Hardware·19,044 discussions

How can a common home user find out whether the PSU is good or bad ?

My PC is stuck at acer logo 3 seconds after power on. USB ports and DVD drive are dead.

Have tested the RAM, GPU & SSD and it seems that the issue is not caused or directly caused by anyone of these units.

How to find out whether the PSU on this PC is good or bad, please?

Thanks.

Topic

Re: PSU

In reply to How can a common home user find out whether the PSU is good or bad ?

The common home user needs a common Volt meter and the manual that says which output should have which voltage.
Same, by the way, as a professional tech.

Kees_B Moderator

In reply to Re: PSU

Thank you.

I’ll try to get volt meter and manual. Afraid that getting a manual might be difficult. I remember years ago, in 2013, I tried download a manual from Acer but failed. Will try again. The problem is too serious to give this time.

I guess….

In reply to How can a common home user find out whether the PSU is good or bad ?

I must be an uncommon home user since I never had to test it. I always thought it was the common user who didn’t need to test.

Kees_B is right on track with his post.

To birdmantd Moderator

In reply to I guess….

Thank you.

There a serious issue happened to my PC. Have to find the cause of the issue for making a choice, repair or buy a new one.

I am really a common user. There are no peripherals on this PC except for the keyboard & mouse. No other sophisticated software installed on this machine except the system & Photoshop. I am an amateur photographer. About 95% of what I do on this machine is photographic processing, both digital & film images.

Kees is spot on.

In reply to How can a common home user find out whether the PSU is good or bad ?

But as Tom points out the everyday PC user does not do this. Moving on or up?

1. Do the test as Kees noted. Volt meters are cheap, plenty of YouTubes how to measure the common PC PSU voltages. Fairly safe tech work but always use caution.
2. Frankly if the logo shows, the PSU did come up to voltage.

You left out full PC details so we can’t go much further. Let’s get the Age, make, model and any other clues in this discussion.

To rproffitt Moderator

In reply to Kees is spot on.

Thank you.

“Moving on or up?”
Moving on.

This PC.
Acer Aspire T3-715 desktop
Manufactured in 2015 & bought in June 2016 & used since then
Windows 10 Home 64-bit, updated to 21H1
Intel Core i5 Processor 6400
NVidia GeForce GTX745 4GB
Hard Drive : SATA3 1TB & SSD 128GB
Memory : DDR4 8GB
DVD-Super Multi drive
Card Reader
Integrated LAN 10/100/1000

Other clue.
The PC had one & only issue in give years. 2020, windows updated to 20H1, I could not login the system. I did a clean install. Nothing, absolutely nothing else.

Three months ago, Windows updated to 21H1. Shortly after this update, crashes & BSODs one after another for about 2 weeks. I made preparations for another clean installation. The PC got stuck at acer logo, three seconds after power on. USB ports & DVD drive were dead.

Currently, these are the things still functioning on this dead PC:
1. Power on button, can switch power on.
2.Light in front panel is lit.
3.A short “POO” sound from the speakers at power on.
4.CPU fan & GPU fan & PSU fan spin.
5.Monitor is on & acer logo is on & booting stuck here.
6.Power off when start button is pressed.
I do not see or hear anything else other than these.

To be honest….

In reply to To rproffitt Moderator

I seriously doubt that the Windows updates caused the issue, I think it is a hardware issue. I would take it to a computer repair facility for an evaluation.

By moving up.

In reply to To rproffitt Moderator

I meant that the common home user is advancing their skills and research.

Here’s more ideas given we know what this PC is from above.
1. This PC with the i5-6400 has onboard graphics ( https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/88185/intel-core-i56400-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-30-ghz.html )
There are priors where this card (and a lot of other GPUs fail and stop the boot process https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/nvidia-geforce-745-gtx-4gb-info.1833256/page-2#post-15708018 )
– Remove power then the GTX 745, connect up to the monitor and re-test.
2. https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/649780/how-to-make-acer-aspire-t3-715-boot finds another eerily similar failure.
3. Remember that advice “Replace the cheapest part first”? I’d slip in a new CMOS battery.
4. https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/boot-dies-at-oems-logo.3727659/ finds another failure discussion.
– They are also getting into swapping parts but after decades of PC repair (since about 1984) I’ve yet to find a BIOS that failed. Yes, had to reflash a few but not something I suspect when dealing with a dead PC.

