View Full Version : XP Activation kills my PSU!
Hey, desperatly need ur guidens. Bought a new computer, threw the old one out, with the XP activation on it. :bang head (true story) Applied a crack and thought it was all good. (consider it to be ok since I got the orignal disks and all) Went on camping and when I got home I had 1 day left of XP.
Sat up all night, but when the clock hit 12.01 pm the computer shot down. Thinking it was just the activation I payed no attention knowing a reinstall would fix it in the morning.
When I got up I turned on the power and... nothing...
There is NO power to my computer whatsoever. The green light on the mobo is not on, my mouse is not lighing up as it should, nothing happens when I turn it on, though screen and speakers works just fine.
What just happened?
My dad says that supposedly somewhere on the mobo or PSU there is a glass safty, that for some strange reason might have been breached when windows shut down the computer.
It's an Antec SmartPower 2.0 with an ASUS A8N-E motherboard - the whole rig has been running flawless for a year now.
LeAd_Poisoning
07-19-06, 04:48 AM
I coudlnt see how XP could do that? It has to be a quirk somewhere with your new hardware
a "quirk"? as said, it's been running flawlessly ever since I hooked it up!
And I think it's a abit to coincidently that the SECOND the activation period ends, the computer shots down.
Anyway is there any way to test a PSU?
mortimer
07-19-06, 07:40 AM
a "quirk"? as said, it's been running flawlessly ever since I hooked it up!
And I think it's a abit to coincidently that the SECOND the activation period ends, the computer shots down.
Anyway is there any way to test a PSU?
Yes. Use a PSU tester like this (http://www.jab-tech.com/Antec-ATX12V-PSU-Tester-pr-3215.html) or a digital multimeter like this (http://www.svc.com/dt830b-12.html). These are examples only. I wouldn't buy either.
chas0039
07-19-06, 08:38 AM
As I recall, the Smartpower has a 3 year warranty so I would start with them. My suspicion would be with the PSU.
SavageBasher
07-20-06, 11:38 AM
OMG WINDOWS IS EVIL!!!!
Oh wait, if I'm not running a legit copy of windows, is my WHOLE COMPUTER going to EXPLODE??
savage, dont be an ass.
Check the power! theres NO way windows could have managed to physically damage the machine. could be a loose AC cable
dang... okey I now find my self in a pretty tight situation.
I lost my invoice so my seller won't replace it. I can file a complaint to Antec so they can make arrangements with the seller who might be able to recover the invoice/replace anyway, both seeming unlikely, and even if I get lucky it'll take months...
I'm not gonna suffer tru a whole holiday without my computer, better of buying a new one.
In anycase, I will need to find out wether it really IS my PSU... saw some people talking about hotwiring the PSU, by connecting the brown with the green. Supposedly, if it still lives the fans should spin. - is this true? (on a 24-pin, with 4-pin detachable)
(btw - I don't really know what killed it. The computer shot down cuz of actavition. I always turn it of on the back (my mouse lits up my entire room otherwise) and sometimes if i try to power it up with the front swicht with the back on set to off it hangs and I gotta wait 5 min or so. Well this time it was for real I suppose.)
Clockwork_Apple
07-20-06, 02:04 PM
Yes you can hotwire a PSU by grounding the PS_ON pin which is usually green. Just connect the green with any black ground wire.
If you Google you'll probably find a short guide on how to do it, hopefully with a pinout.
Mr.Guvernment
07-20-06, 02:36 PM
My dad says that supposedly somewhere on the mobo or PSU there is a glass safty, that for some strange reason might have been breached when windows shut down the computer.
I'm sorry, but your dad is full of SHIET and i wish people wouldnt spread false crap like that around.
IF MS "broke" your computer if you didnt activate, you know how sued up the ying yang they would be even if they could do that.
well sry dude but I'm guessing my dad's been around computers for abit while longer then you, in anycase I didn't say windows litterally fried something - I'm saying it shot down my computer. For one reason or another it died. I am happy for the help though
Anyway I like Antec it's a good company right? I got the Smartpower now which I'm quite happy with it, so I think I'll go ahead and buy another one.
