cunninj3
02-08-2005, 06:56 PM
I apologize if I sound like a moron, but I've never had this problem... my in-laws are having what looks like a power problem and I'm out of advice to give them!!
They were receiving a fax on their computer - when they went to jiggle the mouse to wake the computer up from sleep, it wouldn't wake. So he turned off the computer, waited, then restarted. Nothing happened.
After probing a little further (it took me awhile to try to get straight everything he tried to do) - there is a light on the back of the tower indicating power to the power supply. The power supply fan sounds like it cycles on. The rest of the computer does not sound like it is cycling up. There is an amber light (which he thinks may be dim) lit on the front of the tower. No beeps or anything when trying to power on. He tried disconnecting the CD-R drive and powering up again with no success. He checked all the cables and made sure all were seated properly. It still wouldn't power up. About two months ago, he did a thorough cleaning of the inside of the tower to get out all the dust bunnies etc., so it's clean in there. He even plugged the unit directly into the wall (as opposed to into the surge protector). The last thing he said he did was check the wires (?) to the power switch and they were intact.
I didn't know if it would help, but I suggested trying to start up from the boot disk, but he doesn't have one (apparently HP puts all system recovery stuff on the HD). The only other thing I could think of is to pull out the RAM and put it back in to make sure it's in there properly. The computer is only 2 years old.
Funny thing is, the exact same thing happened to my sister 3 days ago (there's just bad computer karma all around me - I hope it's not catching!!) - but she just ended up buying a new computer to "fix" the problem. :) The in-laws aren't open to that idea!!! LOL
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks for any help!
Joanne :)
They were receiving a fax on their computer - when they went to jiggle the mouse to wake the computer up from sleep, it wouldn't wake. So he turned off the computer, waited, then restarted. Nothing happened.
After probing a little further (it took me awhile to try to get straight everything he tried to do) - there is a light on the back of the tower indicating power to the power supply. The power supply fan sounds like it cycles on. The rest of the computer does not sound like it is cycling up. There is an amber light (which he thinks may be dim) lit on the front of the tower. No beeps or anything when trying to power on. He tried disconnecting the CD-R drive and powering up again with no success. He checked all the cables and made sure all were seated properly. It still wouldn't power up. About two months ago, he did a thorough cleaning of the inside of the tower to get out all the dust bunnies etc., so it's clean in there. He even plugged the unit directly into the wall (as opposed to into the surge protector). The last thing he said he did was check the wires (?) to the power switch and they were intact.
I didn't know if it would help, but I suggested trying to start up from the boot disk, but he doesn't have one (apparently HP puts all system recovery stuff on the HD). The only other thing I could think of is to pull out the RAM and put it back in to make sure it's in there properly. The computer is only 2 years old.
Funny thing is, the exact same thing happened to my sister 3 days ago (there's just bad computer karma all around me - I hope it's not catching!!) - but she just ended up buying a new computer to "fix" the problem. :) The in-laws aren't open to that idea!!! LOL
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks for any help!
Joanne :)