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I've just pulled my old PC from out the loft to help a friend out (rescuing data from a hdd), machine was fine when it was 'mothballed' around 2 years ago.
Went to fire it up and nothing, stripped all components out down to bare minimum and still nothing.
The 'standby' light isn't on on the the mobo and a quick paperclip test tells me the PSU isn't working.
So do these things naturally decline through none use? Seems odd as there are probably loads sat around on warehouse shelves etc.
motherboard battery? if thats flat wont boot up in my experience.
Changed that too, tried the clear CMOS jumper but the patient isn't responding...
Stress wise, switch on is the toughest bit for the PSU and everything else, so it's not uncommon for PSUs to die then. Could just be that it was on its last legs and would have blown 2 years ago had you power cycled it.
some of the contacts & capacitors decay over time. 2 years doesn't seem long. Was it old when you put it up there?
I'd suggest checking the fuses for continuity and checking the PSU input & outputs with a voltmeter. Also check the on/off switch for continuity. If it's worth getting a new PSU or you have a spare one you could try a different PSU.
Power supply was fairly new when it was retired and had a pretty easy life, but anyway....problem solved.
Had already tried a different power lead and had ruled that out, thought I'd try a third as nothing much else was working...and we're up and running 🙂
Cheers for the replies anyway!
May even treat myself to a game of Half Life 2....
Could you try swapping in the psu from your current machine? It may or may not be compatible.
Could also be the mobo. Do any of the capacitors have obviously swollen ends?
Just seen your updates - happy days.
Thanks Johnny, current machine is a company laptop hence why I needed my old desktop to drop his hdd into.
Thought I had the same problem today with a blown PSU on an old PC. Just started taking it apart to get the HDs out when I noticed there was an 'on/off' button on the front I had forgotten about. Doh!