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Burning smell from computer

  • 27-03-2013 11:03pm
    #1
    stevek93
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    Am in bit of a panic here was reimaging the laptops hard drive that I plugged into a enclosure from another drive. About half way through I noticed a burning smell coming from the PC. I quickly removed the drive and powered down the PC.

    On closer inspection opening the PC it seemed the smell was actually coming from inside the PC itself and not the hard drive which was my first instinct. What to do now is the question am afraid to power the PC back on.


Comments

  • #2
    cherryghost
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 17,137 Mod ✭✭✭✭cherryghost


    Where exactly in the PC is the smell coming from? Motherboard, PSU, graphics card?


  • #3
    stevek93
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭stevek93


    cherryghost wrote: »
    Where exactly in the PC is the smell coming from? Motherboard, PSU, graphics card?

    Really not to sure it just seemed to fill the whole case. My suspicion was that the the enclosure had a 5200rpm drive and I plugged in a 7200rpm causing the USB to overload. :confused:


    Have the PC powered on here and now seems fine.


  • #4
    Telchak
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 891 ✭✭✭Telchak


    stevek93 wrote: »
    My suspicion was that the the enclosure had a 5200rpm drive and I plugged in a 7200rpm causing the USB to overload. :confused:
    No :pac:


  • #5
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    The enclosure you were using, was it a powered enclosure and if so did you double check you used the correct power brick?


  • #6
    stevek93
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭stevek93


    Deleted User wrote: »
    The enclosure you were using, was it a powered enclosure and if so did you double check you used the correct power brick?

    It was powered by the USB was plugged into the USB 3.0 port if makes any difference. It was definitely coming from inside the PC.


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  • #7
    Monotype
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    What kind of PSU have you got?


  • #8
    stevek93
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭stevek93


    Monotype wrote: »
    What kind of PSU have you got?

    www.hardwareversand.de/400+-+500+Watts/30074/Super-Flower+Amazon+80Plus+450W.article was thinking the PSU myself.


  • #9
    Monotype
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,710 ✭✭✭Monotype


    Well it's not a dodgy PSU make, so I suppose that we can't immediately rule that as the culprit.

    I would take out the hard drives and back up essential stuff for starters.
    Give the place a bit of a dusting with compressed air if it needs it.
    Remove some non-essential components.
    Look for any scorch marks on the motherboard, graphics card, etc.
    Swap in a different PSU if you have it as well.

    If you can't determine it by inspection, you could try turning it on again. Try not to get electrocuted and keep a sharp eye out for anything unusual or any dodgy smells.


  • #10
    stevek93
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭stevek93


    Monotype wrote: »
    Well it's not a dodgy PSU make, so I suppose that we can't immediately rule that as the culprit.

    I would take out the hard drives and back up essential stuff for starters.
    Give the place a bit of a dusting with compressed air if it needs it.
    Remove some non-essential components.
    Look for any scorch marks on the motherboard, graphics card, etc.
    Swap in a different PSU if you have it as well.

    If you can't determine it by inspection, you could try turning it on again. Try not to get electrocuted and keep a sharp eye out for anything unusual or any dodgy smells.

    I did open the PSU about a month back to remove the LED's but made sure it was put back together correctly and everything was working OK.

    Done a complete one over on it last night removing everything possible. No scorch or burn marks that I could see. Had it powered on for around 2 hours no unusual smells and system was running fine.

    My guess it was the hard drive running at a faster speed that wasn't designed for the enclosure therefor it was pulling to much power from the USB on the MB.


  • #11
    Genghiz Cohen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,182 ✭✭✭Genghiz Cohen


    stevek93 wrote: »
    My guess it was the hard drive running at a faster speed that wasn't designed for the enclosure therefor it was pulling to much power from the USB on the MB.

    I don't think that's how it works, it would be more like the port puts out X volts and the device can take it or leave it.
    I don't see any way the device could tell the motherboard to supply more power than the port wants to give.


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  • #12
    Logonitus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3 ✭Logonitus


    Most of the time I get a "burning smell" pc or laptop in its the psu, so try swaping that out first if you can.


  • #13
    stevek93
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭stevek93


    Genghiz Cohen wrote: »
    I don't think that's how it works, it would be more like the port puts out X volts and the device can take it or leave it.
    I don't see any way the device could tell the motherboard to supply more power than the port wants to give.

    Thats true. It had to been a issue with the enclosure not to sure what happened. Anyways its been on all most 24/7 past few days and running fine. Still baffled to as what was making the smell.


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