But just which one? Smartpower, NeoHE or Truepower? (the Phantom seem just a tad to pricy)
(and could someone point out a good guide for hotwiring?)
Mr.Guvernment
07-20-06, 04:26 PM
Just because he has been around longer, doesnt mean he knows better about todays technology.
Antec is a great company, i personally think, but i am not up to date on what is their better line :(
True... anyway about that guide, been googling and all I can find is outdated links and 404's...
plz help - on anothers computer so I dont got much time...
LeAd_Poisoning
07-20-06, 05:58 PM
"glass safty" lol - we use transistors and other digital circuitry these days, not punch cards and valves, i think your dad needs to leave the dark ages
yea whatever :beer:
Testet the PSU by connecting the green wire to a black and nothing happened...
So it has come down to this: Antec Smartpower arriving on monday VS bribing someone to drive me to the nearest retailer and buy a Hiper Type R today...
Main concern is though wether the Hiper can power my 7800 needed a PCI-e outlet (i think)
LeAd_Poisoning
07-21-06, 08:53 AM
Hiper Type-R 580w will do the job. Reviews have stressed this PSU well via7800GT/X SLi test rigs, it has proven itself
Aha! thx thats good to know - but erm, the 580 seems abit of an overkill - will the 480 do the job as well? Don't recall it having a PCI-e outlet?
SavageBasher
07-21-06, 11:02 AM
Make sure you activate xp this time.
just thought i'd point out, he could have been referring to one of those glass tube fuses, which every psu i've taken apart has.
LeAd_Poisoning
07-21-06, 11:43 AM
i only have experience with the 580w which i thought to be good value at £60 aka $100US roughly. Its whisper quiet too, i cant even hear it and it has 1 x 80mm fan on the back and a 120mm fan at its base. All the Hiper Type R psu's have PCIe connectivity, i think they are all even SLi ready
note they do a 480 and a 530 aswell as the 580
Wicked Klown
07-22-06, 01:47 AM
Aha! thx thats good to know - but erm, the 580 seems abit of an overkill - will the 480 do the job as well? Don't recall it having a PCI-e outlet?
If you have the money for the 580 get it. After all the PSU is the heart of your system, so you mgiht as well get the biggest you can afford. Also it allows for you to upgrade parts later on without having to buy another PSU.
LeAd_Poisoning
07-22-06, 09:24 AM
The 580w provides 38A via dual 12v rails, this should be future proof for quite a while since the most power hungry card out now, the X1900XTX, consumes just 28A.
R4z0r4mu5 Pr|m3
07-22-06, 12:54 PM
Make sure you activate xp this time.
You freakin' crack me up SavageBasher. Now let's get on topic, it was a coincidence - there is no way windows activation fried something on your computer.
SolidxSnake
07-22-06, 01:54 PM
You freakin' crack me up SavageBasher. Now let's get on topic, it was a coincidence - there is no way windows activation fried something on your computer.
Indeed. Did you once try unplugging the computer for about a minute, plugging it in, and flipping the switch on the PSU? The mobo's post LED should turn on after that.
I find it extremely hard to believe that windows XP activation made your PSU fry. Or any other hardware for that matter.
BTW, some PSUs don't start up unless you have a load on them. try plugging in a HDD and a CDRom into your PSU and then jump the green to a black.
Dreamstalker
07-24-06, 10:11 AM
Yes you can hotwire a PSU by grounding the PS_ON pin which is usually green. Just connect the green with any black ground wire.
If you Google you'll probably find a short guide on how to do it, hopefully with a pinout.
Here's (http://xtronics.com/reference/atx_pinout.htm) the pinout I use.
sry for the bump, just gotta hear this.
So I hotwired the PSU and found out that it was the PSU that was the problem for sure. I'm afriad it WAS XP's fault aswell, though now I dont mind.
See, impatient as I am, I bought a new Antec 450, even though it comes with the worst cable manegement ever (as in none at all)
I was then able to recover the invoice (the company had one) so I send it back to the place I bought but insted of a repair I got a new X-fi Music Extreme (alittle more expensive) now appearently some odd paperwork i donno what happen and I dont wanna know but suddenly I ended up with a brand new X-fi - HALF PRICE!!!
