Computer won't start.

[yooniecorn]

T'was working fine a few hours ago -- now, it won't even start.

I cleaned it out with a rag (it was dusty), and reset the CMOS, to no avail. I reseated the DIMM card, and checked all connections.

The motherboard light is on properly -- green. The CPU's fan; however, does not spin once I plug the power in, which it usually does. The start-up process would go further, if my hard drive was the culprit. The lights wouldn't turn on, and the LED fans wouldn't spin for a second once plugged in, either, if it was the PSU. It simply will NOT turn on.

I'd be grateful for any ideas that you could offer. I really need my computer back up and working ASAP.

[mjc]

The CPU's fan; however, does not spin once I plug the power in, which it usually does.

Make sure that the fan's electrical connection is still connected and is in the proper orientation...it should only be able to plug in one way, but I've seen them plugged in on pin off...

[jlreich]

Since the fans are not spinning I would lean towards the power supply. It could be the motherboard but I would try a known good power supply or test that one in another system.

Because the motherboard LED is on only means that the board is getting the standby power. It is common for the LED to be on but the PSU is defective.

[yooniecorn]

Make sure that the fan's electrical connection is still connected and is in the proper orientation...it should only be able to plug in one way, but I've seen them plugged in on pin off...

Just checked now -- looks perfectly plugged, not a pin off, or loose. It still doesn't spin upon switching the power on.

[yooniecorn]

Since the fans are not spinning I would lean towards the power supply. It could be the motherboard but I would try a known good power supply or test that one in another system.

Because the motherboard LED is on only means that the board is getting the standby power. It is common for the LED to be on but the PSU is defective.

I don't have any means of testing it, and I really don't want to have to pay a repairman...I've serviced this computer since I built it.

Anything else I can try, to rule anything out?

EDIT: Also, I neglected to mention the fact that my home did experience a power surge last night. However, my computer was working fine afterward, and it was plugged into a surge protector. The same surge protector appears to be working just fine with computer #2, which I'm using now.

[jlreich]

Trying a known good power supply in the system or trying the suspect one in a known working system is the easiest way. You don't need to hook everything up or install it, just plug in the main connector and the CPU connector and see if the system comes on.

You can also test it with a multimeter and jumping the green wire to a black wire on the main connector to see if it comes on. Or you can buy a PSU tester for about $20 at your local computer store.

[mjc]

Did this happen before or after you opened it?

If it was before, then I'm with Jl and am leaning toward a power supply problem. If you are good with a multimeter, then you can test the power supply...if not, then swapping it out is about the only feasible option.

[yooniecorn]

Did this happen before or after you opened it?

If it was before, then I'm with Jl and am leaning toward a power supply problem. If you are good with a multimeter, then you can test the power supply...if not, then swapping it out is about the only feasible option.

The surge occurred last night, while I was not actively using the computer. It was on, but not being used. A few hours later, I turned it on, and used it, free of trouble, then turned it off. Hours after that, it wouldn't turn on at all, and has the CPU fan issue that I noticed when I opened it, and attempted to troubleshoot the issue.

I do have a multimeter, but I'd feel safer, somehow, using a PSU tester. It's a 750W behemoth, and I value my life.

I shall go pick one up, and report back with the results; thank you all so far.

[yooniecorn]

I haven't been able to find a PSU tester over the past few days, and for some reason, I just don't get the feeling that my unit is to blame, anyhow.

There is a quick flash of power that runs through the system once I press the button. Shouldn't it be dead altogether, if the PSU is to blame? The LED fans quickly shoot on and off, as if the power is shorting somewhere along the order of operations. I wonder if the system is preventively shutting down, because the CPU fan is defective. I had been hearing a bit of sputtering of a fan within the last twelve hours of its life, but it was rather subtle.

Is this a possibility?

I have an AMD X2. What size replacement fan would I be looking for?

This would be the cheapest and easiest replacement -- and at least, it's something I can try in the meantime, until my PSU tester comes in the mail. The local stores don't have a full PSU unit that's a high enough wattage to just swap one in and out. I'd have to order it from newegg.

I wish I was able to test my DIMM chip, as well, to rule that out -- unfortunately, none of my computers are compatible with it.

[mjc]

There is a quick flash of power that runs through the system once I press the button. Shouldn't it be dead altogether, if the PSU is to blame?

No, the power supply supplies several different voltages. The motherboard/BIOS do a voltage check during POST, one of the very first things it does. If the voltages don't check out (all of them), then it shuts things down. Sound familiar?

[jlreich]

There is a quick flash of power that runs through the system once I press the button. Shouldn't it be dead altogether, if the PSU is to blame?
Not necessarily. There are varying degrees of defective. Everything from it works fine until you stress it, to totally dead and won't come on at all, and everything in between. I have seen the whole gamut of PSU problems.

I wonder if the system is preventively shutting down, because the CPU fan is defective. I had been hearing a bit of sputtering of a fan within the last twelve hours of its life, but it was rather subtle.
That's possible, but usually if the CPU is overheating or the fan is dead the mobo will give annoying beeps or sirens warning you before shutting off, if it shuts off at all.

I am not going to say I am absolutely certain the PSU is to blame because computers are funny things at times, but I will say with your description of problems and as a matter of troubleshooting and experience is that the PSU is the first thing I would look at and is the most likely cause.