A gateway dx4720-30 was working fine and now it will not turn on. The power cord was checked, what could the issue be for a fix?
SOURCE: Computer will not turn on ?
I KNOW!!!! lol. Well, called Gateway support, was having the same problem, and sometimes it would boot up sometimes not. They told me to unplug the power supply cord from the tower, then hold down the "on" switch for 20 seconds, then plug the power supply cord back into the tower, and turn it on as usual. Oddly enuf this worked.
They said it is a problem with the motherboard and it should be replaced. Crappy Gateway......I won't buy another one!!
Also, here is a little trick that seems to work for me. My son subscribes to Sims Online, and if we leave the game on when we are done with the computer, it doesn't shut off. So we just leave the comp on with Sims running!
But now I'm having a problem with the video card (i guess) the color fades to blue...Except when I play my WOW game. Then the color returns. Go figure!
I'm gonna get another comp! Hope this helps! Oh, and it isnt the power supply, so dont waste your money there. I'm also not gonna waste my money on a new motherboard, either!
SOURCE: Gateway GT4022 has issues powering up and restarting
1.Yes the Power On switch is okay.
(PS. If you hold down the Power On button for 10 seconds on any computer, it will turn off)
2.The heatsink held down by springs on the Northbridge, and Southbridge chipsets, is an excellent idea. Works very well on Processors too.
Why?
My opinion.
1.This means even pressure is being distributed, and in a manner that a user can't cause harm to the chipsets.
Use screws, and you might have someone who puts too much force, while torquing them down.
2.Means to me that the user can remove the heatsink, clean the top of the chipset, and bottom of the heatsink, and apply new thermal paste.
Thermal paste does dry up over time.
[I'm sure you're aware, but please indulge me.
The top of a chipset, or processor case, and the bottom of a heatsink, is not perfectly smooth.
There are microscopic hills, and valleys, and pits.
These cannot be seen by the naked eye.
These voids cause an air pocket. Air is an insulator, not a conductor. You want a conductor to help transfer the heat from the chipset, to the heatsink.
Thermal paste fills these voids, and is an excellent conductor of heat. Helps transfer the heat.
If your Northbridge, and Southbridge chipset have thermal pads, I suggest taking them off, and flying them out the window!
(Look out below!!!!)
Thermal pads do not transfer heat very well]
As for your problem, it's the power supply.
Inside the power supply are Electrolytic Capacitors.
Some are used to filter the incoming AC electricity, Input Stage), and some are used to filter the outgoing DC electricity. (Output Stage)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-mode_power_supply
Electrolytic Capacitors used in personal computers have a cylindrical aluminum case, with two terminals coming out of the bottom.
The aluminum case resembles an aluminum Coke can, with the bottom cut out.
There is a rubber round plug in the bottom.
The top of the 'can' is flat, and has an X or a lK, cut into it part way.
Inside the 'can' are three thin strips.
1) A Conducting strip of metal
2) A Non-conducting strip. Is made of metal with a non conducting oxide layer. (Insulating oxide layer)
3) A strip of paper soaked in Electrolytic Paste.
The Positive terminal is connected to the Conducting strip, and the Negative terminal is connected to the Insulating strip.
(Metal strip with insulating oxide layer)
Electrolytic Capacitors break down over time. The designer has taken this into effect, and puts in capacitors that are 50% better than required.
Problem is, that a large number of capacitors have a bad Electrolytic Paste formula. This formula was stolen from a large capacitor manufacturer.
Unknowingly the thief stole a bogus formula.
The Electrolytic Capacitor manufacturer caught wind of the approaching theft, and a known bogus formula was substituted for the real one.
The Electrolytic Paste of this bogus formula, develops gas after time. (Hydrogen gas)
This causes one of two things, or both.
A.The gas expands inside the capacitor, and breaches the seal of the capacitor.
(Pops the rubber plug loose at the bottom)
B. The X, or lK shape at the top of the capacitor breaks open. (The shape is etched into the flat top of the capacitor, about halfway)
Electrolytic Paste is slowly pushed out of the capacitor. Either through the break at the top, the rubber seal at the bottom, or both places.
