Computer won't start :-(

[UnderOpenSky]

My PC was PAC tested today. When I came back it doesn't start

All the fans spin up, but there is no signal to the moniter. I've checked everything is connected properly. I also checked all the components are seated properly.

I've had a look at
this Thread

In particular

If a machine's failing to POST - ie it dosen't appear to do anything, no manufacturers splash screen, no prompt to press F2 for setup, no memory self test, it's certainly a hardware issue of some sort. You need to work out what.

The easiest way is by a process of elimination. By removing all the components the machine can POST without, you know it's not these that are the source of the problem. So, remove the HDD, see if it will POST. If the HDD is the source of the problem, with it removed, the machine will POST and then display an error to the effect of "boot device not found". You should now be able to boot off CD and confirm the fault. Vice-versa with the CD drive - if it's the source of the fault, removing it will allow the machine POST and then boot from the HDD.

If the RAM is faulty, in all probability the fault will be limited to one stick - assuming you have two, you can remove one and see if it POSTs. If it does so reliably, the other stick is faulty. If you only have one stick, you'd need to borrow an identical replacement to do this test, since you can't run without RAM.

I've done everything described, but its a desktop so may have more options? Sadly its not onboard graphics on my motherboard, so can't see if its the graphics card.

Just to make matter more annoying the motherbaord doesn't Post with beeps, but with an add on that flashes lights that sits in a PCI port. I remember thinking how stupid it was when I get got it and that I must get one in case of future problems. Of course I never got round to it.

Duff cable? Seems unlikely, but not got another around to check as its a newer style one.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Oh I know its Friday, but if sometakes pitty on me a chooses to help, it would be very much appreciated!!!!

 

[sojourner]

you mean PAT tested?

portable appliance tested?

ring the cunt who did it

 

[UnderOpenSky]

That's the one. I caught him before he left, was very polite, said it had never happened before and then checked the cables were plugged in

He tried ringing his office, but they had gone home. Said I will have to ring them on Monday morning, which isn't ideal for the weekend. Thing is I'm expecting them to deny it can do any damage. Don't really know where to take it from here, other then trying to work out what is wrong with it.

 

[gentlegreen]

In the old days I would have looked for a wedged-in reset button ...

 

[sojourner]

That's the one. I caught him before he left, was very polite, said it had never happened before and then checked the cables were plugged in

He tried ringing his office, but they had gone home. Said I will have to ring them on Monday morning, which isn't ideal for the weekend. Thing is I'm expecting them to deny it can do any damage. Don't really know where to take it from here, other then trying to work out what is wrong with it.

keep on at them

said it never happened before?? they're meant to test the fucking things, not blow them. he might have fucked something with his equipment

stick to your guns

 

[sojourner]

oh, and don't let them charge you for a revisit

 

[gentlegreen]

Who insisted that it was PAT tested ?

 

[sojourner]

Who insisted that it was PAT tested ?

all portable appliances (in a commercial environment) need to be tested annually, for H&S

 

[gentlegreen]

all portable appliances (in a commercial environment) need to be tested annually, for H&S

Oh - so it was your employer's PC ?

We don't do it at our place - they're exempt from the full-on insulation testing.

 

[sojourner]

Oh - so it was your employer's PC ?

no not MINE, duh

did i start the thread?

 

[gentlegreen]

OK GS's employer ..

 

[audiotech]

all portable appliances (in a commercial environment) need to be tested annually, for H&S

The advice is not to PAT test the computer where I am.

 

[sojourner]

The advice is not to PAT test the computer where I am.

do you work in a nuclear bunker?

 

[gentlegreen]

So the monitor is genuinely powered-up ?

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Thanks for the replies.

Its my computer, but I live in a flat on site, so all the kit in there needed to be PAT tested.

I'm going to keep on them on Monday, but I would like to work out what is not working. This is because its a home brew PC so if they have broken something, I'd like to know what it is so I can ask for it to be replaced.

Monitor does powers up, then flashes up no signal and goes into standby.

