Poll of the Day > Need PC help from someone smart

(+) Yeah! (+)

Had an error code a while back. Forget what it was but I read that it was more than likely a hard drive failure. Months later I finally got around to replacing the hard drive. Installed it today and now the computer wont turn on. The lights are on inside but it just won't turn on. Any idea what it might be?

Does it boot to Windows? Which lights are on - LED fan lights or motherboard lights? Are there any beeps? Do any of the fans spin - CPU heatsink or chassis fans?

Without knowing your hardware specs and any lights or sounds, it's kind of hard to figure out what.

How many hard drives do you have? If you just have the one hard drive, then you will need to format and install your OS on it, along with the drivers, programs, etc.

Did you replace the windows drive
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Zangulus posted...

Does anything happen when you hit the power button? Are the lights on all the time?

Yeah the whole lights were staying on but absolutely nothing happens when I hit the power button. I dont think anything got disconnected. The power icon was lit up when I opened it up.

WastelandCowboy posted...

Does it boot to Windows? Which lights are on - LED fan lights or motherboard lights? Are there any beeps? Do any of the fans spin - CPU heatsink or chassis fans?

Without knowing your hardware specs and any lights or sounds, it's kind of hard to figure out what.

How many hard drives do you have? If you just have the one hard drive, then you will need to format and install your OS on it, along with the drivers, programs, etc.

I'll upload a couple pictures when I get home

Joshs Name posted...

Did you replace the windows drive

Nope. I was thinking this whole ordeal could be an OS issue but I figured the power would still work. I know pretty much fuck all about this stuff though

Is anything showing up on the screen?

Zangulus posted...

Yeah the whole lights were staying on but absolutely nothing happens when I hit the power button. I dont think anything got disconnected. The power icon was lit up when I opened it up.

Wait, did you not completely power it down and disconnect the power supply before swapping the hard drive?

I hope this wasn't the case. ESD. The electric killer.

This is so sad, can we get some prayers and thoughts in this thread.
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Did this asshole toast their computer by not shutting it off properly? lmao
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TES_Nut posted...

Did this asshole toast their computer by not shutting it off properly? lmao

Relax dude. Not everyone is experienced or knowledgeable of computer maintenance.

https://imgur.com/xPmCmoI
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It was completely powerless when I disconnected it

Which lights are on? Do the fans turn on, or does the hard drive spin up at all?
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Mario_VS_DK posted...

Which lights are on? Do the fans turn on, or does the hard drive spin up at all?

Absolutely nothing is happening. I'm almost home so I can upload pics. Like i said, it's been just sitting around in my closet for like 6 months since I moved so i dont know what could've happened. I didnt drop it or anything during the move but who knows

Have you made sure it's plugged in?

(IT crowd reference).
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In that case, something probably isn't connected right. Definitely check missing connections, and that your the power button is connected properly.

If you can't find anything, start disconnecting things one by one and trying to boot it up. Start with any USB devices or things plugged into the outside of the computer (including the monitor), then the hard drive, then the disk drive, then the graphics card, all but one piece of RAM, and swap that piece of RAM with one of the others if it doesn't work.

If none of that works, maybe try disconnecting fans and the front panel. If it still doesn't work at that, unplug the power supply completely and take it out. Then put reconnect it and try again. If it doesn't work at that point, either your motherboard or power supply are dead.

Edit: If lights are on, it's likely that the power supply is likely functioning to some extent, but just in case, check the switch on the back of the power supply. It may be turned off.
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http://www.smpspowersupply.com/connectors-pinouts.html

Make sure to unplug all power connectors from the motherboard and then use a wire or paper clip or something of the sort to jump the green wire with a black wire. The power supply and fans along with any peripherals should come on.

If they do then the psu is most likely okay.
If not then replace psu. and see if pc turns on.

If psu turns on, then unplug all power supply connectors and plug only the motherboard main connector, cpu power connector, and any graphics card connectors. Leave all other power connectors unplugged (hard drives, cd drives, ssd, fans, etc.) Need to listen for any beeps and/or a display to come on the monitor.

If you get a display then tell us what the error message is.

If no display, but you get beeps. Then look for a post code if the board has a led display or count the long and short beeps to look up the bios beep codes to determine the error. Or try next step.

If no display then remove the graphics card, all ram, and unplug all devices (hdd, ssd, cd, etc) from the motherboard. Leave any fans plugged in.

Listen for beep codes or post message on led display of the board.

If you get beep codes then put one memory module and turn pc on to check for beep code for no graphics card. If beep code is for graphics card, then put the graphics card back in and try to see if you get a display.

If no display then swap memory modules and repeat.

If you got no beep code with no graphics card and no memory then you need to try reseating the cpu or swapping the cpu with a compatible cpu to test the board.
If the board still has no beeps or post codes then try to reset bios and check for beep or post codes.

If no luck still, then borrow a psu from another pc and try again. If you still get no beep or post codes then the motherboard most likely has failed. Replace the board and reinstall all components and see if the pc turns on.

Hopefully this helps and I was able to explain this well enough.

...

do you have the monitor plugged into the right port on the computer.
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It's probably refusing to turn on until you start making better posts.
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Just wanted to say I appreciate the help from anyone that posted. I tried everything that was suggested and nothing worked so I just took it to frys to have them look at it. Had a busy as fuck weekend so I didnt get time to really sit down with it again until yesterday

AllstarSniper32 posted...

@AllstarSniper32

It's probably refusing to turn on until you start making better posts.

This actually made me chuckle. The idea of my pc putting me in time out was pretty great but little did it know that I have an S9 that i can shitpost on 24/7

Bump for update.

is it self built or pre-bought? I assume the latter.
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