Broken power Supply

[IonizeMyAtoms]

I got home from Christmas break after two weeks yesterday to find that my computer wouldn't boot up. The power button does nothing. Before I left I made sure everything was turned off, and nothing else plugged into my power bar is broken. The light on the PSU flashes when I plug in the computer. I know the PSU is done, but my question is how could something like this happen?
They're cheap to replace, I know, but what a pain in the ass.

 

[giant384]

how do you know that your psu is bad? i couldnt understand what you said

 

[Dynasty]

that actually hurts my head to try and understand mate..hmm

the light flashes on the PSU, then you say the PSU is 'done', which could mean blown or it has nothing wrong with it. but like you say, it does seem kind of strange that it would just suddenly stop working, or simply the motherboard blew a fuse when you turned it off before you went on holiday?

however its more likely to just be a blown PSU.

 

[IonizeMyAtoms]

Haha, sorry I was unclear
Okay, from the beginning: before I left for my vacation I turned off my computer. It was fine when I left.
Two weeks later I came back to find that it wouldn't turn on. I noticed that when I plugged it in, a green light on the psu started blinking. I went to the manufacturer's site and they said that if it is blinking to perform a few different tests. If the tests don't work, then you need to replace the PSU. The tests didn't work.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any idea what could have happened.

 

[CptStern]

you dont need the power to be turned on for the PSU to blow ..one power spike and blam there goes your psu ..it happened to me at work 3 times in a week (air conditioning was draining too much power blowing circut breakers all over the building) ..oh and powerbars are only good as surge protectors for only a determinate number of times ..I had a surge protector and it did nothing to stop my psu from blowing ...btw is there a burnt smell coming from the psu?

 

[IonizeMyAtoms]

No, no burnt smell
Bah, never had any problems here before, and everything else plugged into the power bar is fine
Just bad luck I guess
Still under warranty though, but it will be a pain in the ass to take the computer in

 

[CptStern]

I take it it's a dell or some other pre-fab computer? ...at the same time I blew my psu 3 other comps were affected ..1 was an apple the other was a compaq comp ..the psu for both was around $200 each ..my psu was $18 (my pc at work ..my home pc has a much better psu) ...if it's covered under warrenty then send it in (dont know if you pay shipping or not) ..if not then see what specs your psu is (size: length width etc) ..you may be able to just buy a good quality one and install it yourself

or you could just buy a cheap psu, plug it in (outside of the case if it wont fit) see if your computer works then return the psu and send out your comp to be fixed

 

[giant384]

my friend is having a problem with his computer also but he says it looks like theres burns on the motherboard so you might want to check

 

[IonizeMyAtoms]

I opened it up and there's no noticeable burns and no smell
I think I'll just ask them if they can send me the psu and I'll stick it in myself, although I doubt they'll do that. Ah well

 

[Glirk Dient]

Is the switch in the back flipped to the ON position?

 

[IonizeMyAtoms]

Is the switch in the back flipped to the ON position?

Gee, thanks, problem solved

 

[CptStern]

depending on your motherboard sometimes there's a green led light that shows power coming into the motherboard ..asus motherboards have it .

 

[IonizeMyAtoms]

depending on your motherboard sometimes there's a green led light that shows power coming into the motherboard ..asus motherboards have it .

Thanks, I'll check for that

 

[3ssence]

What brand PSU is this ? And what Cpt Stern said is a good indicator of whether the PSU is still working. If when the PSU is turned on there is no light on on the mobo (assuming it has one) then it's a good bet the PSU has blown.