And now my T6060 has just arrived - and even though they are not the best and the X-fi is abit of the overkill I'm really happy with it.
As for the XP Activation, donno much about hardware but I'd imaging that the way it shot down somehow killed it - never though XP had anything directly to do with it...
Adragontattoo
08-24-06, 07:21 AM
sry for the bump, just gotta hear this.
So I hotwired the PSU and found out that it was the PSU that was the problem for sure. I'm afriad it WAS XP's fault aswell, though now I dont mind.
See, impatient as I am, I bought a new Antec 450, even though it comes with the worst cable manegement ever (as in none at all)
I was then able to recover the invoice (the company had one) so I send it back to the place I bought but insted of a repair I got a new X-fi Music Extreme (alittle more expensive) now appearently some odd paperwork i donno what happen and I dont wanna know but suddenly I ended up with a brand new X-fi - HALF PRICE!!!
And now my T6060 has just arrived - and even though they are not the best and the X-fi is abit of the overkill I'm really happy with it.
As for the XP Activation, donno much about hardware but I'd imaging that the way it shot down somehow killed it - never though XP had anything directly to do with it...
Microsoft would NOT setup their activation to blow hardware if the OS isnt legit. It would NOT be in their best interest ($$$) to start setting up WGA to blow/break hardware. They lost a court case regarding software authentication a few days ago and the backlash from people who lost hardware due to faulty WGA would seriously undermine their market share (picture 100+ Dell's dropping due to a faulty WGA activation, in a single company, now multiply that a few hundred or thousand times)...
That would be as dumb as a car maker forcing you to only use BP gas/diesel otherwise your car wont run.
Sorry it might be a coincedence but they are NOT related. The lawsuits would be out of hand if the WGA started killing HW.
chas0039
08-24-06, 08:15 AM
Just remember, as dumb as this idea is, software validation destroying hardware, that is exactly what the new HD DVD drives will do. It has been clearly documented that they will look at the disc structure and if they see a disc that they believe has been copied, the DRM system will shut down your $1000 drive and it will require a service call to reactivate.
So this is not really such a dumb question after all.
articRider
08-24-06, 10:14 AM
Just remember, as dumb as this idea is, software validation destroying hardware, that is exactly what the new HD DVD drives will do. It has been clearly documented that they will look at the disc structure and if they see a disc that they believe has been copied, the DRM system will shut down your $1000 drive and it will require a service call to reactivate.
So this is not really such a dumb question after all.
new HD DVD drives? not seen or heard of those, but i've only just recently got back into following it after a 3 year abscence.
Does this mean if i try to copy my disc (DVD+R)which contains pictures of my friends, the drive wont copy it because the disc is a copy itself?
Adragontattoo
08-24-06, 10:18 AM
shutting down the drive vs destroying HW is totally different, I agree both are annoying but they are different scenarios.
The HD-DVD drive is not totalled and while that is annoying it is another reason that DRM is getting out of hand.
chas0039
08-24-06, 01:35 PM
I am talking about the HD-DVD and Blu Ray drives for the new DVD format. I don't recall which one disables the hardware if it is hacked but, as I recall, it is only when using the HD outputs and HD media.
I really am not up on this format change as I plan to never purchase anything in either format. The information I provided is just one of many reasons to avoid it.
Mr.Guvernment
08-26-06, 06:36 PM
HD and Blueray will not output full res video if the proper hardware is not installed, it does not kill your drive, it will just down size the video to crapp res, non HD.
chas0039
08-26-06, 08:59 PM
HD and Blueray will not output full res video if the proper hardware is not installed, it does not kill your drive, it will just down size the video to crapp res, non HD.
That is not what I am talking about. If the drive detects a DISC that is a copy it shuts down the drive and it will not work at all until a srvice technician resets it.
That is not what I am talking about. If the drive detects a DISC that is a copy it shuts down the drive and it will not work at all until a srvice technician resets it.
and someone will make it so you can reset it without calling a technician.
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