Help with computer required... Power failure/surge caused it to fail to boot...

[Brian Damage]

Okay, here's the story: Today, we had some sort of power disruption. I'm not sure if it was a surge, or if the flow of current simply dipped momentarily, but for about half a second, all the mains-using electrical items in the house died.

When the power stabilised, everything was working, except, for some reason, my mum's computer...

The powerboard the computer is plugged into is working, the powerpoint works... Even, strangely, the monitor, which is plugged into the monitor powerpoint in the back of the computer, works, so power is definately flowing through the computer, it just doesn't seem to be getting to the motherboard or the other important bits...

Has something inside the PSU or on the mobo blown, do you guys think? Or is there some kind of internal circuit-breaker I've got to flick?

Everything is plugged in, it's just that the damn thing won't switch on...

 

[psyno]

Unplug the PSU, shut if off manually, or otherwise deprive it of power. Try to turn the computer on (this will help drain stored energy, obviously it won't actually start). Give it a little time. Restore power and try to boot it.

 

[FictiousWill]

My suggestion too. Unplug entirely, wait ten minutes and try again. Same thing happens to my comp after a power cut.

 

[Asus]

The plug the monitor is plugged into is just a pass through from the wall. It doesn't go through the workings of the PSU.
If you want to test the PSU you can use a paper clip and put it in the motherboard connector to the green and ground(black) wires and try to turn it on. If it works the fan should spin.

Otherwise I would try resetting the cmos and reconnect everything.

 

[Brian Damage]

Right-e-o, I'll give that a go...

[EDIT]: What the first two said. I'm a little hesitant to stick a paperclip into my computer...

 

[Brian Damage]

Thanks, dudes, that worked. Put the plug back in, switched the powerpoint on, and the computer just booted straight up...

 

[Sprafa]

Nice to see you're taking care of your comp Brian, I wouldn't want to see EOJ over.

 

[Brian Damage]

Nah, 'twas my mum's computer. It's a little iffy.