Computer power problem

Hi all, any computer buffs out there that can offer advice? I have just reorganised a shed so I can get my old(ish) computer into it to use for the scope. I have just finished putting the 'puter in and tried switching it on. However, it won't switch on. When I plug it in to the mains, the green power light at the back of the 'puter comes on for a milisecond then goes straight off again, no power is then getting to the PC. It happens everytime I try to put mains power into it. This suggests to me that perhaps something is tripping, am I right? If so, what could it be? The PC has been in a corner of the bedroo for about 5 months, about 3 months ago I powered it up to get a file off it, there was no problem then. Anybody got any ideas that a computer idiot like me can do to try to fix this?
Bill H.

The problem may be with the power supply to the shed rather than with the computer. To test this out I would bring the PC back into the house and see if it powers up there. If it does then the problem is with the power to the shed rather than the PC.

Bart.

Hi Bill,
test the socket in the shed with a simple low power item such as a lamp - you can then determine if you have a power problem in the shed.

Then power-up the PC in the house and ensure there are no hardware problems with the PC itself. Try to use the same extension leads / double adaptors to rule out any problems with them.

If something was tripping you would find that a fuse had blown or a circuit breaker had been tripped - also check the fuse in the plug / extension lead.

Good Luck

Shane

If something was tripping , doubtful if it would reset itself. - a fuse/elcb would not. Do you have to reset a trip switch every time ?

Does everything in the shed work off the same supply?
Try another device . say a drill , in the socket . Does it work ?
If so mains power should be ok .

Plug a light into the same socket at the same time as the pc (double adaptor ?). How does it respond when you turn the PC on ?
If you have a problem with the supply,and the light ,say , dims or flickers, re check you connections to the shed at all points. It could be a
loose connection, which fails when the stress comes on = dangerous !

Does the video monitor light go out also ? or turn orange ?
If orange , you still have power , but the PC is not giving a signal present
condition to the monitor.

Are you sure the power is NOT getting to the pc ?
Some times thepower connector to the PC might not be pushed in all the way . Check it.

Most likely , since you recently moved it, and it's old, - one of the cards in the PC has popped out of its slot. Try reseating all cards in the PC, especially the video card. A badly inserted card will stop the pc from booting and look like a power failure

Denis

Hi, It was plugged into the same double socket as my tri-phospherous lights in the shed, they are working OK. I brought it back into the house to try anyway, but same problem. As soon as the power is switched on at the socket, the green power light at the back comes on then immediatly off again. Is there anything in a PC that trips when there is a problem, then resets when power is disconnected? If I switch the power off at the socket and switch it on again, it does it again.
Bill H.

If something was tripping , doubtful if it would reset itself. - a fuse/elcb would not. Do you have to reset a trip switch every time ?

Does everything in the shed work off the same supply?

Sorry folks for being a bit vague there, I was referring to anything tripping in the PC, nothing trips in the house or anything, all fuses are ok and I have tried three power supply leads for the PC in case that was the fault.
Bill H.