Please help me - My computer just "died"

Karembeu · Post by **Karembeu** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:18 am

Hi guys and gals!

About 2 weeks ago I bought a new computer from a company that sets them together from parts that you chose yourself.

Just half an hour ago I turned it on and after 2 minutes there was a bang (like when a fuse goes) and it just "died". The screen works fine...(well at least it gets power)....but there's no power to the "computer". What could it be? And what should I do?

The fact that I am a poor student and have just spent about £1600 doesn't make it very funny...

Id be thankful for any suggestions!

araknid70 · Post by **araknid70** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:31 am

Well, you'd just have to bring the system back to the company for repairs. If you have a warranty then good, but most self-assemble companies don't issue warranties. Well, even if you have no warranty you could get them to give you a free repair, since they sold you a system that blew after two weeks.

If not, then the repairs shouldn't be that expensive, because it just sounds like your power box shorted out. Regardless, did you use the system during some power surge or something? Or was your adapter spoilt? I doubt your blow was caused by a lightning surge, because there are no thunderstorms in UK.

Good luck!

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:35 am

Hard problem to solve unless you have spare parts lying around.

My advice is to take it to a computer store and have them work on it.

The "bang" indicates that a component has been fried/short-circutted, but figuring out which one can be hard.

The first thing I'd check would be the powersupply, especially when you say that the computer isn't getting any power - to see if it is that component that have died, but I don't know of any easy way to check this other then if it is making a noice when you turn it on. If you have or know somebody with a spare powersupply, this would be my first recourse.

If it isn't powersupply - my imidiately guess would be the motherboard.

EDIT: in regards of warrenty - I doubt swedish and danish consumer law is terrible different, so you should have warrenty on the components at least (if not on the computer as a whole) and therefore should contact the company. Although it could be argued from a more "dubioush" company, that the computer worked when shipped and the fault is due to the faulty usage or something, voiding the warrenty.

Karembeu · Post by **Karembeu** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:59 am

@araknid 70 & Xandax: Thanks for the answers guys. Just feels completely hopeless when something like this happens...and the fact that Ive only had it for 2 weeks....

Well yes...there was a bang and the computer just died. When I try turning it on now nothing happens, not even a noise..nothing...

And to think Ive even been extremely careful with my comp. Always plugging it out when Im not going to use it for a long time...during nights...etc. So there cant be any faulty usage from my part. Oh well...I guess I'll have to phone the company and hope they are just as friendly as when they sold me the computer....

HighLordDave · Post by **HighLordDave** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 7:26 pm

If there was an audible bang!, it was probably your power supply.

Even if the company that sold you this computer doesn't cover this as part of the warranty, reliable power supplies are inexpensive ($20-50 USD) for a good 350-450W power supply.

smass · Post by **smass** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 1:53 pm

I would also advise that you never plug your computer directly into a power outlet. Always make sure you use a surge supressor/power strip. That way if you have a power surge you will blow the fuse in the power strip first. At least theoretically...

Yshania · Post by **Yshania** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:09 pm

I would be surprised if this is not covered under warranty, invariably you at least get a one year return to base - check your documents. If the company you bought it from will not fix the problem, then you always have the manufacturers guarantee to fall back on.

It sounds to me like your power supply unit, been there and done it. I am quite sure that for the sake of a £25 part, the company you bought the pc from will be just as happy to help. Good will is worth more than £25 on a £1600 machine, and they too have the manufacturers guarantee to call on.

Worst comes to worst, it is cheap and easy to install yourself, I have done that too

NB, if you only have a return to base warranty, check the cost of carriage. Some companies charge (mine don't) but it might work out more than buying a new PSU.

Karembeu · Post by **Karembeu** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 2:51 am

Thanks for the help everyone!

@HighlordDave: Yup, an audible bang...and then a burnt kind of smell...

@smass: Surge supressor/power strip? Sounds good...so obviously my question is....are they expensive?!?

