Looking for Cause of Failure

[Wendell F]

A friend gave me a non functional computer. It's one of these:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5638518&CatId=5139

Piece of crap, I know, but you don't need much power for a file server.

Here's the issue:
There are 2 lights on the front, power and HD. When power button is pressed, power light turns on, HD light doesn't. No fans or HD spin. What could the issue be? Dead power supply? Could the button turn on the light, but not turn the rest of the machine on?

Anyhows, I've built machines, but never fixed them, so any advice re step by step troubleshooting would be great.

Then there's plan b. Could I just gut it and use the case to build a mid-level gaming machine?

Thanks for your help, folks.

[kiosk]

Has the machine been working before? In what manner did it "die"?

First, it seems you're getting some sort of power so you might try the following:

Remove the battery.
Remove all add-in cards, including RAM sticks.
Clear CMOS.
Power on the system.

It should beep up a hellstorm, because the mainboard (if working) is complaining about the lack of RAM sticks. If it does, put the RAM and the video card back in, one component at the time, until the machine works (or until you find the culprit).

If it doesn't beep, try a known-good power supply and repeat the steps I outlined above.

If it still doesn't work, inspect the mainboard for physical damage, burnt components, bulging and/or leaking capacitors etc. If you can't track down the problem, you can safely assume the machine as "not worthy of a repair" and gut it.

[jlreich]

I have a customer that has a bunch of those machines and blown caps on the motherboard are common, just as common as the same era Dell machines. And bad power supplies.

Could I just gut it and use the case to build a mid-level gaming machine?
No. Small form factor machines like that are very proprietary and you won't be able to fit a standard motherboard in there.

[Wendell F]

Has the machine been working before? In what manner did it "die"?


Nothing spectacular.
It worked perfectly until a month ago at which point trying to turn it on resulted in the above behavior.

Oh well, I"ll try everything you suggested and scrap it if nothing works.

Thanks for your help, folks!