Whats wrong with my PC?

[MF]

Okay this is frustrating the hell out of me.....

My PC is a few years old now and for the last week or so whenever I get home from work and try and turn it on nothing happens, no power. The first time this happened I came back to it an hour or so later, hit the button and bang! It starts up fine. The next few nights when it happened I opened up the case and played with a few wires, tried it again, no go, left it for a while, came back and it started fine. Tonight I opened the case pulled out all the plugs inside and pushed them back in. Pretty much took out everything bar the processor and then tried to turn it on, nothing happened. I went and sat on the couch and all of a sudden the PC fired up by itself.

What the hell is going on? It's definitely not the power cable or powerpoint as I've changed both. The only thing I can think of is something dodgy going on with the power supply but really, I have NFI.

Any ideas?

 

[sgPanther]

I'd guess it's the power supply in your system gone screwy. I've had similar problems and the power supply ended up knackering up the MB. Forced a new upgrade cycle on me earlier than I'd hoped.

You can try replacing the power supply if you can 'borrow' one from somewhere else.

 

[MF]

I'd guess it's the power supply in your system gone screwy. I've had similar problems and the power supply ended up knackering up the MB. Forced a new upgrade cycle on me earlier than I'd hoped.

You can try replacing the power supply if you can 'borrow' one from somewhere else.

Cheers.

I could "source" one from work but if I have to replace the power supply I may as well upgrade anyway, it's been a while.

 

[jazz]

Could be a dodgy switch too. Those plastic switches are very susceptible to playing up.

 

[MF]

Could be a dodgy switch too. Those plastic switches are very susceptible to playing up.

I was thinking that but would the PC be capable of all of a sudden booting up by itself if it was a problem with the switch?

 

[Ant_]

Cheers.

I could "source" one from work but if I have to replace the power supply I may as well upgrade anyway, it's been a while.

Power Supply is dirt cheap and is only a couple of screws and cables.

 

[sblack]

Power Supply is dirt cheap and is only a couple of screws and cables.

Yeah, you can get a solid power supply for $80-90

It won't break your bank

 

[weevil]

Could get a new system that would slay your old system for a few hundred bucks.

 

[MF]

Could get a new system that would slay your old system for a few hundred bucks.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I can't see the point in putting in a new power supply when I can get a PC 3 times better for a few hundred dollars. I don't play a lot of games on my PC (I barely get enough time to play the 360 anymore) so I'd be mainly just looking at a solid system for web browsing/music etc.

 

[ManInTheArena]

Could be a dodgy switch too. Those plastic switches are very susceptible to playing up.

It has to be the switch or the Power Supply. The switch is the cheapest thing to test, Dick Smith have simple switches for under $2. I used to have one ready made with cable in my tool kit.