F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop The computer ceased functioning following the insertion of a non-functional hard drive.

The computer ceased functioning following the insertion of a non-functional hard drive.

The computer ceased functioning following the insertion of a non-functional hard drive.

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AhBilly
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09-05-2016, 05:14 PM
#1
Hello everyone. My old LGA 775 system ended up in the closet a few years ago after a failed HDD caused it to stop working. Initially, the fans spun briefly before the PC shut down and would restart but never fully boot. Even after changing the motherboard, the issue persisted. I've tested it with other boards, CPUs, RAM, and GPUs, but nothing changed. Recently, I tried jumping the PSU with a paperclip—it worked without problems. This suggests the PSU might be faulty, even if it appears to power on. The PSU model is Gigabyte P650B 650W 80+ Bronze. Could the dead HDD have affected the PSU somehow? If you need more details about specs, just let me know.
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A
AhBilly
09-05-2016, 05:14 PM #1

Hello everyone. My old LGA 775 system ended up in the closet a few years ago after a failed HDD caused it to stop working. Initially, the fans spun briefly before the PC shut down and would restart but never fully boot. Even after changing the motherboard, the issue persisted. I've tested it with other boards, CPUs, RAM, and GPUs, but nothing changed. Recently, I tried jumping the PSU with a paperclip—it worked without problems. This suggests the PSU might be faulty, even if it appears to power on. The PSU model is Gigabyte P650B 650W 80+ Bronze. Could the dead HDD have affected the PSU somehow? If you need more details about specs, just let me know.

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Lover_Girl
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197
09-05-2016, 06:07 PM
#2
This usually points to a broken power button. Have you possibly shorted the front panel header pins or connected the green wire from the 24-pin header? The motherboard might be sending incorrect signals to the PSU. In my view, a machine that was off and unplugged for a while often has hidden problems. Debris can get into switches and contacts, metal may rust, RAM could shift enough to create false connections, thermal paste might dry out, capacitors can leak and stop working, etc. Your computer likely had defects when it was discarded. Now it seems to have more issues. I’d suggest obtaining a spare PSU—either from a recycler or buy one you can return within 30 days. Since your actual PSU looks suspect, test it first. If the system still won’t start, unplug everything and reinsert one by one (RAM, HDD, GPU) until something powers up. Make sure all contacts are clean and free of corrosion, and sockets are free of dust. If nothing works, you might need to remove the CPU cooler and then the CPU itself. After checking everything visually, confirm it’s firmly seated (don’t hesitate to press down on the CPU), then reapply thermal paste and install the cooler again. If this fails, it could mean capacitors or other aging parts have failed—you may not be able to fix it. The best option might be to buy a used one instead. Many recyclers still offer refurbished HP or Lenovo workstations at reasonable prices. These can perform better than your old machine. Whatever you did with your previous PC, you can apply the same approach with a replacement. Good luck!
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L
Lover_Girl
09-05-2016, 06:07 PM #2

This usually points to a broken power button. Have you possibly shorted the front panel header pins or connected the green wire from the 24-pin header? The motherboard might be sending incorrect signals to the PSU. In my view, a machine that was off and unplugged for a while often has hidden problems. Debris can get into switches and contacts, metal may rust, RAM could shift enough to create false connections, thermal paste might dry out, capacitors can leak and stop working, etc. Your computer likely had defects when it was discarded. Now it seems to have more issues. I’d suggest obtaining a spare PSU—either from a recycler or buy one you can return within 30 days. Since your actual PSU looks suspect, test it first. If the system still won’t start, unplug everything and reinsert one by one (RAM, HDD, GPU) until something powers up. Make sure all contacts are clean and free of corrosion, and sockets are free of dust. If nothing works, you might need to remove the CPU cooler and then the CPU itself. After checking everything visually, confirm it’s firmly seated (don’t hesitate to press down on the CPU), then reapply thermal paste and install the cooler again. If this fails, it could mean capacitors or other aging parts have failed—you may not be able to fix it. The best option might be to buy a used one instead. Many recyclers still offer refurbished HP or Lenovo workstations at reasonable prices. These can perform better than your old machine. Whatever you did with your previous PC, you can apply the same approach with a replacement. Good luck!

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