Watshot Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 So cars I can generally deal with, but take the covers off electronics and they may as well be full of fairy dust. I thought we had just had a momentary power cut as the PC went off and the lights flickered, but it turns out it was just the PC packing up. I have checked the fuse in the plug, which is good, and removed the cover hoping to find other fuses or something obvious and easy to fix, but no such luck. And that's about as far as I can take it. Annoying as it's only a couple of years old. So the question is; before I take my trousers down and bend over in the middle of PC World, is there anything else I can do or check in an attempt to salvage my PC? Failing that, if I have to buy a new one, is there a straightforward way of transferring our photos and stuff or does it have to go to the shop? I do have everything backed up on an external memory device but I don't suppose it's as easy as plugging it in and clicking re-load? You here tales of all your bank details or passwords being nicked from your old unit so I'm just concerned before committing anything. Any help or advice appreciated, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 before I take my trousers down and bend over in the middle of PC World This should be the last place you should go I would pop to your local Apple store if i was you 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensh65 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I take it you are now pressing the power button and getting nothing? So the PSU is likely gubbed, worst case you have got a spike and the board could have got it but thats if you're unlucky! What kind of PC is it make and model and what OS are you running? Worst case is just to take the HDD and plug it into another PC running the same OS and you can get to all your files 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 if you haven't the facilities (or knowhow) take it to a local PC repair / seller / shop - I certainly wouldn't take it to PC World/currys etc as for starters, they're likely to wipe everything from your hard drive if its showing as corrupt sectors due to the surge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gudzy Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 It could be that the power supply has broken, is there are life when you turn it on? Any lights showing that it has power? Its possible to retrieve the files from the hard drive, the easiest way would be to plug it into another PC by putting it into an external caddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Don't take it to PC World as said above. They will drive wipe it reload the program's whether it needs it or not and then charge you for upgrading it, as well as the charge for fixing it. Worse that car dealers..!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooch Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) Stick another PSU in, 4 screws on the rear of the tower and the PSU will drop out. Make a note of where the power cables connect to the mother board, drives, graphics card etc and plug the new one in. Make sure you don't buy budget if its a powerful PC. If you know anyone who knows about PC's this should be straight forward for them. Edited October 20, 2014 by Hooch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watshot Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Yea, no power, all appears dead. It had surge protection at the plug, so guessing it's internal fault. It's a HP Compaq SG3, running windows 7 home premium. Last caddy I had was a VW, I...I'm not helping much am I dad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Tbh, if you're not computer-savvy then I probably wouldn't bother trying to save the main box. Even knowing what I'm doing, changing a PSU can be a task in itself, never mind trying to diagnose a bust motherboard or RAM or CPU or whatever else has gone. My advice would be to start looking for a new one, even a cheap one will probably do you by the sound of it. I use https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/ these days for both desktop and laptops, and they're good as gold. They keep some pre-built stuff in stock too. You can then just plug your old external drive in, and away you go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watshot Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Sorry, I can't keep up, typing with a little pen thing on a tablet. Should I try the PSU then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grundy Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 1st thing to try - Swap over the Kettle Lead. Basically I got a strange issue that happens every now and then - PC wont turn on. So I swap over the kettle mains lead with my xbox one - PC turns on fine and so does the xbox If that doesn't work - Chances are you will need a new PSU. Afraid if your not tech savvy with PC's it won't be a straight forward task as you will need to know if yours is modular etc or where everything plugs into Where are you based? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Just take it to a local small PC specialist, save all the agro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Do what Ekona said try PCSpecialists.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watshot Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Tbh, if you're not computer-savvy then I probably wouldn't bother trying to save the main box. Even knowing what I'm doing, changing a PSU can be a task in itself, never mind trying to diagnose a bust motherboard or RAM or CPU or whatever else has gone. My advice would be to start looking for a new one, even a cheap one will probably do you by the sound of it. I use https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/ these days for both desktop and laptops, and they're good as gold. They keep some pre-built stuff in stock too. You can then just plug your old external drive in, and away you go. I think you're probably right, plus you get two years or so advancements etc. I'm near Banbury, north Oxfordshire. PSU, if that's the unit the mains lead plugs into, looks easy enough, if the new one has matching block connectors etc. Would the surge protection not have saved it, or do they go on their own anyway? As has been suggested, may be easier to bite the bullet, especially if I can retrieve my stuff from the HDD. Would that work with a new PC? Plug and play? It's a Maxtor one touch 4, fairly old now. Thanks everyone for the responses, didn't expect so much help so quickly. Why aren't you all working? