Oh help, I think my pc is dying...!

[mustrunmore]

Right, so, I switch it on. Nothing happens. Not even the button lighting up. I try again. Nothing. I give up. Approximately 10-15 minutes later, it comes to life and works fine. It does this 4 out of 5 times I try to use it.

What is the fault? How easy is it to fix, and how much will it cost me? I cant live without my computer!

Faulty power supply, probably. Shouldn't be too hard to fix, but might be uneconomical unless you can do it yourself.

Well, I'm hoping dh will have a stab at it, as I'm clueless Will it be simple, or a nightmare job? Bearing in mind dh is technical by profession, but gets in a tizz very easily and everything turns into a big strop!

Remember to back anything you need up while it's still working!!!!!

Does it come to life on its own, after you've switched it on, or is it sometimes it works when you switch on, sometimes doesn't? Just hoping it might be the switch. Have you checked that the power cable's firmly in, and it's not been chewed by a cat or something?

It does it on its own! cables all well shoved in, and no cats in the house!

Not anything easy then

I'm putting my money on Ubergeekian's diagnosis. Sorry.

Hope your DH can sort it.

PSU's are fairly standard.. just google the model number on the label and buy a direct or equivalent replacement.. you cannot open the units and all cables come already with the units...

2 or 3 scrws and they fall away from the main box (remember to unplug all the connectors first)...

Simple job.. new PSU should be around £20-50 from somewhere like DABS...

OD - I think you've talked yurself into a job....

trust me it is an easy one... all the connectors just pull out of the mainboard and out of the cdrom hdd's.. and they are all shaped so they only go in the right hole...

What make and model is the PC.. may be able to at least help you chose the right PSU

Message withdrawn

Thanks all. I love people who know what they're on about

Luckily now I'm a SAHM, therer's no crucial work stuff etc to lose, and all the photos are already backed up because I'm so paranoid!

Funnily enough, it worked like a dream this morning, but I do need to sort it as its obv an intermittent fault/on its way out! Dh is going to see if he's got spares kicking around at work