Computer dead after 24+ without electric

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

Computer won't turn on. Printer won't turn off or print. Wii fii works for my ipad2. Am I doomed or is there a chance for computer resurrection. Any suggestions. I've plugged and unplugged numerous times. I'm thinking it may have been a surge when electric went on. I forgot to unplug or even turn ogg computer. Had to throw away whole freezer contents.
Now have to clean out refrig.


Open to any and all computer suggestions.

[puppymommo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close puppymommo]

DH, who knows alot about computers (worked briefly for Geek Squad) thinks that the surge probably fried the power supply and that the computer itself may be OK. You could take it to Geek Squad at Best Buy (he's a bit biased of course). He thinks it would be about $49 for the power supply and 49.95 to install it.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Is it a desktop or laptop? DS had a laptop that would not work if battery ran down. If computer was left on and battery got run down this may be problem. I'd try leaving it plugged in and see if battery charges. Just a suggestion.

Nancy

ps. I have a desktop that got zapped one time. Does not hook up to internet now, but runs all else. Router also got zapped at same time.

[Chap7 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Chap7]

I am in the same boat as Kay.

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

I can't help Kay but so sorry you are having these troubles <3

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Quad-core w7 refurbished HP on woot today for $ 300.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

This sometimes works: unplug the computer, and remove the battery if it has one. Wait about one minute. Then, hold the power switch down for about one minute. Release the power switch, plug it in, and then turn it on.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

Thanks for the advice. I don't know how to tell if computer has a battery. I never opened one up but I tried the turning off and pushing button and nothing happened. Also my printer won't turn off or print. Everything else plugged in to the same recepticle works fine. I'm going away on Monday so I'll wait until I get home and purchase a laptop. Don't want to rush into it and make a wrong decision.

I'll probably go to Staples and ask how much it will cost to check out the dead computer and if they can save or transfer any data to a new computer.Thanks for helping me try the rescue.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I don't know how your power is setup for the computer, so I will ask my standard questions that I would have to ask my wife:
1) Is the computer plugged into a power strip? I am betting it is not in an uninterpretable power supply (which I recommend and have for my 3 computers). If you plug a lamp into the power source (wall outlet, power strip, etc) where the computer is normally plugged in, will it turn on? If not, (this has happened to me) check the circuit panel or look for a GFIC outlet that may be tripped. Mine failed and killed the computer and freezer circuit.
2) Find an extension cord and plug the computer into the cord and the cord into a completely different outlet that has a working lamp or something in it.
3) Look at the back of the computer near where the power cord plugs into the computer. There may be a circuit breaker (push button) there. Some models have it, most don't. If you have it, push it in and release.

If those fail, then I believe it would be the power supply, and that would be a trip to the repair shop.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

I don't see anything that looks like a reset button on the back of the computer.

Not sure if it is a surge proof outlet but it is a thick white plastic square with 6outlets plugged into the wall outlet directly on the wall. My shredder is plugged into it and that works. My printer is also plugged into it and the lights on it are on, but it won't print or turn off.

Plugged computer into extension cord plugged into a different outlet but it still won't turn on.


Thanks for the great suggestions. Hopefully I can get to staples tomorrow and see if it is salvageable.

[Chap7 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Chap7]

We have a Compaq..you should go to the website for your computer company. They have trouble shooting for restarting your computer.
Ours stated to remove the power cord from the back of your computer. You need to take the side panel off your computer. There is one screw and then you push down and slide it off. You should then disconnect each component one by one and see if the light indicator tells you which is the problem. Ours was the motherboard. The motherboard has multiple wires tied together going into one main white caddy. There is a lever similar to your phone wire that you push in and then pull out the caddy with all the wires connected. Then reconnect the power supply cord, then plug the wires back into the motherboard, now push the power on/off button. You should see the fan start up...now, you need to put the side back on the computer and you are all set.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

Chap,
I appreciate your suggestion but sounds like more than I can handle. My son asked me tonight why I want to resurrect this piece of s**t. He called it a boat anchor. I think I'll just buy a laptop (probably a notebook) but I would like to get some of my programs and my pictures from my old computer to my new one when I get it.

[Chap7 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Chap7]

Yeah, me too. My wife did it then typed up my response.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

Tried removing the battery for a few minutes and plug back in. If older computer don't bother fixing it. New for <$300.

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[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Chap,
I appreciate your suggestion but sounds like more than I can handle. My son asked me tonight why I want to resurrect this piece of s**t. He called it a boat anchor. I think I'll just buy a laptop (probably a notebook) but I would like to get some of my programs and my pictures from my old computer to my new one when I get it.

Kay, take it to a store where they sell your computer make and they may test it for you with their power supply and cables. I did that with my Toshiba notebook that I thought was fried during a thunderstorm in Mexico but it was only the power supply. Buying it from the manufacturer would have been very expensive and not worth it for an old computer but I bought one for about $20 that included shipping and it is still working today. All you need to do is look up the model number of your power supply and then Google it and you will find similar ones that will work on your notebook.

I went to Office Depot in Huntington Beach to buy some stuff and the store manager told me to bring the old notebook in which I did and he would test it free of charge. They have a drawer full of power cords for many makes of computers, etc. I will go back there again because the manager was very helpful.

PS. I see now that it may be a desktop computer and that will not have an external power supply but they still could test it for you but not for free, I am afraid. If the computer is OK, they can transfer the data to a new laptop, if you buy it there. We like the Geek Squad at Best Buy. Do you have these two stores on the East Coast too?