I'm servicing a PC that got zapped by a power surge following a neighborhood blackout. It killed the HDD, which is currently at a data recovery center, but that's a subject for a different thread. Anyway, while testing the rest of the system to test the functionality of other components, I noticed something odd... When I provide power to the PSU, either by plugging it into the surge protector or, switching on the PSU switch, the system seems to come to life (the CPU and chassis fans start spinning) for about a second then goes off again. The system can then be booted up normally from the chassis power button. But this is the first time I've ever seen an ATX system react (aside from flashing lights on the keyboard or mobo) to the PSU being swtched on or plugged in. Is this "normal" behavior for some ATX PSU's, or is it something to be concerned about? Could it be connected to the power surge that finished off the HDD? -- Dave

Failing to power up the first time is abnormal behavior. However without details, no one can do anything but wildly speculate. For example, you don't know if that first power cycle is from something in the power supply controller or something else in the power supply. Is it powering up and down because power supply voltage starts excessively or does not achieve proper voltage? Or is voltage monitoring circuit measuring voltages too soon? You don't provide numbers, so the replies will be nothing more than speculation. Surges typically don't harm disk drives. If a surge did, then the unit that should keep surges from happening AND contain other circuits to quash surges did not do its job. That is the power supply. But again, without further details such as what was damaged on that disk drive, then we can only speculate. One thing common to all replies. Excessive voltage, or voltage monitor failure, or slow voltage startup, or disk drive hardware failure - each would have a...

Odd PSU behavior?

Aug 27, 2006 22 Replies

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Richard Freeman 19 years ago

- - - - - - - Snipped waste of bandwidth from w_tom - - - - - - - - - - -

Michael,

I get 6 postings before w_tom choose to ignore me whereas I make it 8 Postings until he chose to ignore you - mind you, you started before me, so I guess you can justify claiming you had already worn the moron down before I started, so lets say that gives you a handicap of ... -2 posts But then you gave him a break from between the 1st and the 8th so I reckon we can add one of those posts back ......

So that leaves the score at ;-) Michael 7 Richard 6 w_tom Loser and Liar (as always)

Does this game score like Golf ???? Should we go by posts or points made against w_tom ? - nah points scored is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel

Regards Richard Freeman

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Michael A. Terrell 19 years ago

More like "Trolls in a teacup" ;-)

Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I\'ve got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida

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Richard Freeman 19 years ago

----------Snipped for Brevity--------

ahh that is even less of a challenge ......

Btw I thought you know how w_tom claims to be an 'Engineer' I thought you might be amused at w_tom's definition of an Engineer: from alt.home.repair 8 th April 2003 (

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"Extensive details were discussed by engineers in the newsgroup misc.rural "Storm and Lightning damage in the country" 28 Jul 2002 "

when you look up that thread in Google it turns out to be a bunch of Farmers

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and even they disagree with w_tom.....

Regards Richard Freeman

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