No power and smell of burning...

WhiteEagle · May 9th, 2007

Hey all,

My computer turned itself off earlier today and isn't powering back up. A couple of seconds later, I smelled something burnt or burning.

What likely went shot and made my computer stop working?

List them in order of most likely to least likely, if you post more than 1 part.

Posted from my parents' PC and TIA,
Nathan P.

**Capper** · May 9th, 2007

If nothing will power on, and you smell something burning....probably the PSU.....

RA1D · May 9th, 2007

i agree, check the power supply

**Hitman** · May 10th, 2007

You my friend have a fried PSU. Trust me I have blown up plenty.

**Reloadron** · May 10th, 2007

My guess runs with the rest, PSU. Open the case up and if looking at everything else you don't see anything obvious, then the PSU is a good possibility. Lets hope it didn't take anything else along for the ride if it is the PSU.

Ron

**Hitman** · May 10th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reloadron

My guess runs with the rest, PSU. Open the case up and if looking at everything else you don't see anything obvious, then the PSU is a good possibility. Lets hope it didn't take anything else along for the ride if it is the PSU.

Ron

What I do is I remove the PSU from the computer. Then smell the PSU, if it smells fried, then thats your problem. I have a bad habit of plugging PSUs into 220 sockets without switching them from 110. I have never had a blown PSU take anything else with it. It is possible though.

**Reloadron** · May 10th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman

What I do is I remove the PSU from the computer. Then smell the PSU, if it smells fried, then thats your problem. I have a bad habit of plugging PSUs into 220 sockets without switching them from 110. I have never had a blown PSU take anything else with it. It is possible though.

There ya go, a simple effective way to perform a sniff test. Also, yes, of the many failed PSUs I have run into I only remember two that actually took other things along for the ride.

Ah yes, the 220 thing. Been years since I had to worry about that.

Ron

**Capper** · May 10th, 2007

Remember, its not a "scratch n sniff" don't touch anything......

**Hitman** · May 10th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capper

Remember, its not a "scratch n sniff" don't touch anything......

LOL no, you just want to see if that burned smell is coming from the PSU and not anything else. Chances are once you remove it you will know. That smell is very distinctive.

Dr. V · May 10th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitman

LOL no, you just want to see if that burned smell is coming from the PSU and not anything else. Chances are once you remove it you will know. That smell is very distinctive.

it is indeed very pungent. almost like your favourite meal being served to you and when you take the lid off of the plate (those fancy silver ones) that whole wave of aroma bathes inside your nostrils...

you'll know right away.

g'luck

May 9th, 2007	#1
WhiteEagle Call me "BigMac" Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,029	No power and smell of burning... Hey all, My computer turned itself off earlier today and isn't powering back up. A couple of seconds later, I smelled something burnt or burning. What likely went shot and made my computer stop working? List them in order of most likely to least likely, if you post more than 1 part. Posted from my parents' PC and TIA, Nathan P.

May 9th, 2007	#2
Capper We take both criticism and positive comments very positively Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 5,874 Blog Entries: 6	Re: No power and smell of burning... If nothing will power on, and you smell something burning....probably the PSU..... INTEL E8400 // Gigabyte EP45 Extreme // 4GB DDR3-1600 // Palit HD 4870 // Antec 1200 // Seagate 750GB HDD // Zalman CNPS9700 // BFG ES 800W PSU

May 9th, 2007	#3
RA1D 5GHz 24/7 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,132	Re: No power and smell of burning... i agree, check the power supply

May 10th, 2007	#4
Hitman Functional Alcoholic Join Date: May 2006 Location: 14S E:561116 N:3830189 Posts: 4,408 Blog Entries: 2	Re: No power and smell of burning... You my friend have a fried PSU. Trust me I have blown up plenty.

May 10th, 2007	#5
Reloadron Helper Person In General Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,453	Re: No power and smell of burning... My guess runs with the rest, PSU. Open the case up and if looking at everything else you don't see anything obvious, then the PSU is a good possibility. Lets hope it didn't take anything else along for the ride if it is the PSU. Ron

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