No Boot! :( I'll blame Isabelle

[rpertusio]

A power outage (caused by the recent Hurricane Isabelle) affected my computer. Power was lost while the computer was running. It (and the monitor/speakers, etc) were plugged into a surge protector, which still functions as normal.

Once power was restored, the computer failed to boot No fans run, no beeps, no video, and the CPU heatsink remains quiet when I hit the power switch on the case. The ONLY light lit is the "PWR_LED1" physically on the motherboard.

I have tried:
- Resetting CMOS, removing/replacing battery
- Plugging PSU into diff. outlet, and checking voltages (all okay)
- Tried different PSU
- Motherboard out of case on wood, with only CPU/heatsink, RAM, vid card, PSU
- Tried removing everything, placing onto another motherboard (known to work)
- Tested voltages on power switch/pins, all okay
- Shorted power switch pins on the motherboard (to rule out bad switch)
- Shorted pins 14,15 on ATX connection: Heatsink and fans will run PSU runs

All the components were known to be working until the power outage.

Furthermore, I checked the CPU and motherboard. Nothing looks (or smells) burnt or discolored in any way. If the RAM was bad, it should at least boot, and beep or give some indication.

I thought that even a dead CPU might make the mobo beep like crazy, but even still it is silent. Should a motherboard power up if the CPU is fried?

Arg, I'm out of things to try. Anyone have similar issues, or anything else to suggest?

Thanks for the help

- rp

[rpertusio]

Tried a third motherboard.. it boots up fine. CPU works, everything else seems to work. I suppose my original motherboard is the culprit

As mentioned before, the Power Switch pins on the motherboard are receiving voltage, but shorting them does not send the "power on" signal to the PSU. Keep in mind the motherboard gets power just fine according to the PWR_LED between the PCI slots.

Any other areas of the motherboard I can check to make sure it really is dead?

- rp

[embj]

Well, if your surge protector is fairly new and you know who manufactures it I would make a claim on it. Most newer surge protecters have a...hmm...I can't think of the word but, they offer to pay up to so much money on any equipment that is damaged. The surge protector that I bought offers up to a $50,000 equipment failure or whatever it's called. So if you know about that I say go for it.

[rpertusio]

Yea, good point. Unfortunately, I pulled out the "Surge Equipment Guarantee" (up to $25,000) from RCA, but aparently I needed to send them a written list of equipment (and their model/serial numbers) within 30 days of purchase

Thanks for the suggestion, embj

[DPA]

rpertsio, just buy another one and fill out the paperwork and mail it in, make a claim on that, its not criminal of you to do that, i too was caught by the "ya gotta mail it in" scheme when our ProScan TV got blasted... we just bought another one and sent in the work, and waited about a month to make a claim... they can't tell when your motherboard blew, and you'll make money back like you normally would have if you could read the size 3 font on the bottom of the agreement page.

[rpertusio]

good idea! err.. hrm. that seems evil.

-rp

(lez see, wonder if anyone is havin a sale)