So a few days ago I decided to clean my computer with some compressed air. After taking off the side panel and giving all the fans a thorough air shot, I plugged it back into my setup. About 10 minutes after turning it on, I noticed a peculiar burning plastic smell. I immediately turned the computer off and tried to investigate. I couldn't pin point exactly where it was coming from, but it was definitely inside the PC.
Anyways, fast forward to yesterday. I tried turning it on again thinking it was maybe a small piece of plastic melting or something negligible. I was surfing the internet for about 15 minutes and all of a sudden the computer turns off. Upon trying to turn it on again, the fans spin for about half a second, and then stop. The PSU seems to be providing power to the mobo, as the LEDs on the mobo are lit. I tried checking all connections to see if something got knocked loose, but I'm sure everything is connected properly at this point.
I'm not really sure what to do. I don't have access to another PSU so I can't really test that out. Anyone have any advice on how to solve this?
Thanks
UPDATE:
Hey guys, I managed to get a new PSU today and got it all set up. Computer turns on, everything seems great, it gets to desktop,and after about 15 seconds from that point it randomly turns off. I've checked connections, everything seems fine. Any suggestions?
On January 14 2011 03:09 Zisef wrote: Yeah, i have had that happen before. Any time something seems to smell funny like burnt plastic that is mostly the power supply IMO. They power supply will continue to work but shut off sporadically exp. once a week then goes down to every couple of days then to every day then to every couple of hours then to 50/50 if it will power it up at all. when it gets to every couple hours. (I do it once it happens once a day or every couple of days to save my hardware) thats when you know you have to do something.
If you have any extra parts swap them out one at a time starting with power supply.(if it continues)
what i usually do (and worked for me mostly at my work). Is open the case, and smell where it comes from... Power supply, cpu, memory, chipset, etc etc..
last time i had it happen was due to a defective power supply like what you've experienced; it actually shorted and broke everything (gfx, hdd, cd rom, etc)
I had a PSU break down but it didn't take anything else with it.
But like other have said if it is the PSU it is easily detectable from the smell being much more concentrated around it. Of course other components can burn out as well but PSUs seem common.
the problem with "clean my computer with some compressed air" is, that you change the air cycle direction with this sort of things. you blow all the dirt deep into your heatsinkers. its a bit like "trying to fix the TV by smashing it with a hammer" if you want to clean your PC, remove the parts and clean them one by one. i know it takes time, but hey.. see?
One time, the wires that connect the PC power button to the motherboard, I plugged them in the wrong spot.
I turned my computer on and it fried the wire. Now I have to press a button on the motherboard itself to turn it on. Which means opening the case's side panel everytime.
On December 31 2011 06:19 SystemAddict wrote: One time, the wires that connect the PC power button to the motherboard, I plugged them in the wrong spot.
I turned my computer on and it fried the wire. Now I have to press a button on the motherboard itself to turn it on. Which means opening the case's side panel everytime.
lol that reminds me of the time i messed up the usb front panel ports on the mobo.... melted the connectors LOL
Yea. Chances are he reconnected some of the wires wrong. Bad thing about this situation is it could have screwed up his power supply, and his motherboard. You really have to pay attention when dis and reconnecting electrical wires.
Probably not the issue here -- but one thing you can always check without extra parts is the RAM, provided you have more than one stick. Unplug each stick individually and see if the system runs.
On December 31 2011 06:19 SystemAddict wrote: One time, the wires that connect the PC power button to the motherboard, I plugged them in the wrong spot.
I turned my computer on and it fried the wire. Now I have to press a button on the motherboard itself to turn it on. Which means opening the case's side panel everytime.
Why don't you just wire up your own switch to the header? (unless you don't frequently turn it on and off)
On December 31 2011 05:49 cari-kira wrote: the problem with "clean my computer with some compressed air" is, that you change the air cycle direction with this sort of things. you blow all the dirt deep into your heatsinkers. its a bit like "trying to fix the TV by smashing it with a hammer" if you want to clean your PC, remove the parts and clean them one by one. i know it takes time, but hey.. see?
You know.. you can detach it from the motherboard...and uh... get rid of the dust...
On December 31 2011 05:49 cari-kira wrote: the problem with "clean my computer with some compressed air" is, that you change the air cycle direction with this sort of things. you blow all the dirt deep into your heatsinkers. its a bit like "trying to fix the TV by smashing it with a hammer" if you want to clean your PC, remove the parts and clean them one by one. i know it takes time, but hey.. see?
