Possible bad power on switch?

Tomas6139

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Dec 31, 2007
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I had my old system (almost 3 yrs)in a inwin full tower case. I just had some major problems with it, at the end before it died, I would reach back and turn on the power swith on the ps and the system would start, without hitting the power on switch on the case.
I just bought a new power supply, motherboard,cpu,memory, and I can't get it to do crap. The ps is an enermax 420w, it has short circuit,overload protection, and everytime I try to start it up,the fan turns maybe half a turn, stops, and nothing else. I called my mobo company (Gigabyte) and they suggested disconnecting everything, except cpu fan,and trying it, then reinstalling everything one at a time, until it fails again. But I can't even get the cpu fan to work. I am suspecting the power on switch on the case. Is there any way I can check it, or fix it? Or should I just get another case? I really don't think it's the ps.
 
OK, first I'd recommend taking the case out of the equation by just hooking up the basics, situating your mobo on an insulator like a piece of cardboard. If you have to use the anti-static bag that the mobo came in (as long as it hasn't been abused), then that should do. Just don't place the anti-static bag on carpet or anything. I'm sure others will bark at me for suggesting this bag, but I wonder how many people actually blew their boards directly as a result of using an anti-static bag (not placed on top of something like carpet). Anyway, test it in this environment and see what happens and go from there.

Good Luck!
 
The power switch is a momentary contact, you can jump the same pins with a screwdriver (I do that often when testing boards). The fans turning on briefly when you turn the power on by the power supply is normal behavior, an ATX system is never completely shut off (as soon as you connect the power, it sends power to the switch, for example).

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Oh, and it's common for a system that's short circuited by a misplaced standoff to refuse power-up.

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If you found that you can start it up with the screwdriver, as Crashman dully noted, everything working A-OK, then the switch will probably require a resolder. If you don't know how to solder, you can bring the case into a local dealer or a major chain for this repair (assuming they can do this, of course).

Keep us updated.

Good Luck!
 
Oh, on some systems, a resolder may be your only option. But it may be easier to strip the power pin a bit (the wires itself - the part closest to the pin that connects to your mobo), for you want the cleanest connection.