Anyone know anything about computers?

Slyder · Posted: Aug 10, 2006 9:47 am Post subject: Anyone know anything about computers?

So I built a computer about a year ago and after some struggle, I think the power supply finally died. For a while it had been flickering on and off for a while before it would turn on and stay on.

This morning I opened my case to try and fix a problem I was having with a dvd drive and when i put it all back together was when I had my problem. I went through the normal flickering on and off for a while, then came up with an error along the lines of "boot error, please insert boot disk". I'm assuming my hdd didn't boot due to lack of power, the dvd drive I was working on also had no power to it.

Basically what I'm asking is, before I go through the trouble of ordering a new power suplly and installing it, does anyone else think they know what it could be? None of the components are more than a year old and the case i'm using is somewhat notorious for having a faulty power supply. It's an Acer micro ATX case.

Also, if there are any reccomendations on what brand of power supply would work for a replacement, let me know. I need something around 420W I think. (Also, does it matter if I go higher than that? I'm not sure if i need the same specs for a replacement as were on the original.)

Sorry for the mini-essay, help is appreciated. Thanks.

Jesse · Posted: Aug 10, 2006 4:20 pm Post subject:

Pour some beer on it Laughing

Get a new one

CrzyTexan · Frontside 180 Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 475

you had to of plugged something in wronge... did you ever accidentaly unplug ur hd?
Get a PcPowerandCooling powersupply their really nice and will alst forever... they are quite expensive tho so instead you can get a antec just aim if u need sum more help

SamHill · Frontside 180 Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 420 City: Lacey

It could be the power supply but it sounds like it could be a boot sector virus as well. They tend to give you "boot error, please insert boot disk" messages and they will boot your machine continosly.
I would first check the power coming out of the power supply with a volt meter.
If it looks good, I would suspect a virus. roboot off the windows disk or Recovery disk. Then run your virus program. This will give you a clean MBR (Master Boot Record) in which to run the AntiVirus software if it is a MBR Virus.
You can try this following the picture below if this helps.
Good Luck.
Pete

search button · Ollie Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 96 City: Saginaw

You can buy a power supply tester to rule that out, then go from there. When my power supply failed, my processor fried, so be thankful yours isn't a $350 problem.

Slyder · Posted: Aug 10, 2006 5:30 pm Post subject:

I'm positive now that it's the power supply, I managed to get the BIOS up and when i tried to initiate anything else it would just shut off. I needed a new power supply anyway. Hopefully this will solve the problem entirely and I don't have a boot virus.

Thanks everyone.