T2893 desktop did not power on when I hit the power button

E-Machines were known to have Power Supplies that went bad for no apparent reason, the worst part was on some of the computers it also did killed the motherboard, you can pickup a power supply tester at most computer shops for less than $20.00, or you can choose to get a new power supply.
I have found Ebay to be a good source for a replacement

1) Install the harddrive as a slave drive in a known working computer.

2) Install the harddrive into an economical external harddrive enclosure, and plug the USB cable of the enclosure into a known working computer.
[IMHO the better of the two options]

The eMachines T2893 uses an IDE harddrive, (IDE is also referred to as PATA)
This is an example of an IDE external enclosure,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1337265&CatId=2779

As for the T2893 it could be a bad power supply, and worst case scenario, a bad motherboard also.

Granted the power supply may seem to be working, (Bestec 250 Watt), but it may have a weak voltage power rail.

Enough power to light lights, and maybe spin fans, but not enough for the Processor.
1) ALL the lights use less than 1 Watt of power
2) EACH fan uses 2 to 3 Watts
3) A typical Processor can use 51 to a 125 Watts.

The T2893 comes with an Intel Celeron D 330.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_intel_celeron_microprocessors#.22Prescott-256.22_.2890_nm.29

The Celeron D 330 can use up to 84 Watts. (Under the heading TDP in the chart )

In essence the harddrive may not be bad.

When you press the Power On button, you are closing a circuit that feeds 5 Volts to the Power Supply. Soft Power On function.

[Brought in, to replace the old style of pressing the plastic Power On button, which in turn presses against a steel rod, which in turn presses against a Power On switch, attached directly to the Power Supply ]

Power goes to the motherboard. The first chipset to receive power, and to initialize is the BIOS chip.
[Chip and Chipset are slang terms to represent I.C. Integrated Circuit]

Bios looks to see what devices are installed, does a Ram Memory count, turns the Processor on, and hands the computer over to the Operating System.
[Windows XP is an example of an O/S]

The operating system is located on the harddrive.
You don't have enough power to turn the Processor on, so there is nothing to process information.
Nothing to find the operating system.

Two of the major faults reported for the T2893, are the Bestec 250 Watt PSU, (Power Supply Unit), and the motherboard.
The primary failure is the Power Supply. When the power supply fails, it has a nasty tendency to take the motherboard with it.

What actions to take, to possibly solve the problem with the T2893, provided the harddrive works?
Suggestions:

1) Test the Power Supply. See if the voltages are correct, and specifically the 12 Volt power.
There are three main voltages.
A) Yellow insulated wires are 12 Volts
B) Red wires are 5 volts
C) Orange wires are 3.3 Volts

ANY Black wire is a Ground wire.

Do you have a multimeter? An economical multimeter can be purchased for around $10 to $12.
(Many stores carry them. An auto parts store is one place)

There is also a power supply tester. Economical versions are around $20.
The 12 Volt power can be 11 to 13 Volts. Anything below 11 Volts, and it's time for a new power supply.

Power supply diagnoses to be good, check the motherboard. Visually look for bad Electrolytic Capacitors.
eMachines are known for using cheap quality Electrolytic Capacitors.
Saves the computer manufacturer money, which they use to sell budget priced computers. (All eMachines are budget computers)

http://www.capacitorlab.com/visible-failures/index.htm

If the motherboard is bad, I have seen replacements offered online.
One motherboard offered had the price of $90.

Now you could be looking at $30 to $50 for a decent replacement Power Supply, and another $90 for a motherboard.
Believe it would be best served to purchase another computer, IMHO.

Have any questions concerning this, please post in a Comment.

there are TWO different power cables on the new machines. (not just two parts to the ATX)

one is the ATX like you are used to.

The other is a small four-prong plug (coming off of the power supply - look for yellow and black wires) find the matching receptacle on the motherboard.

good luck

E-Machines are notorious.....I had the same trouble with my T3624, replaced the MB and alls' well. The green light just shows the power is connected.

Bottom line: Either your power supply or (hopefully not) the mother board has gone bad.
Replace power supply (remove old one), take to local independent computer shop, ask them for new unit. Should be around $50.00. - no more. After reinstall, if still no fans, boot, etc. Replace motherboard or buy a new machine. MB's installed probably will run you around $250.00-ish.
Good luck.

gurutim

hi there


it seems like it cud be either ur motherboard or cpu that has gone.

do you have another machine that u can test the cpu in?

regards Rich

Since you are looking inside, try this. Trace the wires that come from the power switch back to the Motherboard. The wires from the switch will connect to two pins on the motherboard. Carefully jump those two pins with a screwdriver and the machine should turn on. I would suggest doing this with all drives and cards unplugged first.

It sould be as simple as the on/off switch being bad .. the power supply could be bad .. it is powering the 'led' enough but it is faulty and cannot power the machine.

Try disconnecting all the components .. cd, hard drives, floppy ,etc .. but leave the power plugs on the motherboard .. try ...see if the CPU fan or power supply fan spin up..

http://www.hardwarezone.com/img/data/articles/2004/1192/11-frontpanel-header.jpg
Try maybe it helps

go to this link for the information you need http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/sr/sr_con.htm#IC