PC advice needed!

[Hilary]

I'm looking for advice as I'm not sure if I might be being spun a yarn about my PC ...

My 2 yr old desktop PC died just before Christmas, with what seemed to be a power failure.

I tried to book it into PC World (it was bought from them, although no longer under warranty) but they couldn't accept a booking because they were full for the forseeable future! I then took it to a local PC outfit who agreed to look at it, diagnose the problem and estimate the repair cost.

They diagnosed a failed power unit (sounded in line with what had happened), and said it would cost £40 for the part and fitting - I asked them to go ahead. Now they say they've found the motherboard is also damaaged and that they won't know until that's fixed if the CPU, RAM and other components might also be damaged, and that could cost up to £250 depending what might need fixing.

The PC was working fine before the loss of power, so I'm dubious about all these other things that might be damaged, but don't know if it's actually quite common for one thing to affect everything else. Our IT guru at work says he thinks it sounds dodgy!

Any advice appreciated

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

I'm looking for advice as I'm not sure if I might be being spun a yarn about my PC ...

My 2 yr old desktop PC died just before Christmas, with what seemed to be a power failure.

I tried to book it into PC World (it was bought from them, although no longer under warranty) but they couldn't accept a booking because they were full for the forseeable future! I then took it to a local PC outfit who agreed to look at it, diagnose the problem and estimate the repair cost.

They diagnosed a failed power unit (sounded in line with what had happened), and said it would cost £40 for the part and fitting - I asked them to go ahead. Now they say they've found the motherboard is also damaaged and that they won't know until that's fixed if the CPU, RAM and other components might also be damaged, and that could cost up to £250 depending what might need fixing.

The PC was working fine before the loss of power, so I'm dubious about all these other things that might be damaged, but don't know if it's actually quite common for one thing to affect everything else. Our IT guru at work says he thinks it sounds dodgy!

Any advice appreciated

It sounds a bit dodgy top me as well. Have they put the new PSU in for you? If so, make sure you get your old one back (you can then check to see whether it was at fault or not).

If they haven't replaced the PSU is it possible to "borrow" an old one from work (businesses usually have old PCs lying around) and fit it yourself? Again, this would indicate whether it is the PSU that is playing up.

A couple of other things to check:

Does your monitor take power from your computer or does in plug directly into the mains? If it takes power from the computer is it also dead? If the answer is yes then this will confirm that the PSU is broken. If your stanby light comes on then the PSU is probably fine.

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Is there any chance there was a power spike? I know that when this happens it can take out your motherboard, processor or just about anything.

I keep meaning to get a surge protector but never get around to it.

Kev

 

[Hilary]

Thanks for the replies

It sounds a bit dodgy top me as well. Have they put the new PSU in for you?
A couple of other things to check:
Does your monitor take power from your computer or does in plug directly into the mains? If it takes power from the computer is it also dead? If the answer is yes then this will confirm that the PSU is broken. If your stanby light comes on then the PSU is probably fine.

They have already fitted the new PSU, as they've only diagnosed the other problems since doing this.

The monitor has its own power supply and is still okay, as are the keyboard and printer, both connected to the PC at the time it went down.

Is there any chance there was a power spike? I know that when this happens it can take out your motherboard, processor or just about anything.

It's possible (we get quite a lot of power us, etc. here), but I do have a surge protector fitted - albeit I think it was quite a cheap one, not sure if they vary in quality.