As to RAM and drives we don’t need drives yet. As to RAM I might unplug and plug them back in just because we see owners get inside and often have it half plugged in. Once the voltage checks are done, the CMOS batter replaced, the drives unplugged and the video card switched to onboard then we try a single stick of RAM.

To proffitt Moderator

In reply to By moving up.

Current status of the PC:
1.Start button can switch power on.
2.Light in front panel is lit.
3.A short “POO” sound from the speakers at power on.
4.CPU fan & GPU fan & PSU fan spin.
5.Monitor is on & acer logo shows up & booting stuck here.
6.Start button can switch power off.

Tests tried:
1. Cleaned RAM, GPU, SSD & CPU.
2. Tried other keyboard & mouse.
3. Tried a different monitor.
4. Disconnect SSD & SATA drives, then switch power on.
5. Devices & cables & wires disconneted, AC power connected, power on.
6. CR2032 removed & for 3,10minutes even 13 hours, tehn put back in.
7. Remove RAM, then power on.
8. Revove RAM & GPU, then power on.
9. Borrowed RAM, GPU & SSD from normal PC, tried on mine.
No difference. None of these tests made any change to the stuck status.

Help, please?
What else must I try?

Thank you.

Since you didn’t try the test I noted.

In reply to To proffitt Moderator

“Here’s more ideas given we know what this PC is from above.
1. This PC with the i5-6400 has onboard graphics ( https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/88185/intel-core-i56400-processor-6m-cache-up-to-3-30-ghz.html )
There are priors where this card (and a lot of other GPUs fail and stop the boot process https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/nvidia-geforce-745-gtx-4gb-info.1833256/page-2#post-15708018 )
– Remove power then the GTX 745, connect up to the monitor and re-test.”
And a new CMOS battery.

It appears you did neither, I suggest you do this. We are talking 10 to 15 minutes of work and for the battery, a dollar (here it’s less than that.)

-> We don’t need any DRIVES at this point. We only need one stick of RAM. We don’t need the GPU as it has onboard graphics. The battery? It’s too cheap to not replace and testing said battery is more time consuming than it is worth. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMQI5R79lx4 and you see why I don’t do this for a dollar part.

To rproffitt Moderator

In reply to Since you didn’t try the test I noted.

Thank you.

“Remove power then the GTX 745, connect up to the monitor and re-test.”
Sorry, I really do not know how to do this. There is no
VGA plug-socket connection if the GTX 745 is removed from its slot. I assume you mean the entire GPU by GTX 745. If mean a specific part, I cannot do anything because I do not have the tools to take this unit apart. Crew drivers like the ones clock smith use are needed to unscrew the fan from the card.

The CR2032, it is ordered but not arrive yet.

Regarding no VGA socket.

In reply to To rproffitt Moderator

Read Kees reply as well. You have hit common limits of home repair BUT many forget they have HDMI displays around most homes which is your TV.

I can’t guess what your PC is or if you had only some VGA display in the original setup.

My hope was to find it was not the motherboard but we have reached the point where it sounds like a dead motherboard (once what Kees and others have suggested.)

To rproffitt Moderator

In reply to Regarding no VGA socket.

HDMI
Yes, there is an HDMI port on my PC.

DP
There is also a display port.

VGA
Acer T3-715 has only VGA attached on the GPU, no VGA on board.
One of my PCs, bought in 2009, Win 7 Pro, had VGA on board. Removed the graphic card, the PC ran on board VGA automatically. But not Acer T3-715.

Re: PSU

In reply to To proffitt Moderator

This really looks like a bad motherboard. Then nothing you try with any other component will work.

Why did you suspect the PSU? And why didn’t you apparently still not test it or “borrow” one from another PC?

Did you allready try the cardboard test? Minimal components (PSU, motherboard with one stick of RAM, monitor connected to the video on the motherboard), all taken out from the case onto a piece of cardboard. Should give an error message on the screen about not finding a device to boot from.
If still no luck, try another PSU.
If still no luck then even with another CR2032 battery, you proved beyond doubt it’s the motherboard. Then it’s time for another PC.

To Kees_B Moderator·

In reply to Re: PSU

“Why did you suspect the PSU?”
No. Not I sustect the PSU or anything. Leant from Google Search that PSU might be the cause if not RAM, GPU, SSD and CMOS battery.

