Computer has completely shut off
 

Last night I was in the middle of playing a game when my computer shut off by itself. I was having a few wierd graphics glitches but I wasn't sure if it was the game or my computer. There were no other warnings when my computer shut off by itself with no messages or sounds.

Now the computer won't turn back on. When I press the power button I get nothing, no sounds, no lights, and nothing moves inside the computer. My question is, what parts of the computer could cause it to not turn on at all?

The motherboard could be messing up? Because that shuts off my mother's computer randomly. (I don't know if that can keep it from turning on though)

I checked the power supply in another computer and it's working fine, so I suspect the mainboard or the processor. To be honest I can't think of any other besides those three components that would completely block the computer from even turning on -.-;

Thanks Yokuutsu :3

do use a voltage regulator? nah im probably wrong. anyways perhaps its the processor.

Nope, I just have it plugged into a surge protector like normal. And yes that plug does work with other items. I just don't want to replace the mainboard because that's a painful process, though if I knew that would fix it I would certainly do so.

Thanks Franz :3

This might help you as well

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findby...nt-turn-on.htm

Dunno if it will, but click on the link that describes it not turning on the most.

That's a very very good article, thanks :3

The power supply did work in the other computer someone tested it in, so the next step is checking the power switch...I may have to just bring it to a repair shop. I just don't have the tools needed to check all this stuff myself :/

Most people would have to take it somewhere. You don't want to run the risk of hurting yourself or messing it up more. But maybe it'll just be a loose wire that'll be easy to fix and not the motherboard or anything.

This morning my computer shut off automatically with no reason, I don't play games that puts my computer in hard effort

@Yokuutsu, Yea I'm hoping that's the case, though if it's the processor it gives me the excuse to replace it like I've been wanting to.

@Echo, Hopefully some of this stuff will help you out too.

oh, my old comp did that once, when was the last time you popped open the side and cleaned it?

That would be...when it happened >< It makes me a bad bad computer owner that I didn't open it up and clean it for over a year, but it doesn't come up very often for me especially since I couldn't get the right tools (can of air) due to no income. But I cleaned out as much as I could, but the possibility of something overheating due to the dust is probably pretty high.

i had tissue q-tips and a screw-driver to clean mine


make sure it's very clean(the fan especially) and try it again

Oh yes it's all as clean as I can get it. It still won't power on at all though. It's not like it turns on and then turns off, it acts as if it's not plugged in at all, even though it is and I've checked all the connections.

well i am not too sure, maybe it's fried, any discolorations anywhere?

Nothing noticable, but I haven't looked at the processor because prying off the fan and heatsink is beyond the current tools I have onhand.

Thanks for the help also Choco :3

I think mine was an update thing, but also my alarm clock went weird as well, it stopped at 5:57am

I never clean my laptop -is a bad owner-

But it seems to be doing good anyway.

I don't think the dust and like would keep it from turning on. Might prevent it from staying on long-overheating and all. But I don't think it should keep it from turning on.

Do you have the battery in when you turn it on? Or is it just plugged into the wall?

It's a desktop, so no battery. Well, except the mainboard battery but that never comes out XD I'm sure that's no what you were referring to ;)

Well, if the dust builds up enough to overheat something, it can be ruined by the heat, and then it won't turn back on because of that. That's what I suspect, I just don't have the means to find out what it is myself.

I was just asking because if it was a laptop and the battery wasn't in...it could've been the port/charger...but since it isn't...MOTHERBOARD?!

Took it to a repair shop today. I got to watch the guy work on it and the mainboard was dead :/ Made me sad but what can I do after the fact? I bought a used computer from them and they even moved all my stuff into it at no extra charge. It wasn't a cheap resolution but it was cheaper than buying a mainboard and processor and then doing all the work myself to replace it :p Plus I got another hard drive so now I have that extra space I'd been wanting.

Well, at least it ends kind of happy? You had to spend money, but you've got some stuff you wanted and it was cheaper than the alternative. OPPORTUNITY COSTS! -is shot- I've been in college too long since I connect these things now.

But good deal-especially sine they moved your stuff over for free-if you do go to a smaller repair shop....they are more willing to do little things for free since they hope that'll get you to come back in the future. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE GO!

I hope you didn't get scammed, Serra. I would have been checking the power supply first -- plug a replacement power supply into the motherboard to see if it boots from that, and then if that fails start inspecting the motherboard for individual damaged components (usually capacitors that have swelled or leaked).

Did you think to keep your old RAM? Assuming there are open slots and it's the same kind of RAM you could have gotten a nice upgrade there too.

They probably would've charged extra for taking that out and installing the old RAM. Just saying.

And time=money. And she, to my knowledge, doesn't have the tools to do all that so she'd have to pay them to do it...and that might have cost a lot more. And then the repair or buying the other computer. I know I wouldn't be able to do both.

Thats really interesting sounds like a mother bored problem to me

@Coda, I watched the entire repair process. He tried 3 different power supplies with my computer and it wouldn't turn on with any of them. And yes, he tested the power supplies to see if they were good. I wanted an excuse to upgrade my processor and for what I spent on the new computer I got that as well as another hard drive and a better case. I got to keep all my other components as well. Well, I did let them keep the PCI modem, I didn't need that :p