Some paste loss will make the capacitor weak. (Loss of capacitance)
Too much paste loss will make the capacitor fail.
Electrolytic Paste also dries up.
When you have one, or more weak capacitors in a power supply, you have a weak voltage power rail.
When you have one, or more failed capacitors in a power supply, you lose a power voltage rail.
There are three main voltage power rails, in a personal computer power supply.
A) The 3.3 Volt rail
B) The 5 Volt rail
C) The 12 Volt rail
A capacitor builds a charge up slowly, then releases it all at once.
Compare this to a swimming pool that is filled up slowly with a garden hose, then knock a big hole in the side. The water rushes out all at once.
I believe you have a bad power supply. One, or more capacitors are failing. When you unplug, wait 15-20 seconds, then plug back in, you are causing the weak capacitors to get a surge of electricity.
I Do Not advise opening the power supply to take a look!
Electrolytic Capacitors hold a charge for weeks, sometimes months, after being disconnected from power!
(Sometimes up to a year for the big capacitors. Such as the one's used in the Input Stage, of the power supply)
If your fingers make a circuit by touching the two terminals of a capacitor, YOU will receive the charge!
If your fingers touch a circuit, in the circuit board of the power supply, where one, or more capacitors are in, and your fingers complete a circuit, YOU will receive the charge!
This can result in a bad to fatal shock.
An experienced tech, will use the proper method of discharging the capacitors, before working on the power supply. I will not detail it here.
(If someone tells you that you can use a metal screwdriver to do so, this = NO!
The tip of the screwdriver can melt, and turn into hot shrapnel, as the capacitor explodes!)
Seasoned tech's just use a spare power supply, for a test.
Approximately 70 or more percent of the computers that come to my shop have a failing, or failed power supply.
Most are due to the inside of the computer, and the power supply, is dirty.
The owner never took the time, or was afraid to clean the inside of their computer. (And power supply)
All they had to do was unplug the computer from power, open the computer case, touch the metal frame of the computer case to relieve their body of Static electricity, and use a can of compressed air for computers.
That's it!
The rest of the power supply failure, can be attributed to the computer manufacturer. They used cheap quality power supplies, that had cheap quality components inside. (Like Electrolytic Capacitors with the bogus formula, for one)
Saved the computer manufacturer money.
At the outset of this, you better check the Electrolytic Capacitors on your motherboard.
Gateway didn't use solid capacitors, when the FIC KTBC51G motherboards were made.
Gateway used Electrolytic Capacitors.
Visual signs of capacitor failure,
http://www.capacitorlab.com/visible-failures/index.htm
Testimonial: "Thanks for info. able 2 borrow known good coolermaster 430W ps. no change, so i fear mb is shot. will use ur info to examine mb next."
SOURCE: Hello, I have a Gateway model GT5662, stock setup - Will not boot
Usually, if it's a motherboard that has a failed component on it, you will see failed Electrolytic Capacitors. The small aluminum 'Cans' on the motherboard.
Note*
The Electrolytic Capacitors that surround the Processor, should have special attention payed to them. These capacitors are Voltage Regulators for the Processor. If even One is bad, the Processor won't receive the correct amount of voltage, and won't turn on.
Most of the time Electrolytic Capacitors will show visual signs of failure.
There are rare occasions that they do not.
In this case the Electrolytic Paste has dried up in the capacitor, and no outside visual signs will be shown.
I realize that it may look like I'm typing a foreign language here.
This is more information about Visual Signs of Capacitor Failure,
http://www.capacitorlab.com/visible-failures/index.htm
The Gateway GT5662 Desktop PC uses an ECS MCP61PM-GM motherboard.
As you can see in the photo below, it does use Electrolytic Capacitors, and not solid capacitors,
http://www.skyline-eng.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=6470
ECS motherboards are not reliable, and known for capacitor issues.
HOWEVER,
I believe your problem directly stems from a bad power supply.
