Computer won't turn on.

[Greatbacon]

So, I woke up this morning and with no warning or prior signs to an issue, my computer won't turn on.  Cable was plugged in at both ends, switch on the power supply was turned to on, and the light on my motherboard indicating power was on, so I think it must have something to do with my case switch.  Is there a way to work around the switch that doesn't involve soldering tools?

[CaffeinePowered]

Before you try the case switch, have you tried disconnecting internal components to see if you can get power, try unplugging hard drives, then try to get power, then if that fails, the video card.

[Greatbacon]

Before you try the case switch, have you tried disconnecting internal components to see if you can get power, try unplugging hard drives, then try to get power, then if that fails, the video card.

Okay, but theoretically shouldn't the case LEDs be turning on even if there is an issue with an internal component?  Because I'm not even getting the case fans or the LEDs.  Also, HD did nothing, try video card.

[CaffeinePowered]

[quote author=Caffeine link=topic=5438.msg195659#msg195659 date=1297180657]
Before you try the case switch, have you tried disconnecting internal components to see if you can get power, try unplugging hard drives, then try to get power, then if that fails, the video card.

Okay, but theoretically shouldn't the case LEDs be turning on even if there is an issue with an internal component?  Because I'm not even getting the case fans or the LEDs.  Also, HD did nothing, try video card.
[/quote]

Depends, I had a motherboard that had an LED on it and if it had enough power to turn on it would lite up, if not, it would stay dead.

I had another older one that would just stay lit all the time :/

[HeK]

You can disconnect the case button and try to power the system using a screwdriver across the pins (don't touch the wrong pins).

You can also disconnect the PSU from the mobo and use a paper clip to short the green wire to a black on, see if the fan spins up on it. (also don't connect the wrong pins).

If the PSU powers on, and you have no luck with the screwdriver, remove everything from the mobo (including ram, but not the cpu or speaker if it's not soldered to the board) and see if it will power up and beep error codes.

Realistically, case switches don't generally fail, it is much more likely to be a bad PSU or mobo.
I have had both failures with glowing mobo power leds.

[Greatbacon]

Okay, I'll try the screwdriver + pins first to see if anything happens.  If not I have a spare PSU lying about, so I'll see if I can get that to work with the motherboard.

[Greatbacon]

Screwdriver + pin didn't work.  Tried my other PSU, still didn't work.  Tried the pin+screwdriver with new PSU, still didn't work.  I take it to mean that my mobo is borked?

[at0m]

Were you sure you were holding the proper pins?

[Kirby]

Do like HeK said, short the green wire from the main 24 pin connector to any of the black ones and see if the PSU powers up, that will answer that question.

[Greatbacon]

Were you sure you were holding the proper pins?

Pretty sure.

Do like HeK said, short the green wire from the main 24 pin connector to any of the black ones and see if the PSU powers up, that will answer that question.

Alright, I'll see if this works when I get home.  I just put a paper clip between the output socket for the green wire into one of the sockets where a black wire connects, correct?

[CaffeinePowered]

[quote author=CUBA LIBRE link=topic=5438.msg195688#msg195688 date=1297193074]
Were you sure you were holding the proper pins?

Pretty sure.

Do like HeK said, short the green wire from the main 24 pin connector to any of the black ones and see if the PSU powers up, that will answer that question.

Alright, I'll see if this works when I get home.  I just put a paper clip between the output socket for the green wire into one of the sockets where a black wire connects, correct?
[/quote]

Have a friend nearby with a phone ready to dial 911 :x

[at0m]

Four more (really) dumb questions.

Have you checked the 110/220V switch on the PSUs?
Have you made sure the switch on the PSUs is in the 'on' position?
Have you made sure that the power cable for the PSUs work and are plugged in correctly?
Have you made sure the outlet into which the power cable is connected, is actually powered?

[Greatbacon]

Four more (really) dumb questions.

Have you checked the 110/220V switch on the PSUs?
Have you made sure the switch on the PSUs is in the 'on' position?
Have you made sure that the power cable for the PSUs work and are plugged in correctly?
Have you made sure the outlet into which the power cable is connected, is actually powered?

1.) Can't say I have.  That's the red one on the back that isn't the 0/1 switch right?  What should it be set to?
2.) Yes.  And off and on and off and so on...
3.) Yes.
4.) Yes.

[at0m]

[quote author=CUBA LIBRE link=topic=5438.msg195705#msg195705 date=1297199928]
Four more (really) dumb questions.

Have you checked the 110/220V switch on the PSUs?
Have you made sure the switch on the PSUs is in the 'on' position?
Have you made sure that the power cable for the PSUs work and are plugged in correctly?
Have you made sure the outlet into which the power cable is connected, is actually powered?

1.) Can't say I have.  That's the red one on the back that isn't the 0/1 switch right?  What should it be set to?
2.) Yes.  And off and on and off and so on...
3.) Yes.
4.) Yes.
[/quote]It should be set to whatever voltage you've got the thing plugged into. Typically in the US and Canada, that's 110. It's very very rare that it could be set to something else, unless someone's trolling you.

[Kirby]

[quote author=CUBA LIBRE link=topic=5438.msg195688#msg195688 date=1297193074]
Were you sure you were holding the proper pins?

Pretty sure.

Do like HeK said, short the green wire from the main 24 pin connector to any of the black ones and see if the PSU powers up, that will answer that question.

Alright, I'll see if this works when I get home.  I just put a paper clip between the output socket for the green wire into one of the sockets where a black wire connects, correct?
[/quote]


Well, you could use a paperclip... but I'd recommended something... insulated. But yes, just poke (hopefully a short piece of wire stripped @ both ends) one end of the wire into the little metal end of the green wire, and it can be shorted to any of the black ones in the same bundle. That's what the header pins on the mobo, shorts that wire to a ground to start the PSU.

[Greatbacon]

Alright, further testing does indeed seem to indicate the issue lies with the motherboard.  My extra PSU powered up upon shorting and when I jumped the PSU in my case the LEDs and fans in my case which I had not unplugged all started up.  Looks like I'll be talking to ASUS about a replacement tomorrow.  Thanks everyone.

[Kirby]

Alright, further testing does indeed seem to indicate the issue lies with the motherboard.  My extra PSU powered up upon shorting and when I jumped the PSU in my case the LEDs and fans in my case which I had not unplugged all started up.  Looks like I'll be talking to ASUS about a replacement tomorrow.  Thanks everyone.