Computer won't boot

Factual Questions
1

Hello all,
Out of lurkdom I spring.

I’m at work, working on a project that is due Monday. Dufus co-worker thought it would be a good idea to force crash my computer. Everything I need for that presentation is on that computer and now it won’t re-boot. Tech support is not available. Any ideas? Not being a PC owner, please tell there is an easy fix I don’t know about.

::crossed fingers::

Thanks

2

What do you see on the screen when you turn on the power?

3

Try unplugging its power cord for 15 seconds, then plug it back in. Try to start it.

With luck, it was simply a bit confused, and the complete power disconnect cleared its confusion.

4

I did that. Nothing.

Maybe I was using the wrong terminology. Pressing the “on” button doesn’t do anything. When I unplug it for a few minutes then re-plug it in, the button lights up for a second or two then goes out. The CPU seems to start spinning up but after a second or so stops. From then on pressing the on button does nothing.

It is a Dell Dimension C521.

5

Any beeps at all?

6

If you leave it for, say, half an hour and turn it on, does it get further into the boot process?

My first hunch would be the power supply. It is likely dead or dying. In my experience, this occurs more often than most other problems. There are other possibilities – CPU, motherboard, some card shorting out or other such problems, but the easiest to test for is the power supply. If you have access to another one of sufficient wattage, try swapping it out and seeing if that works.

7

Yup, did that, too. I left it for 30 minutes before plugging it back in. I also switched surge protectors (to one with a working computer on it).

And, no Fear Itself, no beeps, no nothing.

8

Then I would agree with Mindfield: power supply, motherboard or PCI card. Might be easier to pull all the PCI cards except the display adapter (if it has one), and try to boot without them. Power supply is somewhat more trouble to swap out. Not hard though.

9

If it is the power supply, be careful - a lot of Dell PCs use a non-standard power supply. The ones sold at places like CompUSA will probably fit, and their cables and plugs will also probably fit, but they’re wired differently.

10

What does this entail?

11

The power button could just be broken, take a look at it, i fix computers all day and if it the power supply it will light up and blink yellow if its a dell, check the button first

12

This was actually my first thought. Could you please be more specific about how I could tell if this was indeed the problem?

I just found out this asshole was… never mind (a pit thread?), anyway he pressed the on/off button down for a couple of seconds to force the computer to shut off.

13

That generally won’t cause any major problems, as that is what the motherboard is designed to do; hold down the power button for ten seconds, power shuts off.

14

OK, but I’m pissed about the reasons he did it. And that it’s costing me time. Regardless, because he did it I can’t get my computer to turn back on.

15

I was just working on a friend’s Dell and had this issue. Try holding in the power button for about 15 seconds, then release. See if that does the trick.

If not and it’s urgent, I’d bribe a geek friend to help you out and pull the drive out, put it in another machine and at least pull your data off that you need.

16

Follow the advice listed here. All of it makes sense to me. Then find the waste of atmosphere that did this to you and rid us of him for all time. No jury would convict you.

17

bump…this is a relevant question

18

Even better, the C521 has those 4 lights that Dell has.

http://support2.jp.dell.com/docs/systems/dimc521/en/SM_EN/tshoot.htm

And more to the point - Diagnostic lights:

http://support2.jp.dell.com/docs/systems/dimc521/en/SM_EN/tshoot.htm#wp1056453

19

To make what DevNull meant clearer, Watch the leds fore troubleshooting, and the last combination of lights to appear is the code for where you start troubleshooting.

20

OK, back at it.

As mentioned in post 7 there is no beep(s). I left it unplugged overnight. This morning I plugged it in and the green light on the on button came on for two seconds then went off again. Pressing the on button does nothing. I’m trying to work with what DevNull posted but because it won’t turn on at all, it makes this difficult.

Thanks all who have offered advice (and support) so far.