You know.. you can detach it from the motherboard...and uh... get rid of the dust...
On December 31 2011 06:19 SystemAddict wrote: One time, the wires that connect the PC power button to the motherboard, I plugged them in the wrong spot.
I turned my computer on and it fried the wire. Now I have to press a button on the motherboard itself to turn it on. Which means opening the case's side panel everytime.
Why don't you just wire up your own switch to the header? (unless you don't frequently turn it on and off)
Lol that was my thought. Anything bridging the two pins will actually start up the PC. Could actually use a light switch if you wanted...
On December 31 2011 05:49 cari-kira wrote: the problem with "clean my computer with some compressed air" is, that you change the air cycle direction with this sort of things. you blow all the dirt deep into your heatsinkers. its a bit like "trying to fix the TV by smashing it with a hammer" if you want to clean your PC, remove the parts and clean them one by one. i know it takes time, but hey.. see?
Uh wut? Hmm, okay, so I guess that cloud of dust that comes flying out at you must be teleporting from another dimension. And what's a heatsinker? What's an air cycle direction and how it being changed?
Seriously, this is total BS. Yes, individually cleaning components will result in cleaner components (duh) but there is nothing wrong with using compressed air. It actually does a pretty decent job of cleaning out stock P4 heatsinks (I know I've done dozens of 'em).
On December 31 2011 05:10 Sxcerino wrote: last time i had it happen was due to a defective power supply like what you've experienced; it actually shorted and broke everything (gfx, hdd, cd rom, etc)
for some reason the cpu was fine
hope for the best dawg
This is because the CPU is not getting current directly from the PSU, it's traveling through a number of components on the mobo first. Though that doesn't mean a surge can't ruin the CPU.
To the OP: along with what everyone else has suggested, I think your PSU just died. I highly doubt this had anything to do with cleaning the PC, sometimes they just die. If the motherboard were the issue, the usual symptom is that the fans all turn on and stay on, and the PC never posts. The fact that they are turning on then off is a good indication that it is a PSU issue.
To add further testimony, yep this happened to me. I got a burning smell and my case got real hot. My crappy old 400W psu had died, fried the HDD and broke the optical drive.
Well I am not sure, but it is most likely and your best hopes are, that it's a dead PSU.
My 3,5 year old PSU died this summer as well. Well it died slowly, I wasn't sure what caused my PC not to turn on after longer periods of being off. When I pressed power button, it just turned on for 2 secs flashing LEDs and starting up fans, but after that nothing... sometimes turned on and worked. But I did some research and replaced my PSU with a new one, less power, tho quality one. Seems like your one just gave out in a hard way. :D
Its been said several times now but in my experience this is usually the PSU, I would try replacing and see if the performance improves, if you have another compute you can try swapping PSU, assuming they are compatible, to see if it works before spending the money on a new PSU.
either dead PSU or something else blew up and caused a short circuit, and your PSU detects the high current due to the short circuit and goes into protection mode.
easiest way to find out: disconnect EVERYTHING (this is really important, or you might cause even more damage) from your PSU, except for a case fan. Now use a paper clip or a short piece of wire to bridge the green lead on the 24 pin plug of the PSU (the one that goes to the mainboard) to any of the black ones in the plug. This will tell the PSU to turn on, so if the case fan doesn't start or stops spinning after a second your PSU is dead.
had the almost same thing happen a few years back, turned out my PSU was fine, but i noticed this on the back of my graphics card:
Hey guys, I managed to get a new PSU today and got it all set up. Computer turns on, everything seems great, it gets to desktop,and after about 15 seconds from that point it randomly turns off. I've checked connections, everything seems fine. Any suggestions?
Think I found the problem. I don't think the CPU heatsink was in all the way. I unplugged it tocheck if the CPU was lodged in correctly and the casing almost burned my finger. Just connected it properly, will post back with details soon.
Check temperatures in your BIOS then. Try removing graphics cards and any other expansion cards and just pop in one stick of ram and plug video directly to the mobo (if possible). Even go as far as removing the HDD and going into the BIOS only to see if the thing runs for a decent amount of time. If you have any other HDDs with an OS on them plug it in and see how it runs, this could help you narrow down what is causing the problem if it is in fact a hardware problem.
EPT
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