Out of intrest MC5, why don't you test PC's in your place. Is there potential for them to be damaged in the testing?

 

[gentlegreen]

They may have accidentally meggered your PSU, (stuck 500 volts up it ...)

At our place our man IT department doesn't do any more than a visual check. Locally we test the IEC mains cables - not sure what my colleague does to the PCs themselves.

 

[audiotech]

Out of intrest MC5, why don't you test PC's in your place. Is there potential for them to be damaged in the testing?

That's it.

 

[audiotech]

do you work in a nuclear bunker?

No, it's a small office.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

They may have accidentally meggered your PSU, (stuck 500 volts up it ...)

At our place our man IT department doesn't do any more than a visual check. Locally we test the IEC mains cables - not sure what my colleague does to the PCs themselves.

Don't think its the CPU as the fans still power up. Can you partially kill one?

 

[UnderOpenSky]

That's it.

Do you know the nature of damage that it can inflict. Spoke to the office today who are getting back to us. Seems to be sub contracted several times from them to the person who turned up.

 

[audiotech]

Do you know the nature of damage that it can inflict. Spoke to the office today who are getting back to us. Seems to be sub contracted several times from them to the person who turned up.

fry a few chips

 

[Megahertz456]

Hi Guys - I cam across this thread and thought I'd share some information. I run a PAT testing company!

In the old days of PAT testing, engineers used to carry out a test called a 'flash test' whereby 3000V was applied across the insulation to detect any breakdown. At the time, the only items which were tested would be power tools and machinery - then people started to test computers and all hell broke loose. Very quickly, the advice was not to test computers, and even now you still meet people who refuse to have their machines tested for fear of damage. This does however mean that people may be using computers unaware of a dangerous fault.....

Nowadays, the only two tests which are carried out are the Earth Bond and Insulation. The insulation test could cause damage to the power supply, UNLESS it is manufactured to BS EN 67950. ALL computers (and monitors and fax machines etc) have to comply with this standard, and have done since the early 90's. So the 'correct' procedure is to carry out earth and insulation tests on all modern computers, but to leave out the insulation test if the device appears to be more than 10 years old. (not too many computers - but occasional monitors and printers are quite old.)

My company did the PAT testing for a large organisation, and it turned out that they NEVER shut down their PC's. They just went home at night leaving them on, and after a few minutes of screen saver the computers went into 'sleep' mode. In a few cases problems such as CMOS batteries were completely dead, but nobody knew because the computers had never been turned off. Of course, we had to turn them off (and unplug them from the mains) to test them, so a couple of machines refused to start properly after the test. They were quickly sorted out though.

However, a properly conducted PAT test will never cause damage to a PC.

I will conceed that there are a few PAT testing companies out there who don't posess all of the requisite knowledge, and unfortunately there is a lot of subcontracting going on which means that the testing is done by the lowest bidder! It is possible for damage to occur if the wrong tests are carried out.

There is more information on our site if anybody is interested....

Tim James
Technical Director

www.t2technical.co.uk PAT Testing

 

[ExtraRefined]

Don't think its the CPU as the fans still power up. Can you partially kill one?

Absolutely. It could have only failed on one rail, so it's outputting 12v fine but not 5v for instance - since the fans run off the 12v line, they'd spin up.

As you're aware, the post of mine you quoted in the OP was a response to a thread about a failed laptop, in which replacing the onboard power supply isn't easy, but with a desktop it is. If possible, borrow a power supply tester - otherwise you'll have to just try swapping it, and it certainly seems the most likely source of the fault in the circumstances.

Also; http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/july.htm

 

[Sunray]

Buy a cheap PSU. Hardly going to break the bank.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I got a chance to borrow a PSU at the weekend and still no joy, so can rule that out. Looks like a fried motherboard at the minimum.

Megahertz thanks for the info. It looks like this was sub contractor of a sub contractor. He didn't fill me with confidence when he refered to my PC as the "hard disk" after I had the problem. On the big box of tricks that you carry that get plugged into the power supply is there a setting on that could be wrong and in doing so fry componants?