My computer won't start after a power surge—any ideas?
Asked by
CuriousCoder42
I recently experienced a power surge, and now my computer won't start properly. The motherboard lights up, but none of the fans are spinning. Initially, I thought my power supply had failed and tried borrowing one from a friend, but I'm still facing the same issue, even though he isn't entirely sure his power supply is functional. I've tried several troubleshooting steps like reseating the CMOS, changing all the cables, unplugging the PCIe slots, and cycling the power. I also attempted to jump the motherboard, but I'm unsure if I'm doing it correctly or if it's helping at all. I'm stuck and need some guidance.
Answers
You may need to check the five-volt output on your power supply. The fans and other components usually run on twelve volts, but the motherboard needs a stabilized five-volt supply to function properly. If that's not working, it could explain the issue.
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Power surges can cause serious damage to computer components, and sometimes the issue is not immediately obvious. You might be looking at a scenario where you need to start replacing parts to see what’s failing, which can indeed risk damaging other components if they're not protected. The best prevention is using a quality surge protector or UPS.
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It sounds like your motherboard or CPU might have been damaged by the surge. Even if the motherboard lights are on, the components can still fail. It's worth checking both parts if you have the means to do so.
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