annie10754 Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Mom faithfully unplugs her computer every time it storms. Well, that's been happening a lot these days. Last week she said it "popped" funny when she plugged it back in, so she unplugged it and was afraid to try again. Yesterday, I had her plug it in while I listened for the pop. Yep, it certainly popped! It was a horrible noise that I've never heard come from a computer, plus it looked like it was sparking inside and it smelled hot. She quickly unplugged it. I took the cover off but couldn't see where anything had burned or had damage. (Granted, I'm not a computer geek, but I do know a little.) I'm thinking it might be in the power supply? Has anyone ever had any experience with anything like this, and if so, what can I do?It's an E-machine with Windows ME. Yes, I know it's time for an update, but she likes the old thing and it has a lot of stuff on it she'd like to keep.Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Any electrical device behaving in this way must be looked at by an expert electrician. It is an electrical problem, not a computer one.There is little or nothing that can be done on a forum like this with such a severe case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 I can tell you that E machine power packs are rubbish and, from my experience with a computer belonging to my wifes friend, the best thing you can do is dump the machine and replace it with one using industry standard components. This will ensure that not only will you set off with a better and more reliable machine, but also you will be able to replace faulty parts with standard bits, obtainable at most places at sensible prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 If you follow catgates advice you should be able to still get at the data on your old Hard Drive by mounting it as a slave on your new machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 The whole things about to go up in smoke! Remove the hard drive asap so you can hopefully recover your mom's stuff via another machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie10754 Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Thanks for the replies! Couldn't I just replace the power pack, or isn't it as easy as that? (Or have a computer shop replace it?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Only if you are sure the computer shop know what they are doing. Most likely they will be more interested in selling you a new computer for your mom. Televisions do this sometimes. Some people know exactly how to fix them, others (me included) don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Thanks for the replies! Couldn't I just replace the power pack, or isn't it as easy as that? (Or have a computer shop replace it?)You could replace the power pack, its not to difficult if you make sure you remember where the connectors go when you take them out. There is a good chance that something else may be wrong as well. To take it to a shop to have work done on it will probably cost allot more than the computer is worth, as you could buy a much better one for £300 or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catgate Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 This is where you start to learn.You will find that the only place that stocks power packs for E machines is an E machines dealer.You will then find that one or more of several things will occur. Amongst them will be:-A ridiculously high price for an inferior replacement power pack"Sorry but there is more wrong than just the power pack. It has taken the motherboard out as well""Sorry but you computer is obsolete, we no longer can get parts for that."" Sorry but the CPU has also gone""Certainly we can fit a new power pack....but we can sell you this new computer, complete with Vista installed, for only xxxx"Etc. etc.When I was messing about with the aforementioned computer I came across the sorry tale of the chap somewhere in America who decided to replace an E-machine power pack with an industry standard one. Unfortunately, so determined was he that he decided to butcher the case, in order to make it fit. So he butchered it and it still would not fit. Scrap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie10754 Posted June 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 OK, I'm thinking it's time to get mom a new computer. How do I go about mounting the old hard drive as a slave, as rong suggested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 This gives you a nice illustrated guide (for once you have got the new PC) :-http://www.wikihow.com/Add-an-Extra-Hard-DriveYour new PC will probably have a SATA Hard Drive - the old one will definitely have a PATA/IDE Hard Drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 This will also help.http://www.buildyourown.org.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted July 1, 2008 Report Share Posted July 1, 2008 If she doesn't like big changes try to get one with XP rather than Vista as it will probably be less of a jump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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