Help! Computer has crashed!

[Nathaniel]

I am posting this from the computer in my local library. I was away for a couple of days and on my return I switched on my desk computer (tower) and there was no power. I checked all the fuses which were OK. I don't know whether something has "burnt"within by my keeping the computer switched on all the time throughout the day until I went to bed or something else. Is this a matter for an IT/computer expert or can I fix it myself. This is the first time ever that this sort of thing has happened to me.

Any advice will be much appreciated.

I can still access the interest via my mobile phone.

Many thanks
Nathaniel

[Tigger]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

lets hope its not serious - as a matter of interest I never turn my Mac off only if I'm going away

if its completely dead my first thought would be the power supply inside the tower - its easy to replace as I've done it twice and its just a case of couple of screws and pulling the power lead off the back and plugging in the new one. The last time I bought one it was about £25 - Try checking online for a price or talk to your local shop as its a pretty standard thing

If its not the power supply then it starts getting more involved and way over my pay grade .....good luck

[mikep]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

Hi

The first thing to do is try and isolate the issue.

Use the same power cord in a different mains plug outlet. Use a different power lead.
Do any lights come on at all.
Does a different device work using the power lead and/or in same/different power outlet.

If no power with above, it sounds like your tower power supply may have failed. Was there a storm whilst you were away - lightning can fuse out a power supply, whilst modern consumer units merely trip out and can be reset.

Depending on your make and model of tower, and components, it could be £50, or £200+

I would recommend taking it to a specialist for advice (which is usually free). My mate had to replace his 2 weeks ago, and it was a nightmare... it's not just connecting all the cables correctly, but the routing of the leads through the tower that can be a pain.

Good luck!

Mike

[Tigger]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

I would recommend taking it to a specialist for advice (which is usually free). My mate had to replace his 2 weeks ago, and it was a nightmare... it's not just connecting all the cables correctly, but the routing of the leads through the tower that can be a pain.

I must have been lucky with the two I swapped as it took longer to work out how to get the tower apart than do the job...

[John Liddle]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

Nat - if you do not feel confident about sorting it yourself, then go to your local repair man.

I have recently swapped out a power unit and found it was not absolutely straightforward - since my machine was made, some power connector standards have changed and I had to buy an adapter cable (all the way from America!). However, having said that, the rest of the task was pretty much commonsense.

Whatever you decide, I hope all goes well.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

Thanks for your quick reply. I am still at the library which is actually walking distance from my place. To answer Mike's point, yes there was a terrific storm when I was in Powys, which has also messed up the TV aerial as well & that is being attended to today. I cut short my holiday because of the bad weather,with blown down trees etc. It is quite possible that the storm could have knocked out the internal fuse within the tower. I will try another power lead and if this fails I will call a computer chap as I am not an expert to look inside the Tower.

My Tower is an HP & my monitor is an LG.

[Tigger]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

sounds like you've blown the power supply - have you not got it plugged into a surge protector

[DrJon]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

If your computer is set to automatically power-up it's always worth pressing the soft power button in case it's got confused and is waiting for a button press to start...

[nickorando]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

One thing to check first is to unplug the power cord from the computer end - some have a microswitch that needs to be reset, and that's the way of doing it.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

Thanks folks for all your good advice. As I was not confident enough to put my hands in to anything connected with computers and electricity, I called in the experts and he has put things right. Something called as the PSU had blown which cost me £30 to replace and the expert's time of £25, a total of £55. I am quite happy with it and everything is working as it should.

Once again, many thanks for all your advice and for your time in posting your suggestions.

[the black fox]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

PSU = power supply unit nat .probably a surge during the storm

[Parsen66]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

Glad it's all breathing again Nat. PSU = power supply unit

Seems the original diagnosis was correct.

[Parsen66]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

PSU = power supply unit nat .probably a surge during the storm

Beat me by seconds Jeff

[antoeknee]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

Glad your back up and running Nat.

Failed PSU has been one of the most common repairs I've done for people.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Help! Computer has crashed!

Thanks for identifying PSU. This is the first time in my life that I have had to replace a PSU and I have never suffered from this before. I had also switched off my computer before I went away and was surprised to find that I couldn't start it on my return. Do you advise me to install a power surge protector? I know that I used to plug my electric lawnmower into one of these surge protectors before I started mowing my lawn.