Boot Up Failure! Any way to determine Powersupply or Heatsink

[jcrennan]

I have the problem that many people have mention on here and other forums, that on power up my PC will stop.

 

PC with XP HOME

 

Plug in Power

See/Here Fans start up

a few seconds later I think I hear a click

the fans and PC turn off

 

PC doesnt even get to the stage where it turns the monitor on

 

I have disconnected items that I can that use Power including HDD, DVD, FD and no change

 

Reading everywhere there seems to be two choice

Choice 1. The Power Supply

Choice 2. The Heat Sink on the CPU

 

Is there any way to determine which it might be? The PC is 5 years old.

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Test it with another power supply and if the pc still doesn't work it could also be the motherboard itself.

 

Let us know what happens with another PSU.

[HobGoblin]

I bet you any money its your PSU that is the culprit

[jcrennan]

Well I got a new PSU and that didnt work and now I have also tried putting new thermal paste between the cpu and the heat sink and I a, still having the same problem.

 

I have unplugged everything but the mother board from the PSU and still starts and fans start then about 5 seconds and it shuts off.

 

Any other ideas?

[KenB]

Switch off at the wall - leave the plug in to maintain earth (ground) connection.

 

Disconnect all major connections ( power to hard drive / dvd / data cables from motherboard to hard drive and dvd drive)

Take out all cards ( RAM / Video / Ethernet etc )

Unplug printer and any other external connections.

 

leave only the 20(4) pin connection from the PSU connected.

 

Switch on.

 

Do you get POST beeps?

 

If not you have a problem with either the PSU or motherboard.

 

If you do get POST beeps then put the cards / connections back one at a time ( testing after each)