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View Full Version : PSU can't start?

Luke
December 8th, 2006, 04:16 AM
There's Compaq Portable II wich I'd try to bid, but there is problem with it.
Seller says, that it can't start, PSU is trying to turn on, but it can't ;).
Fan is runing once slower, once faster.

Nothing appears on the screen.
chuckcmagee
December 8th, 2006, 04:51 AM
Could be about 100 different things! I would let the seller keep it if it was me (depending on min bid price and shipping costs, of course).
Luke
December 8th, 2006, 06:06 AM
Price is 15$ with shipping...

When PSU is turned on, disk's and keyboard's diodes are flashing.
Maybe this is sign of PSU damage?

I would rather help seller a bit than bid this one.
chuckcmagee
December 8th, 2006, 08:53 AM
Just not enough info to diagnose the problem! I'm sure you have heard that one before, but true.
Artik2
December 30th, 2006, 03:26 PM
Did you try to take it to an electrician? maybe he can tell you what is wrong.
NathanAllan
December 31st, 2006, 02:56 AM
Price is 15$ with shipping...

When PSU is turned on, disk's and keyboard's diodes are flashing.
Maybe this is sign of PSU damage?

I would rather help seller a bit than bid this one.

Agreed, I would explain in a nutshell how to troubleshoot a bad power supply (bypass it and use a known good one). Not too familiar with that particular model, so it might be an in-depth thing or not doable. Hope the seller is technically inclined if he/she were to do it themselves.

Nathan
nige the hippy
December 31st, 2006, 07:09 AM
It's ~probably~ a short on one of the boards or monitor, I would suggest it's one of the auxilliary voltages (12, -12, etc) and possibly a tantalum capacitor

-looking at the faults on my machines, and others reported here it seems to be really common on machines that age.

If you have a spare AT power supply (old type) the compaq boards are pretty standard, so it's pretty easy to narrow the fault down by substituting boards.

The only major problem is getting a Torx screwdriver the right size, and sufficient patience to take the inner case apart!

If it's got a hard disk in, and you've got storage space, it's probably worth $15 for parts, the portable IIs come up on ebay about once every 3 months. make sure you don't get stung on the postage, it's not light!