Computer will not turn on

[Flaw]

Well, this is my first time on this site and I really know nothing about it, just was told that I might find the answers I am looking for here.

So here's what happens. I shut my computer down to go to bed, lightning strikes, power goes out (while my computer is OFF), and then immediately back on. I wake up in the morning, my computer will not turn on, I plug it into many different slots, slots definitely working (other appliances work out of them).

I open it up, doesnt seem to be fried, no obvious burnt chips or anything like that. However nothing works, when I plug it in, all that changed is a green light goes on, on my motherboard, however still no power


That's where I stand, I would appreciate any help or suggestions, I might add that it's a custom built computer, totally high end, so no warranty.

 

[Domer]

Clear the cmos? Was the PC plugged into a surge protector?

 

[Flaw]

Yes, it was plugged into a surge protector, why would clearing the cmos affect power?

 

[snoturtle]

have you tried unplugging it for a little while?

I have one machine that has to sit unplugged for 5 mins sometimes after a power outage before it will power back on

 

[Domer]

Originally posted by: Flaw
Yes, it was plugged into a surge protector, why would clearing the cmos affect power?

I really have no clue, but clearing th cmos has always fixed any problems I've had. One time while my old computer was on I accidentally moved a wire around and the exposed end from the PSU hit the case, resulting in a big spark and the computer instantly turning off. I couldn't get it to boot until I cleared the cmos. Might as well give it a try. If that doesn't work try using another PSU.

 

[knght990]

We have a little over 1000 comptuers at the school i work at inc entral fl (lightning strike capitol of the US). even with surge supressors we always get a few that fail after a thunderstorm. 95% of the time, unplugging it for a few minutes then plugging it back in resets it (we have dells, have to wait for the mobo to discharge there is a little light on it that goes off). If that dosent work we reset the cmos. We only had one that didnt reset after that, but it had obvious burn marks on a pci socket which we couldnt see till we removed the card int he slot.
-TL

 

[Flaw]

Reset the CMOS, didn't do anything. I looked in the PSU, looked fine. You're suggesting waiting? A light is on, on the mobo, but it only goes on when the power is plugged in, so I assume that there is at least some power.

 

[Domer]

Turn off the PSU, hit the power button a few times to discharge any power in the computer. Wait 10 minutes then try again. If that still doesn't do it pull everything out and hook it all up on a bench. Mobo, CPU, HSF, Video Card, 1 stock of ram and the PSU. Just to make sure the motherboard or something isnt shorting out on something else.

 

[stevty2889]

Try this, might sound a little strange buts it's worked for me. First unplug the machine. Also(this is the part that sounds strange) unplug the keyboard. Pull out the CMOS for at least an hour. Replace CMOS battery, plug back in, try and turn it on. It was something odd that happened to my dads computer after lightning stike, even though it was off. Tried unplugging, differant outlets, reseting the CMOS and nothing. Tried it with the keyboard unplugged..and strangly enough it booted right up. Then turned it off and plugged the keyboard back in..and still good to go.

 

[Big Lar]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
Try this, might sound a little strange buts it's worked for me. First unplug the machine. Also(this is the part that sounds strange) unplug the keyboard. Pull out the CMOS for at least an hour. Replace CMOS battery, plug back in, try and turn it on. It was something odd that happened to my dads computer after lightning stike, even though it was off. Tried unplugging, differant outlets, reseting the CMOS and nothing. Tried it with the keyboard unplugged..and strangly enough it booted right up. Then turned it off and plugged the keyboard back in..and still good to go.

What he said^^, and also if that dosn't work, pull the battery, leave it out for at least an hour, with power cable out of the supply of course/ then put battery in/power cable/ start er up.

 

[pkme2]

In the month of March, we had a lot of lightening strikes with power outages all over Maui. Many people had their PSUs go out when the electricity was turned on. If you didn't have a UPS with AVR, then you found out the hard way. UPS w/ AVR sold out in days afterwards. and PSUs flew off the shelves. Costco & Walmart sold out....

Get a new PSU with a UPS AVR.

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: pkme2
In the month of March, we had a lot of lightening strikes with power outages all over Maui. Many people had their PSUs go out when the electricity was turned on. If you didn't have a UPS with AVR, then you found out the hard way. UPS w/ AVR sold out in days afterwards. and PSUs flew off the shelves. Costco & Walmart sold out....

Get a new PSU with a UPS AVR.

Sorry but you are incorrect. A UPS will protect the system but AVR has nothing to do with surge protection. AVR will merely increase or decrease the voltage by a certain percentage when it is slightly high or low. A UPS without AVR will just switch to battery (AVR does not use battery power) when the voltage is high or low. Also most consumer UPS's that advertise AVR only have one Boost mode. Higher end UPS's have at least one Boost and one Trim mode, if not more. I just wanted to clear that up.


