Computer help in Oxford, UK
February 27, 2016 6:50 PM Subscribe
I know very little about building computers. My 14 year old son is very keen on them and we brought components to build a gaming computer. I underestimated the difficulty of building and we now have an assembled computer that doesn't work.
Can anyone recommend a good business / person in Oxford who could help?
Does it make any beeps when you turn it on? Do you see any lights? Any fans moving?
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:39 PM on February 27, 2016
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:39 PM on February 27, 2016
Response by poster: In terms of what doesn't work - nothing happens when we plug it in and turn on the power. No beeps, no fans.
posted by Gilgongo at 11:46 PM on February 27, 2016
posted by Gilgongo at 11:46 PM on February 27, 2016
Best answer: my initial guess would be that you have not connected the computer case switch to the motherboard (or that it's connected incorrectly).
the case will have some wires that are connected to USB sockets, the computer case switch (the button on the case, not the switch on the power supply), maybe a speaker, etc. these wires are all different colours and end in very small plastic plugs. those plastic plugs have to be connected to the motherboard according to the details in the manual that came with the motherboard (at a minimum there will be a picture of the motherboard with some dots marked PWR and you need to plug the plug on the wires from the computer case switch to the metal pins in that position on the board).
once you do that, power on the power supply and then press the computer switch.
this video explains it much better than i can.
in short, nothing happens (no beeps or lights) until (1) the power supply switch is on and (2) the two PWR pins on the motherboard are connected via the computer case switch.
posted by andrewcooke at 2:37 AM on February 28, 2016
the case will have some wires that are connected to USB sockets, the computer case switch (the button on the case, not the switch on the power supply), maybe a speaker, etc. these wires are all different colours and end in very small plastic plugs. those plastic plugs have to be connected to the motherboard according to the details in the manual that came with the motherboard (at a minimum there will be a picture of the motherboard with some dots marked PWR and you need to plug the plug on the wires from the computer case switch to the metal pins in that position on the board).
once you do that, power on the power supply and then press the computer switch.
this video explains it much better than i can.
in short, nothing happens (no beeps or lights) until (1) the power supply switch is on and (2) the two PWR pins on the motherboard are connected via the computer case switch.
posted by andrewcooke at 2:37 AM on February 28, 2016
Best answer: if you're convinced things are connected correctly, then the next thing to check is the power supply itself (alone). remove it, connect it to the mains, and then start it by shorting out the correct two pins with a paperclip. that should start the fan in the psu. if it doesn't, the psu is no good.
if the fan in the psu starts, unplug it, put it back in the case, and check the all the wiring again.
video on how to start the psu with a paperclip.
posted by andrewcooke at 5:28 AM on February 28, 2016
if the fan in the psu starts, unplug it, put it back in the case, and check the all the wiring again.
video on how to start the psu with a paperclip.
posted by andrewcooke at 5:28 AM on February 28, 2016
The only things I know about Oxford are that Peter Whimsey went to Balliol College, and Morse solved a lot of murders. However, a little Googling suggests that computer fixit shops are as common there as they are where I live.
I would try to find a one-man fixit shop, and go in without the computer, explain the situation, get an estimate (or some idea of an hourly rate). The reason to leave the computer home is reduce the pressure to leave it there. If you don't like the vibe, go on the next place. A guy like that should be able to strip the computer to its parts and reassemble it so that it works in a couple hours. (My wild guess. Others may have more informed guesses.)
I don't encourage working on it yourself. We are talking wall current here.
Back in the day when I was in high school (late 1960s) , I built a stereo amplifier from kit. It didn't work, and in fact, it incinerated a resister. We pretty much followed the above advice, and all was fine.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:13 AM on February 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
I would try to find a one-man fixit shop, and go in without the computer, explain the situation, get an estimate (or some idea of an hourly rate). The reason to leave the computer home is reduce the pressure to leave it there. If you don't like the vibe, go on the next place. A guy like that should be able to strip the computer to its parts and reassemble it so that it works in a couple hours. (My wild guess. Others may have more informed guesses.)
I don't encourage working on it yourself. We are talking wall current here.
Back in the day when I was in high school (late 1960s) , I built a stereo amplifier from kit. It didn't work, and in fact, it incinerated a resister. We pretty much followed the above advice, and all was fine.
posted by SemiSalt at 8:13 AM on February 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
certainly go take it to a shop if you prefer, and it's a good advice about going first without the computer.
BUT the only connection to mains is to a sealed metal box (the power supply). as long as you don't open that box up, or stick something in there, there is no "wall voltage" that could harm you. all the cables that come from the power supply are 12 or 5 volts - you're very unlikely to get hurt (the main reason for going to a shop is to save you from breaking something, and so wasting money, not killing yourself)
posted by andrewcooke at 9:12 AM on February 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
BUT the only connection to mains is to a sealed metal box (the power supply). as long as you don't open that box up, or stick something in there, there is no "wall voltage" that could harm you. all the cables that come from the power supply are 12 or 5 volts - you're very unlikely to get hurt (the main reason for going to a shop is to save you from breaking something, and so wasting money, not killing yourself)
posted by andrewcooke at 9:12 AM on February 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Do say what you've tried yourself first - part of learning computers is, unfortunately, learning how to diagnose the inevitable problems ;)
posted by DancingYear at 9:31 AM on February 28, 2016
posted by DancingYear at 9:31 AM on February 28, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks - it was one of the connectors on the motherboard, although we also had fun removing and testing the power supply.
I now have a happy 14 year old who also thanks the Internet.
posted by Gilgongo at 11:16 AM on February 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
I now have a happy 14 year old who also thanks the Internet.
posted by Gilgongo at 11:16 AM on February 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
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posted by Ashlyth at 8:49 PM on February 27, 2016