Yesterday, my PC stopped working after a brief power outage. It's connected to a power strip but doesn't have a surge protector. Initially, it flickered and clicked briefly, then powered up today, but only for a moment before going dark again. Now, when I try to turn it on, there's nothing—just flickering lights sometimes after I mess with the CMOS battery. I've tried various resets, like removing the CMOS and holding the power button while it's unplugged, but nothing seems to help. Is my power supply broken?
5 Answers
Can you tell us the make and model of your power supply? That can help narrow down the issue.
This looks like a power issue. Make sure you’ve let it sit off for around 20 minutes to reset. Also, does your computer have an internal or external power pack?
I tried waiting, but it still doesn't work. What do you mean by external/internal power pack?
I’d suggest trying a more complex reset procedure. Often, after outages, the internal protection circuits in your PSU can latch up to prevent damage. Here are some steps:
1. Power Cycle: Unplug the PC, hold the power button for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and try again.
2. Check the power strip: Sometimes these can trip during outages, so it’s better to plug directly into a wall socket.
3. Clear the CMOS: Open the case, remove the battery for a minute, put it back in, and try booting.
4. Test the PSU: If after all this, nothing happens, you might have to jump the power pins temporarily to check if it’s the PSU that’s dead.
Is your power supply a brick-style, like one that sits outside your PC case?
No, it’s not like that.
Have you checked your power supply unit (PSU)? It might be at fault since it’s common for them to trip after a power outage.
I don’t have another one to swap and test, if that's what you meant.
It's a Gigabyte P750GM 750W 80 Plus Gold.