Computer nerds.....assemble!

[Capt_Cully]

Is the box in the upper left hand corner the power supply?

I tried to remove it but its attached to a birds nest of wires. I don't want to remove it if its the wrong component. Any tips for testing or replacing it?

Am I better off taking it in?

 

[NirvanaFan]

Yeah, box in the upper left is the power supply.

 

[andrew2010]

Cully. find the power switch from the front and hot wire it across the leads.. I still am firm on it being your switch from your description. I will bet a growler of local brew on it.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Ok so follow in reverse from switch? Hotwire how? Clip the wires and touch them together while standing in a bucket of water? I'm all for trying as I haven't been able to fire up the desktop basically since the end of this thread. Too cheap and too busy, so there it sat.

I'm all for a cheap-n-sleazy fix!

 

[andrew2010]

its a low voltage micro switch. you can find the two wires. take a bic and melt a spot on the wires to short them. if it does not work tape them back up. I am 98% sure that is your issue. if it works the switch is 2$. you would barely feel them with your tongue so a bucket of water is silly.

 

[andrew2010]

fyi cully, this is a known well documented issue with your brand/model pc. it is a normal wear and tear item. most people dont use them, pc are put in sleep mode more than not(off).

 

[Sweet]

I can help with this. Follow the nest of cable to the big 24 pin that is connected to the motherboard. Press the little lever to unhook it and pull towards you. Once that is unhooked just use an unfolded paper clip and stick in the green and any black wire. If the power supply is good it will turn on.

Once that is done plug it back in. Follow the cables from the power switch they will be connected with other ones onto the motherboard. On the HP it should be a red and black cable label switch. Take a flathead screw drive and short the two pin on the motherboard. If the motherboard is fine it should start the PC.

The next step is to remove the front panel of the PC and make sure the switch is mounted properly to the case.

Having typed all that is your PC still under warranty?

-Sweet

 

[Capt_Cully]

Not under warranty.

I tried hot wiring, no juice.

I'll get a paper clip....

 

[Capt_Cully]

Green to black makes a noise like a car trying to turn over (in a computer sort of way) but it does not start.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Did you try putting your tongue on that paper clip? :lol:

 

[Sweet]

If it doesn't run well then sounds like we have a bad power supply. Can you unscrew the 4 screws in the back of the power supply and unplug all the wires to the computer and post a picture with the model number. I can check at the office and at my house if I don't have a PSU for you.

Also does it have another large 4 pin connector on the power supply? Not the 4 pins in a row, but 4 that would be in a square?

 

[Capt_Cully]

Did you try putting your tongue on that paper clip? :lol:

Nor any other part of my body.....

 

[Capt_Cully]

 

[Sweet]

I will have to check at the office on Monday. The one I have here is a 230w. Yours is a 350W. It looks like a standard power supply. Sometimes HP will have their own non standard power supply.

The cable that connect to the CD-rom for Power is it Black and flat or is it white with females pin in it?

 

[Capt_Cully]

Gotta get back to you on that. Had to head out. I will say, coral is my currency if you have something that will work for me!

 

[pascal32]

Sucks, I just threw out a 350w power supply last week. Sorry bud!

 

[Capt_Cully]

Assuming no one has one, what would one run me?

 

[NirvanaFan]

Assuming no one has one, what would one run me?

$20-$40 online. You could probably take out the power supply and take it to your local Best Buy and get them to test it for free. It only takes a minute.

 

[museumguy]

A few things. Last year to raise some extra cash I recycled computers for precious metals. I tore up many, many towers. I'd say about 10-20% of the computers I ended up with had bad power supplies and many that I ripped apart had components that had obviously burned up (giant charred spots, ash, etc). With the amount of juice pushing through them I'd be very hesitant to do any sort of homemade wiring job to them.

If you find the model number of your power supply you can probably find one used online for cheap, often on eBay. Many of the power supplies I was pulling were being offered on ebay for $5-10 and I wouldn't be surprised if you could find a used but working one pretty cheap.

Fun fact, before I try anything else with a tower that will not turn on I pick it up about an inch off the ground and drop it. (With the power off that is, don't do this with it on as it can ruin the harddrive). You'd be surprised how often this can fix things.

 

[jolopy409]

I know its been awhile since ny post on page two but did you follow any of the steps ii mentioned. I had a similar problem and thought it was the power supply but you never know until you follow all those steps. If you felt like driving to buffalo I could probably fix it for ya or I believe I have a 350 watt in an old dell case you could have.


Also if you get it to start at all and it runs for a bit then shuts down it could be something else shorting out the motherboard causing the power supply to cutt off. My issue ended up being a pin on my cpu was bent and crossed causing it to short my board shutting down my power supply. Instantly I thought it was the power supply but I cant say it enough you gotta take it all apart and put it together piece by piece eliminating every componant.