Question What did I blow up exactly?

[2KXJ]

Hey everyone! Today i did something dumb, and im not sure what exactly has happened...

I turned off the wrong breaker today and accidently turned off my computer room. When I turned it back on, my computer will not respond to the power button.

Tested the PSU and everything works, but this is where it gets tricky though (to me lol) I just came downstairs and thought lets try the paperclip trick, while its plugged into the mobo....

Power supply powered up, I pressed the power button and here I am using the computer asking you guys what you think is wrong? I want to assume this mobo is shot but here I am using it??? lol I'm so confused

If I dont have the paperclip in the pins, the computer will not turn on with the power button(or the one built into the board itself). if the PSU is already powered up(paperclip) it will turn this computer on with the button. In my other computer the PSU works just fine without the jumper.

????????? lol

 

[CountMike]

Hey everyone! Today i did something dumb, and im not sure what exactly has happened...

I turned off the wrong breaker today and accidently turned off my computer room. When I turned it back on, my computer will not respond to the power button.

Tested the PSU and everything works, but this is where it gets tricky though (to me lol) I just came downstairs and thought lets try the paperclip trick, while its plugged into the mobo....

Power supply powered up, I pressed the power button and here I am using the computer asking you guys what you think is wrong? I want to assume this mobo is shot but here I am using it??? lol I'm so confused

If I dont have the paperclip in the pins, the computer will not turn on with the power button(or the one built into the board itself). if the PSU is already powered up(paperclip) it will turn this computer on with the button. In my other computer the PSU works just fine without the jumper.

????????? lol

Where did you have that paperclip. Green and black wires in 24pin ?

 

[2KXJ]

Where did you have that paperclip. Green and black wires in 24pin ?

Yeah I just have it pushed into the back of the pins though, so it can be plugged in at the same time

 

[CountMike]

Yeah I just have it pushed into the back of the pins though, so it can be plugged in at the same time

That could have several causes. One is that "Power.good" (usually Grey wire in 24pin) is not giving or PSU not receiving it's signal. PSU when turned on should provide 5v power to certain parts of MB and circuit to Start button pins. That maybe damaged.

 

[Paperdoc]

This may NOT help, but it's easy and free. Shut down your system normally. UNplug it from the wall. Remove that paper clip jumper. Let it sit for at least 15 min, maybe 30. Plug back into the wall and see if it will start up with just the front panel push button.

Leaving the PSU unplugged for a while can reset certain features of the PSU itself, so this procedure MIGHT fix an odd PSU setting.

 

[2KXJ]

This may NOT help, but it's easy and free. Shut down your system normally. UNplug it from the wall. Remove that paper clip jumper. Let it sit for at least 15 min, maybe 30. Plug back into the wall and see if it will start up with just the front panel push button.

Leaving the PSU unplugged for a while can reset certain features of the PSU itself, so this procedure MIGHT fix an odd PSU setting.

I took the entire computer apart yesterday, aside from removing the mobo, SSDs and psu from the case. Reset cmos, removed the battery and tested its voltage, ran each stick of ram seperately....

I just dont want to throw money at my computer cause parts arent cheap anymore lol

the computer will not power up unless I have the PSU jumped with a paperclip

------picture of jumper---------

with this jumper installed I have to turn on the PSU at the back, then all kinds of stuff powers up, and the computer will turn on when I press the power button.

without the jumper the computer does nothing

if I plug this same PSU into another computer, it turns on fine without a jumper

to me it sounds like my mobo is dead, somewhere? but here I am using it, so hopefully someone knows something I dont lol

 

[Ralston18]

I am curious about the "---- picture of jumper -----".

The image shows twisted paperclips (or paper clip pieces) and forced in via the "wire" side of the connector.

I would expect something more like:

https://gadgetmates.com/the-power-supply-paperclip-test

Also: read the following link from within this forum:

https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...en-i-ground-the-psu-power-switch-pin.3791198/

 

[2KXJ]

I am curious about the "---- picture of jumper -----".

The image shows twisted paperclips (or paper clip pieces) and forced in via the "wire" side of the connector.

I would expect something more like:

https://gadgetmates.com/the-power-supply-paperclip-test

Also: read the following link from within this forum:

https://forums.tomshardware.com/thr...en-i-ground-the-psu-power-switch-pin.3791198/

How would I plug that into the motherboard jumped from that side of the plug? lol
it's just twisted to make it bigger, and fit snug against the pins, one piece bent in a C was loose

 

[Ralston18]

"How would I plug that into the motherboard jumped from that side of the plug?"

