Old computers

[puddle jumper]

I have this old computer"7 years old" that just stopped working. It just one day decided to not turn on. I checked the usual power sources and plugs. The monitor powers up but no tower operation.

As it stands right now I have a newer lap top"we use all of the time " ,my son has his own lap top and the iphone which is a hand held wonder in its own. So we are covered when it comes to the web.

We use this older computer mainly for email and bill paying because its plugged directly into the router. The computer was originally set up for gaming.

Knowing that it could be something as simple as a switch and or as big as a mother board do you teck people think its worth fixing or just donate it to a charity that fixes/ parts them out for funds.

 

[Alan_Scott]

Re: Old computers

Since it was used it for financial transactions, you should keep the hard drive if you decide to get rid of the computer.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Old computers

Check your power supply.....maybe a cat hit the switch on the back.....or wayward broom

 

[rbh]

Re: Old computers

7 years old???

Trash it dude, start fresh.


(when you guys coming out, I saved some projects, just cuzz!! )

Gotta go to Quesnel tommorrow and the puddle the next day to check out some projects, you have our number give us a shout EH!!

 

[CheckFire]

Re: Old computers

Unplug the computer , then hold the power button down for a few seconds.
Plug it back in and power it up.

If that does not work , check for a rocker switch on the power supply , switch it (off)
press the power button , switch the rocker back on and try to power up the computer.

during all tests , listen for things like fans spinning or drives clicking.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Old computers

More than likely its a bad power supply.

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Old computers

Agree with bruce, this stuff isn't built of the best parts. Good news is a new power supply is around $30 here.

 

[markheck1]

Re: Old computers

Do any lights come on, does it beep at all, does a fan run?
If none of those I would guess power supply,,, it could be a MOBO but usually see a power supply if it's completely dead.
And yeah, if you used this for financials, don't just throw it in the trash, you want to clean or remove the HD...

 

[canoemang]

Re: Old computers

More than likely its a bad power supply.

Yup.. did you use a power supply tester? They go bad with in 3 - 5 years, 7 years is amazing.

Since it was used it for financial transactions, you should keep the hard drive if you decide to get rid of the computer.

Yes.. if you donate pull the HD.. save it smash it but do not let it go.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Old computers

I have a 7 year old computer I just retired. It is on its 3rd or 4th power supply but I leave it on 24/7.

Before I dispose of a hard drive, I just drill a few holes through the disc area with my drill press.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Old computers

I didn't even to think if we get rid of the old girl to destroy the hard drive.

Ya nothing comes on at all. Here give me a minuet and I will check

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Old computers

Well now I am curious its time for some open hart surgery.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Old computers

See if you can find a computer repair shop to check it out for you. Typically $50-$75 for an hour for troubleshooting time but they'll apply that to any repairs if you have them do the work. Could be anything like a bad power supply, dead MOBO battery, or disconnected wire. And realistically, at that age, you may be looking at things like leaking capacitors and/or memory going bad so it may not be worth fixing. Heck, I think I may be getting some of those maladies myself! :redface:

 

[SierraMark]

Re: Old computers

One more thing to try. I just did this to my stepson's computer.

unplug the power supply...dont just turn the switch off, I mean physically pull the plug.

Wait 30 seconds or so.

Plug it back in and try it.

Sometimes power supplies will have a protection circuit inside that will put it in this state if there is a spike on the line or something.

like I said, I recently replaced my stepson's power supply and this happened yesterday and I was able to reset it in this manner.

-Mark

 

[NYBo]

Re: Old computers

In line with Mark's suggestion, also pull the power plugs from the motherboard, wait a few seconds, and reinsert. I have "resurrected" a number of computers this way.

By the way, if it's an e-Machine, it's most likely a bad power supply, and it most likely took the motherboard with it. I run into many, many of these from that vintage. The memory and hard drive should be fine.