@Yshania: Well....it's comforting knowing that someone else has been through the same thing. By the sound of it...I should be hoping that it is the power supply that has died. I guess the thing Im worried about is if it took any other components with it in its fall...

Anyway, I handed the computer in yesterday. By my description of what had happened they also thought that it was the power supply unit.

Ok...so I have a follow-up question. Is there any way of preventing this from happening again? Was kind of scary with a bang and the burnt smell....computer just dying. I turn the computer off every night and also plug it out. Is that good/bad?!? Also interested of what "smass" was talking about. Don't think I really understand surge supressor/power strip.

Anyway, as always you guys and gals, really appreciate the help. My guess is this wont be the last time I have problems with computers...

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 6:47 am

Well - from your description - it sounded as a defective powersupply, and there is really no way to safeguard against faulty equipment. Just write it up as bad luck - unless it keeps happening, then check up on your outlets etc to see if they are faulty and gives off powersurges.

Just hope it hasn't short circutted the motherboard or any other things like that. But it should also be covered by the warenty.

smass · Post by **smass** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 7:49 am

A powerstrip or surge supressor is a device that can be used to protect against power spikes and surges. Depending on where you live and the quality and effectiveness of the transformer that feeds your residential power supply - you may be more or less succeptible to these changes in current. Almost all electronic equipment has some sort of protecton against power spikes. The power supply on your computer has a fuse - in fact that is probably what blew when you heard the popping sound. A fuse is designed to "blow" and interrupt the flow of electricity when a surge in power exceeds certain thresholds. This is to protect sensitive electronic equipment.

What a surge supressor does is add an additional fuse in a power strip. Rather than plugging your computer directly into your power outlet - you plug it into the surge surpressor and then plug the surge supressor into your power outlet. That way you can plug many devices into one power strip and have the protection of the fuse in the strip. If you had one - rather than your power supply fuse blowing - the power strip fuse may have blown. Power strip fuses can be reset as well - so there is usually no need to replace them when they blow - just push the reset switch.

You can purchase power strips with one to as many as eight or more plug sockets. In the US you can find them for under $10 in most discount stores and a good, computer rated one can be found for under $20. I would recommend you go to a computer store or electronics store - or even buy one from the company that sold you the computer - although they may have a high mark up.

One other thing to mention. If you use a dial up connection to the internet you might want to buy a power strip that also has a spot to plug your telephone line into - then back into the computer. This is to protect against static or electrical charges getting to your computer through the phone line. This type of things usually occurs during a lightning storm. What can happen is that a nearby lightning hit can send a static electrical charge throught your phone line to your modem - damaging your modem and maybe even frying your motherboard. I managed a computer store for about 4 years and we would get a half dozen or so systems in with fryed modems or motherboards almost every time there was a big lightning storm. Often when examining the modems on these machines you could see and smell the black burned spot on the modem where it got toasted.

Good luck with your repairs

Karembeu · Post by **Karembeu** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 9:08 am

@Xandax: Yip...I hope its only the power supply that's given up. Less problems for the repairman to fix...which ultimately means getting my computer back faster...

Just hope that Mr Repairman doesnt find all my Barry Manilow Mp3's on the harddrive...that could turn out embarrasing...

@smass: Thanks for all that information....

You'd make an excellent salesman...

Anyway, I took your advice and ordered a powerstrip/surge supressor thingy. --->
This is it...yes?!?

Oh....and you'll have to excuse it being in Swedish....but by the look of it that's what you meant I believe/hope.

smass · Post by **smass** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 9:35 am

Thats the one.

By the way I am a Financial Advisor in RL - which is a fancy name for an "investment salesman"

Karembeu · Post by **Karembeu** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 11:55 am

@smass: I knew there was something fishy going on...

Ok, seriously though...thank you all for the help.
Got my computer back from the company I bought it from. Apparently my "Q-tec 350 W PSU" had blown...which was the best thing that could have happened me since they replaced it with a Chieftec 360 W which is supposed to be of a higher quality...

Once again....thank you all...*hug*