Epic Fail

[Jimbo]

Long time no see, how'do!

I have a bit of an issue with my custom built PC.

Last week it decided to turn itself off whilst using it. I tried restarting it, and the computer WOULD turn on, but would switch off after a few seconds again. Now,  i press the power button, and the PC doesn't even bother to load.
A bit of a mystery.
I've changed the power supply, and i've re-connected all the cables, and ensured everything is plugged in fine, but when i press the power button, it still doesn't load.
The LED on the motherboard is still there on GREEN, and the power supply is brand new.

Its a bit of a mystery to me, as the PC wont turn on, theres a new power supply, and i'm struggling for ideas.
What kind of other issue would cause this to happen?

Bit vague i know, do apologise, but any help/advice given will be greatly appreciated to the highest level.

Many thanks -

James.

[Sir_Crashalot]

Hi James,

can you get into the BIOS?

Carlo

[garryrussell]

Fan failure?

Check none are stuck...that happened to me once.

Garry

[Jimbo]

Fans are fine...
No.. cant get into the BIOS!

J

[Sir_Crashalot]

Sounds familiar. Two years ago my PC did the same thing. Turned it self off and would never turn on again. In my case it was a short circuit on the motherboard that f'd things up. Got my self a new motherboard and everything was working fine again. Maybe worth to have it checked out?

Carlo 8-)

[grizzard]

I'd check the cpu fan to see if it's both running AND it's clamped down tight. If it's not clamped down tight then it will shut down in just a few seconds.  You could even take it off and check the thermal paste to see that's it's making good contact.  If that looks good, then remove all memory and put back in only one stick ... if that doesn't work put in the other stick. If the memory is good reseat the video card.  If that doesn't help then check to see that your ON button returns completely back to it's start position.  If it sticks in the IN positon, then your system will shut off in 4 seconds.  The on/off switch is just a momentary switch.  If the motherboard has on onboard video connector try connecting to it instead of the video card.  Lastly you can pull any other cards except the video card to see if they are pulling the system down.  And finally .... look for a screw, a wire, or something that has fallen down and is shorting the motherboard ... could even be UNDER the motherboard.  Hopefully ... one of the above will turn up something.

[Alonso]

Happened to me about two years ago and turned out to be 3 blown (inflated actuall) capacitors in the motherboard. Had to buy a new one.

The motherboard LED was also on, but the computer wouldn't boot at all.

[SubZer0]

Try reseating the CPU and apply some new thermal paste and make sure that heatsink is down tight on it. Make sure your motherboard is seated on the case correctly and not touching it.

If it still does it after you've reseated your CPU, it's either a bad mobo or a bad CPU. I've had this problem twice in the last 4 months; the first time it was a bad mobo, the second time it was a bad CPU.

Good luck  :)

Andy

[T1MT1M]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/547

I believe that is the article you're looking for. Very comprehensive guide of what to do in your exact situation.

If it doesn't work after you go through all of that then come back and tell us.

[Triple_7]

Might check your RAM.  I had a similar situation awhile back, it would turn on but then turn back off...I did everything, replaced the motherboard, replaced the processor, no luck.  Sometimes I would turn it on, it wouldn't load, but would randomly kick on and off till I hit the kill switch on the PSU.  Turned out it was the RAM, stuck 2 new sticks in and its worked fine ever since...except when my power supply literally blew up last month...but that's another story