Testing a "Dead" computer

**Red_Lizard2** · 06-18-10, 08:57 PM

curious as my parents have a fairly nice one sitting around that died awhile ago, apparently they left the house and came back it was dead. Been curious if it is something simple as just the psu going to crap, or something else? My hope is if it isn't too bad, some of the parts are salvageable, along with the case and can use it to have a actual desktop finally (especially with my laptop showing its age lately).

Thus is there a cost effective way to figure out what exactly is wrong? I think there is a spare PSU somewhere in the house (may not have the juice needed to keep the computer running but enough to check if it is the PSU probably?). Just hoping it is something to where it wouldn't need to be totally gutted (in worse case can take the case as it is decent and build something brand new).

**Warprosper** · 06-18-10, 09:07 PM

What wont it do..

Turn on ?
Post ?
Load HD?

**Red_Lizard2** · 06-18-10, 10:22 PM

Turn on apparently

**Warprosper** · 06-19-10, 09:22 AM

First just reseat all the proper power connections and see what happens. If you arent getting any indicator lights on the mobo swap out the psu. If you then dont get any lights then the mobo is dead and psu was probably good in the first place. You really cant do anything here unless you got some equip to test with.

**laggyNgroovy** · 06-19-10, 09:38 AM

I know I've told others before, but go to your local decently stocked computer store if you don't want to wait for an online purchase and get a power supply tester. It will take the guess work out of the equation really fast. I have one of these at home and at work

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...npla_281421354

though there are many different flavors.

**Red_Lizard2** · 06-20-10, 02:43 AM

actually finally found out from them apparently the diganostics they ran on it said the Hard drive failed, so hopefully should be able to just throw a new drive in it, and it will work (and eventually upgrade the graphics card and PSU (as manufacturers put bare minimum usually)).

**Warprosper** · 06-20-10, 06:56 AM

The HD will not stop the system from turning on. If its like you said earlier about it not turning on then the problem is the motherboard or the PSU not the hd, the hd still may be bad but its not going to affect the system turning on.

**Red_Lizard2** · 06-20-10, 02:25 PM

apparently it was turning on though I guess (otherwise no way they'd of tested to see the HD was fucked up). I thought it wasn't turning on but must of been thinking of an older comp that wouldn't.

**laggyNgroovy** · 06-20-10, 03:49 PM

You (and everyone else) really should invest a few dollars in one of those power supply testers. It takes the guesswork out of the damn equation of .... is it the power supply or is it the mobo? Using it just 2x will pay for itself. Once for your own system and the 2nd on your friend's system and you're really not all that jazzed about swapping and popping parts all day.