P.S.: By dead, I mean completely dead - nothing happens (no lights, no
fans, no drives running, etc).

Bill in Co. wrote:
> Is there any simple test to eliminate one of those possibilities?
>
> I have read that it is possible to check the power supply by temporarily
> shorting two pins together, but I don't know which two pins, and I don't
> know if that will work without any load on the power supply. I do have
> a
> voltmeter, however.

ATX Power Supply Pinout and how to test.
http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/ATX_Pinout

JS

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:uMwfi3$oIHA.4308@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> P.S.: By dead, I mean completely dead - nothing happens (no lights, no
> fans, no drives running, etc).
>
> Bill in Co. wrote:
>> Is there any simple test to eliminate one of those possibilities?
>>
>> I have read that it is possible to check the power supply by temporarily
>> shorting two pins together, but I don't know which two pins, and I don't
>> know if that will work without any load on the power supply. I do have
>> a
>> voltmeter, however.
>
>

Be aware that some Dell PCs do not use the standard ATX pinout/color code,
especially older models.

JS

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:uMwfi3$oIHA.4308@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> P.S.: By dead, I mean completely dead - nothing happens (no lights, no
> fans, no drives running, etc).
>
> Bill in Co. wrote:
>> Is there any simple test to eliminate one of those possibilities?
>>
>> I have read that it is possible to check the power supply by temporarily
>> shorting two pins together, but I don't know which two pins, and I don't
>> know if that will work without any load on the power supply. I do have
>> a
>> voltmeter, however.
>
>

LOL I found out the hard way.

JS wrote:
> Be aware that some Dell PCs do not use the standard ATX pinout/color code,
> especially older models.
>
> JS
>
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:uMwfi3$oIHA.4308@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> P.S.: By dead, I mean completely dead - nothing happens (no lights, no
>> fans, no drives running, etc).
>>
>> Bill in Co. wrote:
>>> Is there any simple test to eliminate one of those possibilities?
>>>
>>> I have read that it is possible to check the power supply by temporarily
>>> shorting two pins together, but I don't know which two pins, and I don't
>>> know if that will work without any load on the power supply. I do
>>> have
>>> a
>>> voltmeter, however.

Thanks.
Since I have an old Dell, with its "infamous" non standard connectors, I may
have to wait on this though.

JS wrote:
> ATX Power Supply Pinout and how to test.
> http://wiki.xtronics.com/index.php/ATX_Pinout
>
> JS
>
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:uMwfi3$oIHA.4308@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> P.S.: By dead, I mean completely dead - nothing happens (no lights, no
>> fans, no drives running, etc).
>>
>> Bill in Co. wrote:
>>> Is there any simple test to eliminate one of those possibilities?
>>>
>>> I have read that it is possible to check the power supply by temporarily
>>> shorting two pins together, but I don't know which two pins, and I don't
>>> know if that will work without any load on the power supply. I do
>>> have
>>> a
>>> voltmeter, however.

Don't take this the wrong way but have you checked the fuse in the plug.
Also does it have an output to run to a monitor as well as you could probably
pick up a lead for pennies if you do not already have one

"Bill in Co." wrote:

> LOL I found out the hard way.
>
> JS wrote:
> > Be aware that some Dell PCs do not use the standard ATX pinout/color code,
> > especially older models.
> >
> > JS
> >
> > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > news:uMwfi3$oIHA.4308@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> >> P.S.: By dead, I mean completely dead - nothing happens (no lights, no
> >> fans, no drives running, etc).
> >>
> >> Bill in Co. wrote:
> >>> Is there any simple test to eliminate one of those possibilities?
> >>>
> >>> I have read that it is possible to check the power supply by temporarily
> >>> shorting two pins together, but I don't know which two pins, and I don't
> >>> know if that will work without any load on the power supply. I do
> >>> have
> >>> a
> >>> voltmeter, however.
>
>
>

You could try to borrow another power supply to test most PSU are either 20
or 24 pins. Borrow one could save you money, but if no lights or fans come
one, I think your going in the right direction and should probably get a new
PSU




"Sirtokalott" wrote:

> Don't take this the wrong way but have you checked the fuse in the plug.
> Also does it have an output to run to a monitor as well as you could probably
> pick up a lead for pennies if you do not already have one
>
> "Bill in Co." wrote:
>
> > LOL I found out the hard way.
> >
> > JS wrote:
> > > Be aware that some Dell PCs do not use the standard ATX pinout/color code,
> > > especially older models.
> > >
> > > JS
> > >
> > > "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > > news:uMwfi3$oIHA.4308@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> > >> P.S.: By dead, I mean completely dead - nothing happens (no lights, no
> > >> fans, no drives running, etc).
> > >>
> > >> Bill in Co. wrote:
> > >>> Is there any simple test to eliminate one of those possibilities?
> > >>>
> > >>> I have read that it is possible to check the power supply by temporarily
> > >>> shorting two pins together, but I don't know which two pins, and I don't
> > >>> know if that will work without any load on the power supply. I do
> > >>> have
> > >>> a
> > >>> voltmeter, however.
> >
> >
> >