You don't

The intent is to test the PSU without the presence of a motherboard/motherboard connection.

To test a PSU you need a dedicated PSU tester or a multimeter and the know how to use the multimeter.

For example:

https://www.lifewire.com/test-a-power-supply-using-a-power-supply-tester-2626160

Google "PSU paperclip test images".

My current thought being that the forced connection/connectivity as shown in "picture of jumper" may have cracked and shorted one or more of the neighboring connections.

Thus causing voltages/current flows to go in ways they should not go.....

And some motherboard component suffered the consequences.

= = ==

You mentioned the PSU power button and a power button on the motherboard - make and model motherboard.

And there is a power button and a reset button on the case - correct?

= = = =

As a late thought try resetting the motherboard using the CMOS reset procedure provided via the motherboard's User Guide/Manual.

 

[CountMike]

That Paper clip test says very little about PSU operation. at most just that it has some power and fan is working. If connected permanently it ensures 5v is present in the MB all the time. It's a valid "repair" if MB circuit for starting is damaged as well as in case of using dual PSUs.

 

[2KXJ]

How would I plug that into the motherboard jumped from that side of the plug? lol

"How would I plug that into the motherboard jumped from that side of the plug?"

You don't

The intent is to test the PSU without the presence of a motherboard/motherboard connection.

To test a PSU you need a dedicated PSU tester or a multimeter and the know how to use the multimeter.

For example:

https://www.lifewire.com/test-a-power-supply-using-a-power-supply-tester-2626160

Google "PSU paperclip test images".

My current thought being that the forced connection/connectivity as shown in "picture of jumper" may have cracked and shorted one or more of the neighboring connections.

Thus causing voltages/current flows to go in ways they should not go.....

And some motherboard component suffered the consequences.

= = ==

You mentioned the PSU power button and a power button on the motherboard - make and model motherboard.

And there is a power button and a reset button on the case - correct?

= = = =

As a late thought try resetting the motherboard using the CMOS reset procedure provided via the motherboard's User Guide/Manual.

what in the hell are you talking about, haha. the clip was put in after it stopped working, it's not the cause of any problem. its why my computer turns on right now.... How exactly does a paperclip in the back of a molex plug break connections anyway? ....did you read from the very first post? lol

 

[2KXJ]

That Paper clip test says very little about PSU operation. at most just that it has some power and fan is working. If connected permanently it ensures 5v is present in the MB all the time. It's a valid "repair" if MB circuit for starting is damaged as well as in case of using dual PSUs.

well thats what I dont know how to figure out, to me it seems like something in the motherboard is damaged and theres no voltage to something that sends power to the start/reset circuit(s). but if I jump the PSU then that circuit has power and I can turn this thing on. like I said the PSU will start another computer I have here without the jumper, so I dont really believe its the PSU, but I dont have another to swap and try...

the mobo is an EVGA x79-SLI so its...you know....old and tired. it's been thru many, many power outages and i leave it on like 24/7 lol. If I need to replace it I will, but I know that turns into mobo/cpu/ram so I'm hoping someone pops up and can tell me where to draw a line on my motherboard with a lead pencil and fix it, hahaha (anyone born after like 2000 wont get that)

 

[CountMike]

well thats what I dont know how to figure out, to me it seems like something in the motherboard is damaged and theres no voltage to something that sends power to the start/reset circuit(s). but if I jump the PSU then that circuit has power and I can turn this thing on. like I said the PSU will start another computer I have here without the jumper, so I dont really believe its the PSU, but I dont have another to swap and try...

the mobo is an EVGA x79-SLI so its...you know....old and tired. it's been thru many, many power outages and i leave it on like 24/7 lol. If I need to replace it I will, but I know that turns into mobo/cpu/ram so I'm hoping someone pops up and can tell me where to draw a line on my motherboard with a lead pencil and fix it, hahaha (anyone born after like 2000 wont get that)

I doubt it's a broken trace so lead pencil or liquid silver wouldn't help. Probably some of those minuscule components stuck at MB. Without full factory schematic impossible to tel. If it works like that. leave it nothing to lose.

 

[2KXJ]

I doubt it's a broken trace so lead pencil or liquid silver wouldn't help. Probably some of those minuscule components stuck at MB. Without full factory schematic impossible to tel. If it works like that. leave it nothing to lose.

