Power Supply shot?

[WoodPeckr]

A friend's 6 yr old Gateway desktop won't start.
Hit the start button and nothing.
Opened up the box, only a green led is lit inside, on the video card.
I hold down the 'test switch' on the power supply and it then will boot up but the PC monitor reports the 'mouse and keyboard' are not connected.
It then completes boot-up with the HDD sounding normal but the mouse and keyboard are not functioning.
Does it just look like a shot power supply or could it be more?

 

[GDLLover]

A friend's 6 yr old Gateway desktop won't start.
Hit the start button and nothing.
Opened up the box, only a green led is lit inside, on the video card.
I hold down the 'test switch' on the power supply and it then will boot up but the PC monitor reports the 'mouse and keyboard' are not connected.
It then completes boot-up with the HDD sounding normal but the mouse and keyboard are not functioning.
Does it just look like a shot power supply or could it be more?

If the power supply is shot then you wouldn't get any power which it appears you are getting some power. Question: Does the power supply have just 2 contacts or more. If theres more than 2 it could be part of the PS thats gone.

GDL

 

[WoodPeckr]

Not sure how many contacts there are. Never worked on a PS before.
Heard they can fully blow or partially blow leaving you with some reduced power which seems to be the case. Nothing happens unless I hold down the 'test switch' button on the PS....then it will boot up but mouse and keyboard don't work.

 

[tboy]

Not sure how many contacts there are. Never worked on a PS before.
Heard they can fully blow or partially blow leaving you with some reduced power which seems to be the case. Nothing happens unless I hold down the 'test switch' button on the PS....then it will boot up but mouse and keyboard don't work.

yeah, PSUs have various voltages supplied to various components on the mobo. You could have power to the video card and other components but not others.

A reasonably priced PSU is only about $40.00 from any computer reseller/parts store like Canada Computers.

They are easily replaced in about 10 minutes. My only caveat is to make sure you get one with short protection.

(btw, there's about 30 connections but many are ganged on the plug for the mobo)

 

[GDLLover]

It does sound like there is something wrong with the PS regardless of it being only partially failing. You might have the best luck taking the computer and PS to a store that sell Gateway computers and see if they have a PS that has the same connector, voltage & current ratings. If they can plug in your computer with their PS for you then you know wheather to replace the PS. Sounds like ebay might be the best option.

 

[WoodPeckr]

(btw, there's about 30 connections but many are ganged on the plug for the mobo)

Thanks tboy.

Newegg has on sale the rest of July, a 485 watt PSU for $25 w free shipping, only it's SATA.
This Gatway OEM PSU is 200 watt and all IDE!

Just wondering....
Can you use the old IDE wiring connectors on the new PSU?

 

[WoodPeckr]

You might have the best luck taking the computer and PS to a store that sell Gateway computers and see if they have a PS that has the same connector, voltage & current ratings.

Thanks GDLLover.
Just discovered all the wire variations out there. The OEM is IDE and all out now are SATA.

 

[tboy]

Yeah I don't think you'll need a gateway PSU. Most (if not all PCs) use the same connectors/voltage etc for the components. Hardly any "brand name" pc manufacturer actually manufacture anything. They simply brand name the case and then use stock components. ie HP uses ASUS and others motherboards, Creative sound cards, ATI graphic cards, Seagate HDDs etc.

I know you can use an IDE connector to power a SATA drive, I have a few adapters lying around from older pcs. I guess it would work the opposite way too. You should be able to find an IDE psu at Canada Computers.

If you're worried about plugging in the wrong thing to the wrong connector, don't worry. They make them pretty much idiot proof. You cannot plug a drive power connector into the video card or the motherboard. They are totally different. Well, I guess you could if you used a heat gun to melt the connector lol......

If you're worried, take a digital photo of the connectors and where they go and then refer to that when you put in the new PSU. There are only 4 screws on the back that hold it in place so it will pop right out.

Just thinking outloud, since it is 6 yrs old, it just might be an AT format. I don't think it will be but if it is, that might be a problem. But I'd even suggest you cart the thing over to your local PC store (not futureslop) and get them to put one in. Probably only cost $50.00 or so......

 

[ron3221]

Cut Your Losses Buy A New PC

You mentioned that your friend's computer is 6 years old with a 200 watt PS, I believe it would be better for your friend to save up some money and buy a new system, basic models for most PC manufactures run around $500 and you can also get clones from local PC stores for around $400 or less. I can't imagaine running any of the programs I use or most people use for that matter on a PC with a 200 watt PS. Your friend is only wasting money if he spends anything trying to repair that antique. Look to the future and invest in something new.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Thanks for the advice.
He decided to get a new tower. Seems there were a couple other issues also, a dead Ethernet port and the CD burner was buggy.

 

[OnTheWayOut]

Good he bought a new one. When you said you got it to boot but the keyboard and mouse were not working it was pointing to a probable MB problem. Since the PS gets the signal to power on or off through the MB it may have been the MB was the main culprit. If the ethernet was onboard that again points to a faulty MB.

But given prices these days for a new system, it isn't worth a lot of trouble unless you're comfortable repairing them. Even then it's not worth wasting too much time and effort. One drawback of buying a name brand such as Gateway is that the MB is proprietary and more expensive to replace than a clone. It sounds like the correct decision was made.

 

[Cassini]

Good he bought a new one. When you said you got it to boot but the keyboard and mouse were not working it was pointing to a probable MB problem. Since the PS gets the signal to power on or off through the MB it may have been the MB was the main culprit. If the ethernet was onboard that again points to a faulty MB.

But given prices these days for a new system, it isn't worth a lot of trouble unless you're comfortable repairing them. Even then it's not worth wasting too much time and effort. One drawback of buying a name brand such as Gateway is that the MB is proprietary and more expensive to replace than a clone. It sounds like the correct decision was made.

Seconded. Once you know you have two problems in two major subsystems for sure, then seriously consider replacing the computer.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Was hoping it was just a bad PSU but checking online kinda pointed to the same MB conclusion also.
He said the onboard Ethernet port was dead for months....he had his cable modem plugged into a usb 2.0 port and was strangely getting great download speeds off it!

 

[WoodPeckr]

Update on that 6 yr old P4Gateway

Buddy got a new tower, an AMD dual core and it runs great.

Took the P4 Gateway to a repair shop for diagnosis, hoping it could be repaired. The Shop tested it and said the MB was shot, MB had leaking capacitors. PSU was fine according to them. This pissed me off because I had taken the PSU out and had it tested by Best Buy Geek Squad who claimed the PSU was bad after they tested it! This of course makes me leery of Geek Squad from this point on. First bad experience with them.