[Solved] Bang and spark at the end of the kettle plug type lead

[mij]

Thanks KenB for staying with this. Your help is much appreciated here.

 

KenB said

unless the PSU has 2x 4 pin connectors that would do the job ?

 

It has just the one. Ok I have tried it and nothing turned or lit up. It looks as if that mobo is dead. Unless you think different?

Jim.

PS Reading back over your instructions I did not put the RAM back in, how important was it to this test?

Edited September 18, 2018 by mij

[mij]

I've just put the ram in and it made no difference at all. Dead as dodo.

Jim.

[KenB]

I did not put the RAM back in, how important was it to this test?

Not that important - you would have seen some evidence of life.

 

It does look like the M-Board was taken out when the PSU died.

 

Where do you want to go from here ?

[mij]

Thanks KenB for continuimg with this, it's one of those jobs isn't it.

 

I would like to get another mother board if it's possible. I assume these might still be on the market? I cannot stand this horrible W10 thing :(.

Jim.

.

[KenB]

I did see a new board here - click here

 

The PSU could have taken out RAM / CPU and any other hardware that was attached to the board.

[mij]

Thanks for looking that up for me KenB. That seems reasonable at £51.88. Although I may need more than a mobo as it was all connected when it went bang. The chip and fan I'd get as a matter of course and I'd expect them to be costly as well. Are they as easy to get? Is there any more vunerable bits left? The RAM perhaps?

 

I could get ordering today if you can stick with this :). I am motivated by this loopy laptop.

Jim

[KenB]

Hi Jim,

 

Just because the RAM etc were connected to the M-Board doesn't mean that they WILL have been taken out.

 

The chip and fan I'd get as a matter of course

Do you mean the Central Processor Unit [ CPU ] and attached fan?

 

It could be that the original is OK.

 

If it were me - I would get the M-Board first and see what happens from there.

 

If the CPU has gone west too then a basic replacement could be about £50 - £60

 

4GB RAM would cost about £25

 

Do you have the original Win7 disk ?

[mij]

Thanks for that information KenB, as you can tell I am lost with this stuff.

 

You said-

"Do you have the original Win7 disk ?"

 

I have a couple of W7 disks some where here, I'll have to look up the one that came with the machine.

 

There looks to be a lot of dust in the fins of the heat sink underneath the cooling fan. Is it ok to remove the fan and use the vacuum cleaner to make it more efficient as a cooler? I'd have to take the CPU off the mobo to achieve that.

Jim,

[Rustys]

Is it ok to remove the fan and use the vacuum cleaner to make it more efficient as a cooler? I'd have to take the CPU off the mobo to achieve that.

I will have to state NO refer to the second NOTE and leave the heat sink on the CPU.

 

Get some cans of compressed air and blow the system clean. Make sure the system is powered off and unplugged. Remove the battery if a laptop if the battery can be removed.

 

Read the instruction on the can. Spray in short burst and when the can start to feel cool to the touch switch to a different can. After they warm up to room temp they work fine.

 

Do this in a well ventilated room or outside this way the dust does not settle all over the inside furniture or worse you or someone inhaling it.

 

Do NOT turn the cans upside down turn the system. Remove the battery and blow that our as well.

 

NOTE: You take the chance of wrecking the bearings with the compressed air. Compressed air can actually accelerate the fans beyond their rated speeds and damage them, if you are cleaning them out with air, it is often recommended to hold the blades in place with a toothpick or other non-conducive material.

 

NOTE: Do not use a vacuum to clear the dust they can cause a static discharge and end up toasting the system or a components. There are also jumper on the boards that could be sucked off and then the system would be bricked.

[mij]

Thanks Rustys, all noted and will folllow those guide lines :).

I tried ordering the mobo this evening and I am unsure if it went through or not. I will ring them tomorrow morning and check. Each site is not always like the usual.

Jim.

[mij]

My order had not gone through. The page was unlike others I have ordered from and was larger than my screen, it had 'hidden' bits out side of my viewing area. I needed to diminish my viewing area.

 

I telephoned this morning and just now I got the confirmation it has gone through.

 

Today I will take the old mobo out of the case.

Jim

[Rustys]

Ok let us know what you find our on the motherboard.

[mij]

I did not have the time required and gave in to a local computer engineer. He has taken it away to fix and have heard from him that the chip may also be suspect. I can see why - it was a big flash and bang.

I will report back when it is done and all werky werky.

Jim,

[KenB]

Hi Jim

heard from him that the chip may also be suspect.

Is this the Central Processor Unit [ the main "chip" on the Motherboard ] ?

[mij]

KenB said

"Is this the Central Processor Unit [ the main "chip" on the Motherboard ] ?

 

Yes it is. The fan was noisy as well so I suppose replacing that is a foregone conclusion. The cooling fins were also chock-a-block with dust. Yes it will cost - anything to get away from W10 :(.

 

We have daughter and SIL staying. He is redecorating the sitting room at the moment so SWMBO is in her element, I have resisted for years but he stood litle chance with the wiles of SWMBO :).

Jim (keeping out of the way, wiling away on you tube. RADFC)

[KenB]

Sounds like an expensive do Jim - but obviously it is up to you.

 

Nice to have a handy son-in-law :)

[mij]

Yes, I suppose it will be expensive but I found it difficult to carry anything in my mind at the time.

 

Ok on the S.I.L. doing the decorating. He has also done the ceilings in the lounge and dining room. I have resisted doing those for many many years as neither of us smokes and we only light a fire at Christmas. On looking it was difficult to see where he had painted and the previous (original) painted ceilatex.

 

I'll be glad for the return of the W7 machine as this laptop is so slow compared to the old W7 machine.

If all is well I'll get it back on Monday evening. The wireless card had also gone caput. His good lady rang to get the WFI key .

It was an almighty big flash and bang. It threw the trip and blew the fuse, And I thought that trips protected us from that sort of thing.

 

My return to good heath was quick, SWMBO's some what slower due to the MS impeading her progress but surer for all that :).

Jim.

[KenB]

I hope you are happy with the results on Monday Jim.

Take care :)

[mij]

Yes, very happy KenB. It was a lot less than expected as the chip was unavailable. Too old so it had to be a used one. It looks like the keyboard is also caput so I'll have to get a new one of them tomorrow. I am having to use this W10 flap-top until then as the on-screen keyboard is a pain in the proverbial. The wireless board which fitted in the back was reduced to a USB sized thing no bigger than your thumb-nail. That surprised me - must be invented by the Japanese :).

Thanks guys for all the help. Sorry I was unable to continue the diagnosis but I had enough on my plate. I will now relegate this flaptop to controlling the model railway when I can get around to it.

Cheers

Jim.

[KenB]

Glad it all worked out for you Jim :)