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Shop: Myyco.com Golden Teacher Liquid Culture For Sale   Unfolding Nature Unfolding Nature: Being in the Implicate Order

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Computer Will Not Turn On
    #5592322 -

I have had my desktop put away in my closet for the last 3 months and when I hooked the thing up yesterday the damn thing wouldn't turn on.

It has been stored in a nice safe, cool and dry place. The electrical cord looks fine, no damage. And I have tried hooking it up into 3 different outlets.

Has this ever happened to anyone out there?

Is there a quick fix or is it time to take it up to Best Buy (that's where I bought it) and have them give it a look? If so what do you think the problem is and how much do you think the repair bills will be?

The computer is 6 years old and until now I have not had one single problem with it. I would recommend a HP desktop to anyone. It has been a reliable performer over the years.

I am going to be purchasing a new desktop and monitor anyway in the next month or two and I was planning on just giving my old one away.

But the problem is I have some files on there that I absolutely must get back. Excel files, some for work; a couple of word files and over 200 songs. I can't lose these suckers.

I'm hoping I can get it fixed without having to spend alot of cash so I can give it away in good working order.

If not, what would be the best way to retrieve those files so I can put them on my new computer?

What I'm relay hoping for is that someone knows of a quick fix for this problem.

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: gregorio]
    #5592349 -

I unfortunately can't give you a quick solution as far as getting the computer itself turned back on. However, you can almost definitely take the hard drive itself out of the laptop and connect it to another computer with a similar motherboard. If you're not sure how to go about doing this, or if you don't have another computer you could use to do it, then you might want to go ahead and get it repaired by professionals.

Good luck, man.


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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: gregorio]
    #5592364 -

If the system was working when you stored it, chances are the filters in the Power supply are bad.
Leave it plugged in for a day or two, and then try it again. Sometimes the filters will become active if power is suppied for a while.
It probably won't work for long if it does turn on, but probably long enough to retrive your files.
If you have another good power supply to install, it would at least tell you if that is the problem right away.
If it powers up, but doesn't boot, try removing and re-insterting the ram, a small amount of corrosion can prevent it from booting.

Keep in mind, these are some VERY simple things to try.

Good Luck
Shdwstr

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: gregorio]
    #5592957 -

I had a neighbor bring me a computer to repair that she said, "Wouldn't power up" She said she also tried a few different outlets. Turns out the other end of the cord wasn't fully inserted into the back of the computer! Simple fix. I'm not sure what was meant by a power supply filter??.. filter capacitor maybe? Capacitor can go bad just sitting on the shelf, so maybe.

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: gregorio]
    #5592969 -

If you've made sure all the power cords are properly attached and the switch behind the PSU (power supply unit) is turned on, then it's most likely the PSU that's acting up. The easiest thing would be to borrow another one and see if the computer shows any signs of life. If not, then its likely to be a problem with the motherboard.

If you don't have access to any spare PSUs then just take it back where you bought it. In any case, your files are most likely just fine. You can remove the hard drive and hook it up in a working machine and just burn your files to a CD or DVD.

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: gregorio]
    #5593042 -

Check your CMOS battery & make sure it is good & maybe reset your CMOS. I've seen these being an issue ,with a no power symptom, especially after a computer has been setting a long time.
Hope this helps

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: BigGameHunter]
    #5593053 -

Wow! Thank you all for your quick and informative responses. I knew this was the place to go: best site to go for tech. problems.

All your answers were very intelligent and informed to say the least.

Thank You.

So now it time for me to spend a nice relaxing weekend reviewing the alternatives between the choices offered.

Thanks again.

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: BigGameHunter]
    #5593059 -

> If the system was working when you stored it, chances are the filters in the Power supply are bad.

I assume you mean capacitors...

> Check your CMOS battery

Best advice so far. I have seen many computers not boot because of dead CMOS battery.

What kind of computer, PC or Apple, desktop or laptop?

I will assume desktop PC. If you open it up and look at the main logic board that everything hooks into, you will see something that looks like a small silver coin... slightly smaller than a US quarter and slightly thicker than a US nickle. That is the CMOS battery. They are usually between 3.0 and 3.5 volts when good... With the age of your computer, and the description of your problem, this is the most likely culprit. CMOS batteries are cheap, under $20.

See http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/81 for pictures.


--------------------
Just another spore in the wind.

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: Seuss]
    #5594375 -

If you're just wanting the files from your HD and plan on buying a new computer in the near future you should just take that hard drive out and plug it into the new computer. When you start it up your BIOS will probably come up saying it has recognized a new piece of hardware and windows should automatically recognize it. Just make sure you have another HD in there with Windows already on it and all that and if it asks you if you want to format the answer is NO as this will delete everything from your HD.

It's really not that hard to install, just open up the case and unplug the wires that are plugged into it, most likely just a power cable (white plug with different colored wires coming from it) and a Parallel cable probably which is wide and usually grey and connects to your motherboard. Just reconnect the same cables in your new computer(the ones that will already be in there) and viola!


--------------------
"It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the estabilished authorities are wrong."

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: Seuss]
    #5596612 -

Seuss said:
What kind of computer, PC or Apple, desktop or laptop?

I will assume desktop PC. If you open it up and look at the main logic board that everything hooks into, you will see something that looks like a small silver coin... slightly smaller than a US quarter and slightly thicker than a US nickle. That is the CMOS battery. They are usually between 3.0 and 3.5 volts when good... With the age of your computer, and the description of your problem, this is the most likely culprit. CMOS batteries are cheap, under $20.

See http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/81 for pictures.


It is a desktop.

That is what I'm going to try, replace that battery. Thanks for your description that really hepled alot. I have never even heard of a CMOS battery before. But for only $20 bucks I have nothing to lose by trying to replace it.

Is this something that I can easily replace myself once I purchase a new one?

What I am worried about is the risk of electrical shock.

Thanks.

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Re: Computer Will Not Turn On [Re: gregorio]
    #5597260 -

if you unplug the computer from the wall and then wait 5-15 minutes before touching anything, you won't get shocked, even if it is plugged in the chance is minimal, but i still wouldnt recommend it.

peace

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