[andy_e]

I recently acquired a computer which didn't switch on properly, and was told that it was the PSU causing it to not turn on. After having replaced the PSU, it still has the same problem. The problem is this: When the "on" button is pressed, the computer starts to load up, then after about between 0.5 - 2 seconds, restarts, and continues to do this indefinitely. Anybody know what's causing this and/or what to do to solve this?

[butters]

What wattage rating is the PSU? It might be that it is not able to supply enough power to run all of the components in the PC.

bluebrad

[andy_e]

250, but the one before that was also 250 and it used to run it ok.

[butters]

Has there been any new hardware (graphics card or the like) installed in the run up to the powering off problems starting?

bluebrad

[Bubba]

Can you get into bios?

[andy_e]

Not to my knowledge has there been any new hardware installed.

Can you get into bios?

Nope... I don't think so anyway.

[andy_e]

I took all the components out and I think it started OK, (not sure though because I don't have enough kettle cables to run both my screen and computer at the same time and I can't be bothered shutting this one down!)

[andy_e]

OK, even with all the unnecessary components removed, it still doesn't work... Any ideas?

[dontfollowme]

Memory not seated correctly, something shorting/overheating. Would it be less hassle just to dump it and pick up a new Dell for £200?

[Jaspersharpe]

Know this is  but my Company got a thing through from Dell the other day advertising some very nicely priced laptops and desktops. However when I read the small print it proved the advertised prices to be totall bollocks. I know that you can normally expect a bit of variation from the advertised price but an example was one for £369 which on closer inspection was £369+VAT+Delivery charge. The delivery charge was £60 (and you couldn't get round it by picking it up as the collection fee was virtually the same) so the total cost was £493.58.

That's £124.58 (or 34%) higher than advertised. Robbing twats.

[andy_e]

Would it be less hassle just to dump it and pick up a new Dell for £200?

It'd be less hassle, but more money, which is the crux of the issue... 

Memory not seated correctly, something shorting/overheating.

Thanks, I'll give this a try.

[Jim]

I think the most likely explination is that the motherboard is fucked. (assuming everything is seated correctly)
It might be worth taking the motherboard out and spraying it with contact cleaner and giving it a good clean with a paint brush, get all the dust out and then put it back together. Has worked for me before

[andy_e]

Stripped it, re-seated everything, took out all the unwanted gubbins again, and it seems to be working (can't tell without a monitor but it doesn't sound liek it's restarting), which probably means it is the wattage holding it back. Bugger!

[butters]

...can't tell without a monitor but it doesn't sound liek it's restarting), which probably means it is the wattage holding it back. Bugger!

Wouldn't it make sense to actually plug a monitor into it just to check?  ??? Would probably take all of 5 minutes and it might prove more useful to have an optical view of things as opposed to an aural one in this case... 

bluebrad

[andy_e]

It would, but that would require turning this PC off and I'm actually doing some owrk for once so I don't want to interrupt it! I'll try it later...

[andy_e]

Meh, the motherboard's the fucker that's fucked. so it's going in the bin after nicking everything salvagable from it.