Power supply has a Weak Voltage Power Rail.
Reasoning for this diagnoses?
Computer tech who has seen this problem at my shop over the years, occur more times than you can shake a stick at.
Would rate it at 70 percent of the reason for computer failure.
It is also rated at that percentage all over the internet.
The diagnoses you stated is correct for this type of problem.
Weak voltage power rail:
Your Gateway GT5662 can come with one of three power supply's.
1) Bestec - Part Number - 6506056R300 - 300 Watt
2) HiPro - P/N - 6506055R300 - 300 Watt
3) Delta - P/N - 6506054R300 - 300 Watt
(P/N's are Gateway numbers)
These are cheap generic power supply's. They have cheap components inside.
Cheap Electrolytic Capacitors,
Gauge of wiring is too small,
Rectifier Bridge is of low quality,
and the list goes on.
When you pick your power supply up, you can feel how light it is in weight.
You can literally feel the difference in weight, when you pick up a decent power supply in comparison.
These power supply's have three main voltage rails. (Very common)
1) The 3.3 Volt power rail
2) The 5 Volt power rail
3) The 12 Volt power rail
The Electrolytic Capacitors used inside the PSU, (Power Supply Unit), are used in the Input stage, and the Output stage.
Used for the incoming 120 volts AC from your house, in the Input stage.
Used for the outgoing DC Volts that have been converted, inside the power supply in the Output stage.
[A computer power supply converts AC electricity, into DC electricity for the computer.
3.3 Volts, 5 Volts, and 12 Volts are DC.
Alternating Current and Direct Current. A flashlight battery is an example of stored DC]
With a weak voltage rail there isn't enough power to turn on the processor.
1) ALL the lights use less than 1 Watt
2) EACH fan uses 2 to 3 Watts
3) A typical Processor uses 55 to 125 WATTS.
This is why the Power On light comes on, the fans spin a few times, but no Operating System comes up.
(Windows XP is an example of an operating system)
No video signal from the computer, you get a No Signal on your monitor. No video signal because the computer isn't working.
When you press the Power On button, you are making a temporary circuit to the power supply, through the motherboard.
You are making a circuit that delivers 5 volts to the power supply. Just for a few seconds. Soft Power On.
(That's why the Power On switch is spring loaded)
The power supply comes on, and the BIOS program is activated.
(From the BIOS chip on the motherboard)
BIOS checks to see what devices are installed, does a Ram Memory count, turns the Processor on, and hands the computer over to the Operating System.
You don't even have enough power to activate BIOS now.
Why does a power supply fail?
Usually two reasons, or a combination of both.
1) Computer is dirty inside, and so is the power supply.
Computers should be cleaned inside, ( And the power supply), on a regular basis with a can of compressed air for computers.
(Computer unplugged from power)
2) Cheap components used in a cheap quality power supply.
Solution?
Replace the power supply, also insure that the computer is clean inside before doing so.
Do you have another power supply that is compatible, and is known to be good to use for a test?
(300 Watt ATX style with at least the same power cables)
Some of us have old computers around, that we can 'Borrow' one for a test, then put it back.
This would prove my diagnoses to be correct, and you will know what to buy.
Regards,
joecoolvette
WARNING!
This is NOT an invite to open your power supply.
The Electrolytic Capacitors used inside can hold a charge for Weeks, sometimes Months!
If your fingers touch the wrong spot, (Terminals on capacitor, or circuit one, or more are in), YOU could receive the charge!
Shock is Bad to Fatal!
SOURCE: Gateway GT5220 PC desktop boot issue.
This is Nvidia's dreaded video chip cold solder joint problem. I have fixed many of these in my shop. Two choices, get it fixed or buy a new motherboard.
SOURCE: Gateway LX6810-01 wont turn on now
1. how many beep sounds do you here and in what sequence ?
2. please look at the small blinking lit at the back of your pc most of the time thir combination of blinking speeks its problem.
2. check/remove if you install new hard ware on the board
536 views
Usually answered in minutes!
×