That was more of just a joke haha. I'm glad that it works in the meantime, but I think I will still look at replacing the parts. I just dont have hundreds of dollars for that stuff at the moment so like you said, it works like this, nothing to lose, I'll keep rolling. and put tape over that breaker, lol

 

[Ralston18]

I would not joke about taping over a breaker.

Someone may misunderstand or otherwise take that to heart.

= = = =

Will concede that the motherboard can be "old and tired". However, at some point time some ad hoc repair is likely to end badly, Hopefully only for the motherboard....

Understand that you do not want to spend lots of money on parts. Yet, it could all end up costing more if you are not careful.

= = = =

Reading back:

Have the case connections been been verified to be correct and the power and reset switches checked for continuity?

 

[2KXJ]

Have the case connections been been verified to be correct and the power and reset switches checked for continuity?

it turns on when the PSU is jumped, so i'm going to say the case switch is fine. the switch built onto the motherboard behaves the same way in all situations

 

[Ralston18]

The jumper (by intent) bypassed the case switches.

If I am following correctly (presently not sure about that at the moment - full disclosure) then the jumper allowing the system to boot would make the case connections/switches suspect.

Because the system will not start or reset with the case switches as would normally be expected causing you to bypass the switches.


This motherboard?

https://www.evga.com/support/manuals/files/132-SE-E775.pdf

Reference phyically numbered Page 19.

 

[Paperdoc]

I doubt that the jumper that OP installed can be simply bypassing or "shorting out" the front panel buttons. Both the On / Off button and the Reset buttons are merely momentary-contact switches just like a doorbell pushbutton. Each is spring-loaded and Normally Open. When you push the button it closes the contacts, and then re-opens them as soon as you release it. This brief short of the voltage across the switch is the signal for the mobo BIOS to turn on power for all functions and institute the POST process and full boot-up.

The On / Off button has a second function triggered when it is held closed for at least 5 sec. This apparently is NOT a BIOS function since it works when the system is totally "frozen" and cannot process any data, so it must be a hardware feature of the mobo. I have read that this even works when there is no CPU chip installed in the mobo socket. In that case the the long contact of that pushbutton shuts down everything completely and returns to the "Off" state. SO, if that button is "pushed" (making contact or shorted out) for a long time, it will be trying to shut down very shortly after start-up. That is NOT what OP reports.

NOTE also that OP reports that with this jumper in place the system does NOT boot up immediately. OP MUST also push the front panel On / Off pushbutton. So, as CountMike posted earlier, the paper clip short that OP installed appears only to ALLOW the On / Off brief contact to turn on as a normal response.

 

[2KXJ]

NOTE also that OP reports that with this jumper in place the system does NOT boot up immediately. OP MUST also push the front panel On / Off pushbutton. So, as CountMike posted earlier, the paper clip short that OP installed appears only to ALLOW the On / Off brief contact to turn on as a normal response.

No the entire system does not turn on right away, correct. From completely off and un-powered - I switch the PSU on with the main switch on the back. The PSU itself turns on and the fan spins, case fans start spinning, hard drives start spinning, but nothing actually starts. Nothing comes on the screen, there is no post beep.

The computer will then turn on and start normally when I press the button, the post beep happens, screen comes to life...this seems to be when the video card starts getting power as the fans start spinning.

When I click "shut down" right now, the computer shuts down and the screen shows "no input" but all the case fans and my spinny HD's keep spinning, its a very strange feeling lol.

 

[Ralston18]

All I can suggest is that the existing connections be mapped out.

Print out the diagrams presented on Pages 17 and 19 of the User Manual. Other diagrams may be needed as well.

Tape the diagrams to one sheet of paper.

Use colored pencils (match wire colors) to fill in the existing connections between connectors, switches (momentary or ON/OFF) , PSU, test jumper, etc..

Then compare what is happening to what should be happening (or not happening) at start up.

And shutdown.

If, for example, a current path is discovered that bypasses a momentary switch then, effectively, that momentary switch is ON.

Likewise if the case fans and HDD's continue spinning when they should not be receiving power ("shut down") then that indicates a short somewhere that is providing power when power should not be being provided.

Find that power path.

Then with the system fully off, and unplugged, a multimeter can be used to confirm disconnects, misconnections, and shorts.