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensh65 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Where are you based? If you have opened it can you have a look at the PSU and there will be a spare part number on it. That way we can work out exactly what part you need to replace it with. A PSU swap is a 10min job, if you are confident(no skills required) then its an easy job. I don't mind talking you through it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 They can just go pop anytime, bit of dust in the wrong place or a weak connection, anything like that. It should just be plug and play, I'd be amazed if you needed drivers or anything if it's USB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grundy Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Tbh, if you're not computer-savvy then I probably wouldn't bother trying to save the main box. Even knowing what I'm doing, changing a PSU can be a task in itself, never mind trying to diagnose a bust motherboard or RAM or CPU or whatever else has gone. My advice would be to start looking for a new one, even a cheap one will probably do you by the sound of it. I use https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/ these days for both desktop and laptops, and they're good as gold. They keep some pre-built stuff in stock too. You can then just plug your old external drive in, and away you go. I think you're probably right, plus you get two years or so advancements etc. I'm near Banbury, north Oxfordshire. PSU, if that's the unit the mains lead plugs into, looks easy enough, if the new one has matching block connectors etc. Would the surge protection not have saved it, or do they go on their own anyway? As has been suggested, may be easier to bite the bullet, especially if I can retrieve my stuff from the HDD. Would that work with a new PC? Plug and play? It's a Maxtor one touch 4, fairly old now. Thanks everyone for the responses, didn't expect so much help so quickly. Why aren't you all working? Swap over the kettle lead 1st. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I've got a similar issue with a pc in at the moment - trouble is, the surge came down the phone line, through the router (blew that as well) and in through the cat5 port ie PC is dead - haven't checked to see whether his data is still accessible yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensh65 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I've got a similar issue with a pc in at the moment - trouble is, the surge came down the phone line, through the router (blew that as well) and in through the cat5 port ie PC is dead - haven't checked to see whether his data is still accessible yet Most system boards have some sort of surge protection. The PSU hopefully will have blown its fuse before going through the board. Although if it was a surge then the board could be shot as well. Again, not a hard job depending on what kind of PC you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Yea, no power, all appears dead. It had surge protection at the plug, so guessing it's internal fault. It's a HP Compaq SG3, running windows 7 home premium. Compaq's use a non standard PSU (or at least they used to) so you can't just pop down to PCWorld and fit another one. I've had many, many PSU's fail on me. They usually go really smelly before they give up the ghost. If it's not that then take a look at the capicitors on the mother board, if they're swollen then the board is toast. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watshot Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Phone line was protected also, we lost the last one like that. Phone and router are all good, I'm using them now with the tablet. Who'd have thought a cordless kettle would be a problem, don't think I have a spare lead. I'll get the missus to bring one home to rule it out later. PSU has no apparent spare part number on it. Just under the fan outlet on the outside of the case it says: CZC04737CB. On a sticker on the PSU inside it says: CT:5BKXP011ZZE0EF. On the main internal sticker it says: Bestec (assume manufacturer) Model: ATX0180P5WB, various power ratings, then: S/N100900045020 (assume serial no.). Finally, product of China Capacitors look okay, but I'm no expert, clearly. I'm near Banbury, Oxon, if you missed it above. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350zedd Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 One of our PC's is an HP Compaq which died after the storms last week. I was convinced it was the PSU as there was no voltage readings coming from it I linked the pins to kickstart it.....nothing! Anyhow, went online to HP troubleshooting and turns out it was just an on/off switch reset??? Basically, pull the mains lead off the back and wait 10 seconds, then press the on/off button once on top of the unit. Plug mains lead back in and it worked. Doesn't sound much but you might like to try this first 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 That's a standard ATX PSU, 180 watts, you can replace that with any standard PSU. 180w is pretty puny but Compaq/HP build their computers so they're difficult to upgrade, They used to fit 60 watt micro PSU's that were a different size and had different connectors. I know this because somebody gave me a load of old and redundant Compaq PC's removed from a school and about to go to landfill. Not much I could do with them. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensh65 Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 http://microdream.co.uk/pc-components/pc-components-power-supplies/bestec-atx0180p5wb-atx-180w-psu-power-supply.html Here is one for £14.95 If you get one just make a note of where the cables you are pulling out go. All the connections are different so it really is an easy job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) http://microdream.co...wer-supply.html Here is one for £14.95 If you get one just make a note of where the cables you are pulling out go. All the connections are different so it really is an easy job That one looks to have just one SATA connector and no IDE connectors at all. Edit, my bad I can see it has 2 SATA and 1 IDE. Pete Edited October 20, 2014 by JetSet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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