As for the OP, did you have it plugged into a UPS or surge protector? How about the data lines (phone, network, coax)? If not it's very possible a "backdoor" surge fried the modem/NIC/motherboard. I've seen a few computers where this happened. In one case the LED on the motherboard stayed on when the PSU was receiving power but would not turn on no matter what. The integrated NIC was probably the entry point for the surge as the cable modem was crispy fried. I replaced the motherboard (which was a pain since it was a Dell) and it worked perfectly. I keep trying to tell people you need a good AC surge protector (that Belkin is NOT a GOOD surge protector :roll: ) AND dataline protection.

 

[F1shF4t]

I had the same hing happen to my dads pc, the board and psu got fried, it was plugged in and was off... the problem is with atx its never fully off unless u flip the switch on the back of psu(if it has one) or unplug it. Best thing to do is to unplug ur comp during thunder storms, i doubt there are any surge protectors which can withstand that much power ( i mean almost direct hit)

The mobo and psu wold prolly be the first to go, theck if it works with minimum components pluged in (eg one ram stick gfx and thats it) then go from there.

 

[pkme2]

Originally posted by: MWink

Originally posted by: pkme2
In the month of March, we had a lot of lightening strikes with power outages all over Maui. Many people had their PSUs go out when the electricity was turned on. If you didn't have a UPS with AVR, then you found out the hard way. UPS w/ AVR sold out in days afterwards. and PSUs flew off the shelves. Costco & Walmart sold out....

Get a new PSU with a UPS AVR.

Sorry but you are incorrect. A UPS will protect the system but AVR has nothing to do with surge protection. AVR will merely increase or decrease the voltage by a certain percentage when it is slightly high or low. A UPS without AVR will just switch to battery (AVR does not use battery power) when the voltage is high or low. Also most consumer UPS's that advertise AVR only have one Boost mode. Higher end UPS's have at least one Boost and one Trim mode, if not more. I just wanted to clear that up.


As for the OP, did you have it plugged into a UPS or surge protector? How about the data lines (phone, network, coax)? If not it's very possible a "backdoor" surge fried the modem/NIC/motherboard. I've seen a few computers where this happened. In one case the LED on the motherboard stayed on when the PSU was receiving power but would not turn on no matter what. The integrated NIC was probably the entry point for the surge as the cable modem was crispy fried. I replaced the motherboard (which was a pain since it was a Dell) and it worked perfectly. I keep trying to tell people you need a good AC surge protector (that Belkin is NOT a GOOD surge protector :roll: ) AND dataline protection.

From what happened in our neighborhood, all those w/o UPS AVR and with only basic surge protectors had burnt out computers when the power came back on. Its a fact and I will stand by it. I had to replace some burnt out PSUs, mobos and other hardware for the next few weeks, some I recommended new computers when the damages were too high.

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: pkme2

Originally posted by: MWink

Originally posted by: pkme2
In the month of March, we had a lot of lightening strikes with power outages all over Maui. Many people had their PSUs go out when the electricity was turned on. If you didn't have a UPS with AVR, then you found out the hard way. UPS w/ AVR sold out in days afterwards. and PSUs flew off the shelves. Costco & Walmart sold out....

Get a new PSU with a UPS AVR.

Sorry but you are incorrect. A UPS will protect the system but AVR has nothing to do with surge protection. AVR will merely increase or decrease the voltage by a certain percentage when it is slightly high or low. A UPS without AVR will just switch to battery (AVR does not use battery power) when the voltage is high or low. Also most consumer UPS's that advertise AVR only have one Boost mode. Higher end UPS's have at least one Boost and one Trim mode, if not more. I just wanted to clear that up.


As for the OP, did you have it plugged into a UPS or surge protector? How about the data lines (phone, network, coax)? If not it's very possible a "backdoor" surge fried the modem/NIC/motherboard. I've seen a few computers where this happened. In one case the LED on the motherboard stayed on when the PSU was receiving power but would not turn on no matter what. The integrated NIC was probably the entry point for the surge as the cable modem was crispy fried. I replaced the motherboard (which was a pain since it was a Dell) and it worked perfectly. I keep trying to tell people you need a good AC surge protector (that Belkin is NOT a GOOD surge protector :roll: ) AND dataline protection.

From what happened in our neighborhood, all those w/o UPS AVR and with only basic surge protectors had burnt out computers when the power came back on. Its a fact and I will stand by it. I had to replace some burnt out PSUs, mobos and other hardware for the next few weeks, some I recommended new computers when the damages were too high.

What about people using UPS's without AVR? AVR is a feature of some UPS's but it has no effect on the UPS's surge protection (though it does tend to be on higher end UPS's which are more likely to have better surge protection). Also AVR units can be separate from UPS's, though I think it's failry pointless for most applications.

And yes I'm sure people with cheap/basic (or Belkin) surge protectors did have stuff fry, I'm just saying that AVR has nothing to do with surge protection. Also a good surge protector probably would have protected the equipment.

 

[pkme2]

For those who wish to protect their computer rigs, all I can say that I had two burnt out systems a few years back.
AVRs are combined with my UPS, I haven't any burnouts and neither has any of my clients/students since.

I recommend a Cyberpower AVR for protection. Whatever works to protect your system is my only concern.
You can follow my suggestion or not.