“And why didn’t you apparently still not test it or “borrow” one from another PC?”
I borrowed a PC & took CR2032, RAM, GPU & SSD out of that PC & tested on my PC. Did not find any variations.

Why not tested the CPU & PSU the same way?
I do not want to mess up my friend’s PC.

“Did you allready try the cardboard test?”
No. But did something similar three times.
With only PSU, one RAM stick, & GPU on board & ran the PC.
The results: the PC stayed as stuck before.

Then you are stuck with a repair counter or new PC.

In reply to How can a common home user find out whether the PSU is good or bad ?

It’s hard on new technicians to follow the steps. Here, doubly so since you are not in the shop so we can step through the process.

-> As to the PSU good or bad, you start with the voltage readings under load and if still suspect you swap to another PSU. This is far cheaper than using an Oscilloscope (we have these in the shops.) Also, every bench has access to a shop PSU for testing.

It’s always your choice to follow advice from anywhere so all I can do is wish you luck.

To rproffitt Moderator

In reply to Then you are stuck with a repair counter or new PC.

As to the PSU. . . swap to another PSU.”
Plan to do so after getting concent from my friend.

To rproffitt Moderator

In reply to Then you are stuck with a repair counter or new PC.

New cr2032
1. Had power & cables and wires disconnected for 13 hours.
2. Put new CR2032 in and let the PC stay idle for a hour, then power on.
3. New phenomena:
3a.Monitor. Takes about 40 seconds to light up after power on.
3b.Logo. About 2 seconds later acer logo appears.
3c.On & off & flashes.
Screen on for 3 seconds, off for a second, on again.
After on & off 2 times, there are flashes as machine gun for about 2 seconds.
After that, one short flash lasting about 2 second.
Then, on for about 15 seconds, off for 1/2 a second, & on again, 3 times.
Then, monitor stays on for 40 seconds.
Then, 2 short flashes, each lasts about 1 second.
Then, again, on for 20 seconds, off for 1/2 a second, one & off for 2 times.
Stays on, then the monitor stays on stably.

Note : acer logo is on the screen every time monitor is on.

After all these, the PC’s status is the same as stuck before.

What do these bebaviors indicate?

Suggestions & Advices, PLEASE ?

Is the monitor an Acer?

In reply to To rproffitt Moderator

If so, some monitors will flash the logo and as such can mislead us to think the motherboard, RAM and CPU is OK.

As to what it is, at this point the tech at the bench has completed the work noted by Kees and I and the PSU is swapped and then the motherboard is called out as dead.

Remember I take it you did the motherboard test called out by Kees.

To rproffitt Moderator

In reply to Is the monitor an Acer?

Thank you.

Is it an Acer monitor:
No. It is Samsung 22″ monitor.
Swapped to an LG monitor, no difference to the issue.

Took the CPU from the borrowed PC & tried it on mine & result was the same that of all the others.

The only unit i have not tested is the PSU.
I think PSU is all right.
I believe now that the cause of the issue is the motherboard.

This is what plan to do.
I’ll buy a volt meter and learn to test the PSU.
If the issue remains, go to do the cardboard test.
Then replace the motherboard myself.
Troublesome but fun.

I wish to share.
I suspect that the issue have something to do with Windows update. This does not mean that Windows update causes the issue directly. Could be that the hardware is built insufficiently or inadequately and the Windows update triggers the issue.
The reason for this suspicion,:
In April, 2020, Windows updated to 20H1.
Shortly after the update, the same PC refused me login.
Did everything possible, just refused me login.
This year, in Sep. Windows updated to 21H1.
Again, shortly after the update, crashes & BSODs….2 weeks.
And then the issue happened.
Could be coincidence.

For now, I will dismiss Windows Update. Why?

In reply to To rproffitt Moderator

Because Windows is not running at boot time. It’s just the BIOS and there is no sign (yet) that the PC with minimal parts can get to the BIOS setup screens.

-> Moving on. Let’s chat a second about login issues. One of the long standing pieces of advice is to always have a spare ADMINISTRATOR account. This account is always “local” which means we don’t need the Internet to log in. This spare account can be used for many reasons and can make small problems fixable that many would reload the OS.

The issues you listed don’t sound like Windows issues but hardware that was failing and then failed.

[Author]

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