PSU problem

[maxusmag]

The other day i was changing the processor out on my MB when i had a coolant leak with a water cooler. The computer was not plugged in or anything. I have let the mother board dry out and i went to see if it would come on.

the problem is now my power supply will not power up. no liquid went into the power suppy.

i have tried 3 different outlets and nothing will happen. the fan won't even come on.

is the power supply dead i guess?

[Zap]

Have you tried to power it on using a paper clip? If you are trying to power it on via the motherboard then maybe the motherboard is dead?

[maxusmag]

i hooked up power to the mother board, but even without the mothboard when i hit the power button on the front it doesn't do anything. I have an RMA number for the power supply.

when i hook up the power switch to the MB and the power LED all i get is a blinking light for power.

so i think i have a dead power supply and MB.

[Solitaire]

You need to use a second (known good) PSU to determine whether the mobo has really had it or not. Or test a second rig with the original PSU to check that instead.

[cypherpunks]

Even a very small amount of residue from antifreeze or anti-algae agents can be enough to shut down the ultra-low power CMOS clock. The motherboard's power-on circuitry might depend on that clock (say, to debounce the switch).

So before you give up, short the green wire to a black one with a paperclip jammed in the back of the ATX connector. It is quite likely that this will turn on the computer.

It's possible that just forcing it on and running it for a while will clear up the problem.

If it persists, or the power comes on but the computer doesn't boot correctly, you can try washing the motherboard with distilled water.
Heat up the water (as long as it's not actively boiling at the instant you put it on the motherboard, you won't hurt it, but you might want to go a little cooler for your own safety), and use a spray bottle if you have one.

Shake it off and let it dry (a fan will help), and it'll probably work just fine. The main thing you don't want is water stuck anywhere, like in the PCI slots or under the processor socket or heatsink backplate. Blow it out with compressed air (or a hair dryer on low/no heat).

Actually, deionized will do, if you have a supply, but $1/gallon distilled water jugs from the grocery store are more accessible to most people. There are different grades of deionized water (http://www.myronl.com/applications/diapp.htm); the stuff used to wash cars is not quite as good as what's usually used to wash electronics, but it's close enough for this application.

There are fancy board washers in electronic factories, but any Maytag is a perfectly serviceable low-rent alternative as long as it's run on deionized water.