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General discussion

Computer boot - requires multiple power on and power off

Dec 15, 2003 2:41AM PST

I've been having some problems with my computer. When I power it on, it attempts to go through the boot sequence( lan card lights up, cd rom drive is accessed but the monitor does not detect a signal). If I power the sytem on and off several times (3 - 10) it eventually boots and works fine until it is powered down for the night. I have reset the video card thinking I may have a bad connection but that has not helped. My monitor (Sony) detects a signal if one is present. When the above occurs, no signal is detected from the monitor nor do I get the audible beep from normal boot sequence. No changes have been made to either s/w or h/w that I am aware of that started this problem to happen. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Jay

Discussion is locked

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Re:Computer boot - requires multiple power on and power off
Dec 15, 2003 4:53AM PST
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Re:Re:Computer boot - requires multiple power on and power off
Dec 16, 2003 11:48AM PST

Bob, so are you thinking that it might be bad capacitors on the video card or mother board?
You also mention a MONSTER power supply. Can a faulty power supply cuase ths problem? How would you diagnose the power supply. I"m getting power to the system, it just won't boot.
Thanks,
Jay

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Re:Re:Re:Computer boot - requires multiple power on and power off
Dec 16, 2003 12:03PM PST

1. "are you thinking that it might be bad capacitors on the video card or mother board?"

I supplied a link that will show PICTURES of what to look for. No reason not to look around.

2. "You also mention a MONSTER power supply. Can a faulty power supply cuase ths problem?"

Absolutely.

3. "How would you diagnose the power supply."

I replace it. Remember that 450 to 550 Watt monster power supplies are just 20 to 30 dollars. It's a cheap item to swap out.

4. "I'm getting power to the system, it just won't boot."

Which is why you need to open it up (power off please), reseat cards, visually look it over. I usually leave the case cover off till I find it.

Bob

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Re:Computer boot - requires multiple power on and power off
Dec 18, 2003 3:39AM PST

As Bob indicates capacitors are a leading cause of such problems.

If the present power supply has been adequate for some time WITH current hardware I personally would look for a failure point either at a cable connection (video cable perhaps) OR in the bus slots/card connections themselves.

Dirty connectors can cause the same problem.

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I agree...
Dec 18, 2003 2:58PM PST

The other posters pretty much summed up what can be the problem. Either a bad(intermit) p/s or mtrbd.. Also, your constant on/off cycles will in itself introduce a problem besides what you're experiecing now. Closly check for bad capacitors either "bulging or distorted and/or leaky". The only real way to test p/s besides an ATX tester($10-20) is to replace it(swap out). Remember, cheap is cheap and there were rarely 12-18mo. ago 500W+ p/s units but they're common now and very low cost but I tend to steer users to Enermax or Antec(sp) units they seem to last and build well, of course they cost more. Also, if you've recently added a new device of any type you may have outstripped the power output and now showing the result.

good luck -----Willy

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Re:Computer boot - requires multiple power on and power off
Dec 18, 2003 3:16PM PST

Defenetaly check you power supply. A faulty power supply can lead to some strange results. Strip your computer to the bare essntials. Video, ram, ... and boot.

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Computer boot - requires multiple power on and power off
Nov 7, 2005 9:58AM PST

I have had very similar problems. Intermittently, my PC will require 2-3 power on and offs to startup. Sometimes when I shut the pc down it shuts down but the power doesn't turn off. This can also occur, although less frequently, during auto-restart. The monitor will say that it does not detect a signal. If I leave the PC on, it is fine indefinitely.

The problem started after moving and having to pack up and then unpack and set up my PC. I'm thinking that something may have been jarred a little loose, but everything looked tight. I also tried reseating the video card anyway. I noticed that the first message I get on the screen during a successful startup is a video card check message ("SGRAM size: 8 MB), so that makes me think that it is a video card or video card slot issue. I still get the problem intermittently, but it seems to be less frequent. The video card is a Diamond Viper V330 (8 MB) Ver. 4.0. If the video card is the problem, how would a video card work intermittently, and why would powering off and on help?

OS: Win XP Pro SP2

PC Components:
Processor: AMD K6-2 300MHz (3D)
Motherboard: DFI K6XV3+ /66 revision BB+
RAM: 256 MB PC100 100-PIN SDRAM DIMMs, 3.3V
Slot 1: 128 MB, Slot 2: 128 MB, Slot 3: empty
Video Card: Diamond Viper V330 PCI 8 MB in PCI slot 1
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster
CD/RW drive: TEAC CD-W524E 24X/10X/40X (w/rw/r) EIDE
Internal Modem: Zoom 56k Dual Modem
NIC: Realtek RTL8029(AS) PCI Ethernet Adapter in PCI slot 2
Floppy Drives:
3 ?? 1.44 MB
Zip 100 USB External
Hard Drives:
Western Digital Caviar WD400BB EIDE 40 GB
Seagate EIDE 40 GB
BIOS: Award Modular v 6.00 PG 4/12/00