Need help with computer that will not turn on!

[GregB]

I have a computer that will not turn on.

[GregB]

The last time it turned it on it would come on for a few seconds and go off. I would push the button and it would go for maybe 5 sec and then go off.

[Nachum]

Might be the motherboard. (:

[cripplecreek]

If you can’t turn your computer on, maybe its just not that into you.

[LukeL]

But yet you are still online.

But seriously, is it a laptop? Are the power cables hooked up tightly to your computer?

[REDWOOD99]

Try candles, soft music and one perfest long-stemmed rose!

[RandallFlagg]

Flowers?

Chocolate?

Speaking in another accent?

[Sloth]

Power supply?

[LukeL]

Ok that has to be the best reply of 2009

[bigred08]

“If you can’t turn your computer on, maybe its just not that into you.”

HILARIOUS! Might be the post of the day so far.

[ez]

Try power supply from old junker. If not that, motherboard.

[GovernmentShrinker]

If you have it plugged into a surge protector, try unplugging it plugging it directly into the wall. If you’re lucky, this is a sick surge protector, rather than a sick computer.

[Never on my watch]

Were you really expecting constructive help?

You thread title is a low hanging softball for sarcastic remarks.

But I’ll try to help: check the switch on your surge protector.

[Lancey Howard]

Show it this. Maybe this will turn it on.

[Hot Tabasco]

Look behind your computer cabinet, is your cat chewing on the power cord?

[ThomasThomas]

Dose it make noises are blink at you?

[ez]

If you have IBM Netvista style, can also be power switch...(stem breaks off)

[Hot Tabasco]

I have a computer that will not turn on.

I dated a girl like that once.......

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Please stop by the FReepathon thread and give it a bump. If you haven’t donated yet, please give it some thought.

Thank you!

[MrsEmmaPeel]

How did you post this?

Sorry -- couldn't resist. What is the OS? Make/model of the machine? Any beeps at all?

[historyrepeatz]

1) Surge Protector (Try wall outlet to verify)
2) On/Off button
3) Power Supply
4) Motherboard

Always troubleshoot in order, from cheapest to more expensive.

[rabidralph]

Ditto the motherboard. Have you installed a piece of hardware lately? Sometimes a new hardware install, or something you downloaded, may be incompatible.

[GregB]

Thanks I plugged it in directly still no luck.

[Hot Tabasco]

Could it be that all the porn you were surfing overloaded your system?

I mean, its kinda like giving viagra to a 20 year old and not expecting some sort of negative results........

[KansasGirl]

That was LOL funny!

[GregB]

Yep still no luck.

[GregB]

Yep still no luck. Sorry It is a tower.

[GregB]

Yep still no luck. Sorry It is a tower.

[TChad]

I would push the button and it would go for maybe 5 sec and then go off. The CPU fan is probably not running. The motherboard shuts itself off when it notices that the fan is running at 0 rpm, to prevent overheating.

[backhoe]

Show it this. Maybe this will turn it on.

Pretty good, neighbor- it just needs a garter belt & hose...

[GregB]

No beeps just nothing..

[deport]

Is it a lap top with batteries or other? Is there anything else being fed out of the wall circuit so you can check to make sure it’s hot and the breaker not triped.

[irishtenor]

Blow in its audio receptor?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

It sounds like a power supply. They are not that expensive to replace.

[OldMissileer]

Oh! Thats just not right! :-)

[GregB]

I hear that if it lasts more then for hour call your doctor well I will call the local newspaper and have a photographer come along..I would be so proud!!!

[GregB]

I hear that if it lasts more then for hour call your doctor well I will call the local newspaper and have a photographer come along..I would be so proud!!!

[backhoe]

Yep still no luck. Sorry It is a tower.

You've actually gotten good answers so far, despite the expected kidding.

Since it's a tower, try opening it and blowing everything off with "dust-off" or compressed air.
( You do have your drive backed up, don't you? )

Use the air to see if you can get the fans to spin, and note if they are locked up.

[SERKIT]

Start here....

[snippy_about_it]

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbysymptom/ht/pconthenoff.htm

[GregB]

I will try an old pwer supply, Do I hook everthing up? or just the motherboard? I need to get it fixed this old P3 ia driving me crazy..it is double posting

[ThomasThomas]

Start with just the motherboard and then and the other one at a time. It is possible it could be something like a cd drive.

[dynachrome]

From personal experience.

I tend to snack at the computer and have a long haired cat. The main “on” button had so much smudge that it stuck in the “in” position so that the computer would come on and then immediately turn off again. The people at Best Buy only charged me $20 bucks to clean it when they could have really raped me!

[Jemian]

If the worst happens, it is probably your motherboard. You then can take your old hard drive and stick it in a “conversion kit”. Your files (and programs!) can be accessed through another computer via a USB connection.

[Hot Tabasco]

The people at Best Buy only charged me $20 bucks to clean it when they could have really raped me!

$20...Hmmmmmm ok

Next time call me, I'll only charge you $15 and we can discuss sex afterwards........

[smokingfrog]

Before you start tearing things apart, try one more thing.

Does your power supply have an on/off switch? If so turn it off, then hit and hold the power button on your pc. then turn the power supply back on and try to boot. If PSU doesn’t have a switch, just unplug the machine and do the same thing. This worked for me once.

Some PSUs also have a switch for 120v and 240v. Make sure that didn’t get switched somehow.

[jwalsh07]

When you press the on/off button for 5 seconds most machines turn off. Can you tell me what kind of machine you have. Perhaps you have a soft switch problem.

[Jemian]

If the worst happens, it is probably your motherboard. You then can take your old hard drive and stick it in a “conversion kit”. Your files (and programs!) can be accessed through another computer via a USB connection.

[HardStarboard]

If it just keeps beeping it may be the battery is not charging properly. So you have perpetual low battery signal. And if thats screwed up then maybe the 120V isn’t getting anywhere else.

Sounds like power problems - power supply or wiring of the plug in. Could be on off switch - but then the beeping shouldn’t be going on.

Test to make sure you have 120 coming out of wall
also! Good Luck...

[jwalsh07]

If you come back try this. Turn ac power off in back of machine either by switch or pulling plug. Turn back on and see if machine starts to turn on without pressing front panel on/off switch. If it does your switch is shorted and your machine will turn off after about 5 seconds.

If it doesn't start botting, press the off/on switch and see if it feels sticky. If it does use your calibrated right hand to wack it with the proper force and see if your machine doesn't stay on.

Good luck.

[TChad]

Oh for Pete's sake.

Does the CPU fan start spinning when you turn the computer on or not? That is the main fan on the motherboard. If you push the computer's power switch and you see lights come on, and you hear the hard drive start to spin up, but you see that the CPU fan does not move, then the fan-off control will quickly shut the computer down to prevent the CPU from overheating. If the fan is the problem, then the solution is not to buy another motherboard or power supply, it is to clean, fix, or replace the fan.