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View Full Version : Pyros' PC just can't get up anymore.


PyrosNine
02-23-2011, 10:08 PM
No matter how many times I push it's buttons and give it a thorough inspection, I just can't turn it on!

So anyway, my computer's been crappy as of late. During the Steam Weekend plays, I mentioned that my PC was overheating, because a fan had stopped working. I remedied it with some water cooling, and the fan started working a bit later, but now it's a bigger problem.

Sunday morning, I hit the power button, and the power light just flickers. I hear a weak whirr of the heatsink fan coming to life then turning off, and the power supply fan does nothing. The first time this happened, I just turned it off and turned it back on again, and it worked. The second time, that didn't work, so I just unplugged it, let it sit, then tried again.

Tonight, it didn't work at all!

The power supply is questionable, being a refurbished unit to replace a previous and busted power supply that happened last year.

There's also the fact that my PC is both old, and has had a few upgrades without taking the power supply into consideration, means that there's a chance of me frying or cooking something. The motherboard has suffered time, dust, and a new video card that just had a heat sink instead of a fan, so it could be that as well.

So that's the whole situation. It's a Dell Dimension 4700C, with the only changes from the base specs being an ATI HD 4550 fanless. I'm not in too much trouble, as all my school shit is backed up onto DropBox and Google Docs, so my Netbook is getting a workout this week.

I don't know if it's possible to get it repaired, and I'm definitely out of warranty by now. I'm considering taking the components of the PC and putting them into another, but I don't know if that's feasible or how much it's gonna cost.

Suggestions? Advice?

Bells
02-23-2011, 11:45 PM
Oh man...

Dude, i really think it's time to let it go, that machine sure had it's beating. If you are not looking into a PC for hardcore gaming you could get a decent new machine for really cheap these days. Maybe you would need some time to put up a budget for it, i dunno, but it really seems the best option.

Fifthfiend
02-23-2011, 11:59 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW54ZW5y1PU

Specterbane
02-24-2011, 08:51 AM
It sounds similar to a problem I had with there being a short at the bottom of my Mother Board when I was having trouble getting stand offs to work, but if you haven't taken that out it shouldn't be that issue.

Ars has a trouble shooting guide here (http://arstechnica.com/security/news/2004/12/troubleshooting.ars)for systems having trouble with a Power On Self Test that might help.

But yeah, it might be time to start considering saving for a new computer. Decide how much more money you're willing to put into that one and consider how much you're willing to spend for a new one.

Nikose Tyris
02-24-2011, 09:39 AM
The power supply is the cheapest component- might as well fix that first for a working PC.