On Dec 3, 8:57 am, "Ron Badour" <So...@NoAddress.com> wrote:
> If you have a multi meter, you can test thepower supplyyourself--Google
> for the procedure. If no meter, there arepower supplytesters for relative
> low prices--use Google again to locate one.

Power supply system involves more than just a power supply. Power
supply tester will not test the entire supply 'system'. Power supply
tester will also report as good some power supplies that are actually
defective.

Essential for identifying the power supply as defective OR
'definitively' identifying the whole 'supply subsystem' as good means
two minutes, a meter, and disconnecting nothing. The procedure is
"When your computer dies without warning....." starting 6 Feb 2007 in
the newsgroup alt.windows-xp at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh

For Ron's problem, the most useful part in that procedure are
voltages on red, orange, yellow, and purple wires - when everything is
drawing power from the supply. Again, tested without disconnecting a
single wire. A power supply tester cannot test for this type of
failure.

For about the same money, a multimeter even from K-mart, Wal-mart,
Radio Shack, any Tru-Value Hardware store, Lowes, etc is $20 better
spent. Unlike the power supply tester, a multimeter also has numerous
other useful functions including confirming a replacement power
supply. A defective supply can still boot a computer. But a new and
defective supply would be quickly identified with the meter long
before that defect causes more computer problems. Again, a power
supply tester cannot do that.

Power supply tester will even declare as good some power supplies
that are defective. Power supply tester cannot define the entire
power supply 'system' as "definitively good". Only useful answer
includes the word 'definitive'. Power supply tester cannot answer
with the word 'definitive'. Get the multimeter. If a new power
supply is required, meter will also confirm that supply is
'definitively good'.