounds.

Stop me if you've heard this one before...

I had a problem like this -- drove me nuts. Turns out there was a short in the power lead going to the CD-ROM. The power supply would detect the short, then shut itself off. If I took the cover off the case, and turned the box on its side, everything worked fine. Put the cover back on, turn the case upright, and no joy.

The short was just a small black mark on the bare metal frame, which was difficult to see as it was behind a bunch of other wires...

Good luck --




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HEY YOU -- MODERATOR -- CHANGE MY STATUS TO "HECKLER"

Hi Plainjane,
You can purchase a new power supply from just about any decent computer store. You could order online through Pricewatch.com or any of a myriad of other sources. (There are lots of folks out there who will be glad to take your money, ha!, eh?)
I'm just the last of the tightwads I guess, but, ...I wouldn't drop a dime on this problem, because you could go out and buy a new power supply for $40.00 or so and find that the power supply isn't even the problem. Here's my kind of fix/problem solving direction. Find someone who has an old system sitting around collecting dust, (they are everywhere and for most people absolutely valueless) and canabalize that bugger. Take the power supply out of the old system and check and see if that is the problem. Make sense?
Peace, and post back and let me know how it goes.

You have to "cannibalize" the correct power supply if you want to get a used one........In your case it is a ATX style power supply that you need. The "AT" style WONT work ! It is VERY easy to change a ATX style power supply......you just unplug all of the connectors, unscrew it [4 screws in back] and put the new or used one in.....plug everything back the same way it was & shazamm......you have power. By the way.....DO NOT LEAVE THE POWER CORD CONNECTED WHILE DOING THIS!!!

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Will XP save Me ?

Originally posted by nimnorf2:

I'm just the last of the tightwads I guess, but, ...I wouldn't drop a dime on this problem, because you could go out and buy a new power supply for $40.00 or so and find that the power supply isn't even the problem. Here's my kind of fix/problem solving direction.

A know a computer store here will check your system for free. They will also take back any part you buy if it turns out that was not the problem.

You might check computer stores in your area. Most want your business and will be glad to help. Stay away from any that want $$$$ just to look at your machine or that don't offer a refund. A free estimate should indicate a good computer shop that wants your business.

BE VERY CAREFUL!!! Power units , especially ATX units can store power. Unit should be unplugged for several hours or even days to be safe as you mentioned your a novice. Good luck.

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Jim

Jayn --- If you are getting a "brief flash" on the power light then the problem is not the power supply. It is good. The problem is somewhere else. What it's doin' is tripping itself off because of an overload somewhere else. Now the fun begins. Finding what's causing this puppy to overload. And you know what's REALLY strange? You can stop by the local schoolhouse and say "hey kids my computer is broke." Be some young fella who hasn't made Jr. High yet offer to stop by after school and fix it! Don't despair! It's just a matter of which component is causing the power drain.

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"Lemmee Fix That Thing......."

With all due respect to previous posters, I've changed out over 300 power supplies in the last 2 years or so and NEVER had ANY power supply "discharge" ANYthing ......period.......you DO NOT have to wait one minute from unplugging a power supply to handle it.....that is pure well, you know. Anyway, the fact that you state that no fans come on tells me the most likely candidate is, in fact, the power supply. If you are able to take the unit to a repair or parts facility that will change the PS out right there [it will only take about 5 min] and test the new one before buying it.....that would be a good plan. Oh, be sure note how long he waits before putting in the other power supply LOL.....my bet, less than a second http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
NOTE: THE ABOVE REFERS TO POWER SUPPLY'S FOR PC'S......POWER SUPPLY'S FOR MONITORS ARE A DIFFERENT ANIMAL ALLTOGETHER!
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Will XP save Me ?



[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 07-13-2001).]

Sorry if I'm missing something here,

What part seemed hot, the case, cpu etc.

Is the fan turning on the back of the psu as well as the one attached to the cpu.