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PC - won't power on with HD attached

  • 08-09-2018 05:59PM
    #1
    natnifnolnacs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 755 ✭✭✭


    Having worked as an IT pretender for a while I'm not a total numpty, but this one has me beat. I had a pc built a few years ago. No world beater, but a decent system which worked away fine for the last 2 years or so. A few weeks ago it refused to power on. I thought it was down to dodgy RAM, but I have replaced that to no avail.

    I had some time today so spent a bit of time trying to diagnose the problem and basically, the computer won't stay powered on for any longer than a few seconds with a hard drive plugged in. I have tried 2 different SSD's and a mechanical HD and all exhibit the same symptoms. I have disconnected anything else from the motherboard and have removed the mobo from the case to rule out shorts.

    Currently, I have the mobo (MSI Gigabyte H81M-HD3) on the bench. 8GB of RAM,processor (i5), monitor, mouse & keyboard (bluetooth) attached and it boots to the bios without a problem. If I attach a HD, it fans will spin up for a second and then shut down again, repeating this until I turn it off. Sometimes it stays on a bit longer and will get to the windows splash screen, but then shuts down again.

    I'm currently thinking some sort of power issue, but I have a 500W PSU and I would have thought if it was dying, it just wouldn't power on at all?


Comments

  • #2
    refusetolose
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,559 ✭✭✭refusetolose


    i had a problem like that before and it was the PSU at fault


  • #3
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,251 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    Agree, PSU problem on the SATA rail. Try with a different PSU and see, if its modular try move the SATA cable to another Peripheral port.


  • #4
    natnifnolnacs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 755 ✭✭✭natnifnolnacs


    Andre Rich Bedding wrote: »
    Agree, PSU problem on the SATA rail. Try with a different PSU and see, if its modular try move the SATA cable to another Peripheral port.

    Thanks for the input folks. A closer look at the PSU shows it's an unbranded cheapo unit, so I'll replace that and see where it leaves me


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