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Thread ID: 64137 2005-12-04 22:58:00 psu or ? drcspy (146) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
410218 2005-12-04 22:58:00 customer tells me that while her back was turned the pc made a ZZZZZZTTTT noise then when she went to use it it was dead.......

assuming that the psu has died is there any way of telling whether it's a fault within the psu or perhaps a powersurge that killed the psu ?
drcspy (146)
410219 2005-12-04 23:54:00 a powersurge will likely fry more than just the psu, the modem, ram & motherboard would probably go as well bartsdadhomer (80)
410220 2005-12-05 00:03:00 oh maybe I've seen these things happen for sure where a surge fried only the modem, or the whole pc, or one ram stick, or even on one occasion only the monitor.........

but is there any way of ascertaining wether the dead psu, ( assumin that is the problem - i'll find out tomorrow when i check) is caused by the power surge if indeed it suffered one...........

also problem is that even if the rest of the sytsem is dead that could also be caused by the psu dying..........grrrr......difficult......
drcspy (146)
410221 2005-12-05 01:06:00 Um, you do own a multimeter? Greg (193)
410222 2005-12-05 01:06:00 yep.......... drcspy (146)
410223 2005-12-05 04:20:00 You are assuming the PSU is dead before troubleshooting the system. Never assume, it makes an ass out of u and me.

Remember, if you poke around inside you will void any warranty. Presuming the PC is out of warranty...

Basic troubleshooting.
1. make sure all plugs/cables are correctly seated.
2. does the monitor have a light on.
3. when the pc is switched on does the PSU fan turn. If so does the cpu fan spin up.

If the above are happening it is unlikely, although not impossible to be the PSU. I my experience the motherboard is much more sensitive to power surges/ESD. If you have another pc swap the good psu to the dead machine, DO NOT put the suspect PSU in a good machine. This should tell you something.

Let us know how you get on.

I wouldn't got poking around with a multi meter unless you know exactly what you are doing!
Buzzebee (9331)
410224 2005-12-05 05:03:00 sigh............i'm actually quite good at troubleshooting so while i appreciate the advice i dont really need it........i've been a self employed tech for these last nearly five years and reasonably good at it cause i manage to pay all my bills and a bit more............anyway

i'm NOT sure that it is the psu no, but IF it is is there anyway of telling wether the psu died of it's own accord or got a zap from an outside source.........warranty is not really a problem this pc is one i've rebuilt for someone...........I always carrry plenty of 'swapout' NEW parts with me to jobs in my 'box of tricks' .......

just want to be able if it's possible to identify the cause of the problem assuming it's a dead psu, which from her descriptoin of the noise it possibly is.......
drcspy (146)
410225 2005-12-05 05:21:00 Well, if u have the customers pc, test it with your PSU, (or a spare PSU), and see if it works.

If it does, then its the PSU.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
410226 2005-12-05 05:24:00 sigh............i'm actually quite good at troubleshooting so while i appreciate the advice i dont really need it........i've been a self employed tech for these last nearly five years and reasonably good at it cause i manage to pay all my bills and a bit more............anyway

LMAO, what you doin hangin round here then asking for advice
bartsdadhomer (80)
410227 2005-12-05 05:26:00 Simply put:

Unless you have a Dranetz Power Analyser (or similar) connected and logging at the time it died, how could you possibly tell if a device failed due to age, a manufacturing fault or an overvoltage caused by a momentary "surge"

One would reasonably assume that no analyser was monitoring the circuit, so you could try the local Power Network and ask if any untoward events occurred (and were captured by their SCADA) at that exact time.

The Electricity Regulations (1997) allow for "momentary fluctuations" that could include "surges" produced by the normal operation of protection equipment on the Network (as the same Regulations also require such protection equipment to be installed), customers are advised to protect their sensitive equipment (such as computers) from this type of disturbance.
godfather (25)
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