Why do so many techs skip checking the power supply first?

I've been doing house calls in Phoenix for about 2 years now, and I'd say 8 out of 10 machines brought in for 'not turning on' just have a dead or failing power supply. The other day a guy spent 45 minutes reseating RAM and swapping cables before I checked his PSU with a tester and it was dead on the 12V rail. Am I crazy for thinking a quick PSU test should be step one every time?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa_hill2314d agoTop Commenter

Respectfully disagree a bit here. Jumping straight to the PSU tester can sometimes overlook simpler stuff like a loose wall outlet or a tripped surge protector that's way more common in older homes out here. Most techs I know start with the obvious physical checks first because it saves time and avoids getting out gear for something that takes 10 seconds to rule out.

emmap1613d ago

Isn't that just life though, everyone thinks they need the fancy tool before checking the basics?