what are the signs of

[nwshc]

What are the signs of a dieing power supply
and
a dieing hard drive

Im trying to figure this out. When I push in the power button nothing happens so i have to hold it in and plug the psu in at the same time.
Then it turns on
But the os doesnt load till the 5th to 10th time i turn it on.
Sometimes the HDDs (i have to) turn on but nothing comes on the screen
Sometimes i dont hear the HDDs turn on at all and nothing happens
And some times while loading the os, it just doesn't respond to anything.
So i think its the main hdd and a friend thinks it the psu
any ideas?

[Skhorpion]

that could be a dieing psu yes but do you have access to a multimeter? if so check voltages on the psu by unplugging the main ATX power connector and shorting the green wire to a black wire and tehn probing with the multimeter

http://69.36.189.159/usr_1034/atx_on.gif

if the psu seems good then its probably the motherboard

[nwshc]

I know my dad has one. My friend is bringing over another psu so i will try that, and i will also check the current one
thanks

[Skhorpion]

if it doesnt even spin up fans etc when you press the power button with the new psu then i say its a bad motherboard

[nwshc]

well the thing is like its working just fine right now. Its not lagging or anything. Its only from a cold start where when i press the power button and nothing happens and all that

[Skhorpion]

ya that sounds either psu or mobo

also when you test it give it some room to breath

meaning 12.2V on the 12V line wont hurt and 11.8 wont and so on