Cascade Crew

DBL_TKE · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:25 am Post subject: Calling all computer guru's...

I've been having a problem with my computer starting up after I unplug it from the power strip. I am in the process of moving so I've had to unplug it several times. the problem I'm having is that once everything is all plugged in and ready to go, nothing will turn on. I can press the power button on the front of the PC numerous times and nothing will happen. Every time I've unplugged to computer this has happened to me. It will usually take anywhere from a couple of hours to several days for my computer to finally decide to turn on with the press of the button. It doesn't seem to matter how many times I press the power button, it will just randomly turn on one of the times I press it. It can't be my power supply becuase once it's on my computer runs seamlessly. Another thing to note is that once I've plugged my computer back into the surge protector there's a little green light on the back of my PC that will blink so I've obviously got power. I've done a lot of searching on the net and have come up with nothing related to my exact situation.

91RSVert · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:16 am Post subject:

what kinda pc is it? How old? Any past history of problems? etc

Mine seems to take about 15sec for power to get to everything on it before I can start it. Its a homebuilt one.

Xophertony · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 9:42 am Post subject:

i see this at the shop (i sometimes work in a pc repair shoppe) every once in a while. do you have a reset switch too? if so do this:
1. open the case.
2. locate the 2-6 two wire plugs that run from the front face to the motherboard (mobo)
3. locate the one labeled "power" and the one labeled "reset" where they plug into the mobo
4. swap them. now your reset switch on the case is plugged into the "power" location on the mobo
5 press the "reset" button on the case, which is now acting as your power button. does it work?

if you do not have a reset switch you can carefully touch the two prongs the switch plugs into with a screwdriver or pliers. be careful.

if it works with the other switch or screwdriver your power switch has gone bad. you can get a new micro switch at any electronics store that does not suck. i recommend "norvac electronics" in beaverton. they are off nimbus near "dewey316s" work. you can also probably swap the switches inside the faceplate if you are careful. or just press the reset switch instead of the power switch form now on. whatever works for you.

EDIT* i found a few videos of "how too" plug in your front face plate stuff. it's a little pixilated but should give you a good idea.
http://www.expertvillage.com/video/7481_building-pc-power-reset-switch-LED-installation.htm

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/21629_computer-power-plugs.htm

if you don't have it fixed by next Monday, i will be back in the Portland area, and i have the day off. if you bring it by my place i'll be happy to work on it.

Richster · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

I have a relative in the business, he's very good and works on the side, if you need serious pc help he can walk you through it, or if you are in the Portland metro area he can blaze by. If you would like his number shot me a PM and i will get it to you. Very Happy

Rich

Schultzy89GTA · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 4:49 pm Post subject:

pssst Rich, "Sliver Shark"?

Wink

-Schultzy

Richster · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject: The Shark

Hey Mike! Yea I came up with the name from a dive trip in Hawaii in 1984. I was cruising in the water checking out the sights, and looked up to see this sweet shark cruising about 10 feet to my side, and from the dorsal fin to the head it reminded me of the TA! Just that sleek look, the mouth reminded me of the TA grill, well from the side at least. The shark had a silver gray color…So from then on the TA was the silver shark! And now my hair is the same color! Thumbs up

Richster · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:08 pm Post subject: OOOHHH DAAHHH

Sliver Shark...OMG...LMAO what a dip S*i^ i am..Oh thanks dude! what a dork... i didn't even notice! got to fix that one...well i gave the reason behind the silver shark!
thanks

DBL_TKE · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:29 pm Post subject:

My PC is an '02 HP Pavilion a365c. This has always been a problem. Now this only happens when I completely cut of any power to the PC i.e. unplug it from the power strip or turn off the power in the house. I never have this problem when I simply just shut down the computer.

Tony, I tried your walk through. I don't have a reset button so I just tried the old screwdriver trick and it still didn't do a thing so it can't be the switch itself. I'll give you a call next week perhaps if I haven't managed to get it running by then.

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

Do you have a spare power supply you can try? Sometimes the best troubleshooting is to eleminate possible problems by using other parts.

Al Hasse · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject:

Xophertony · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

big ups to john. that was my next step for you. after that it's probably a motherboard issue.

DBL_TKE · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

Unfortunately I do not have any extra power supplies to my disposal so someone who is more knowledgeable with computers is going to have to take a gander at it.

91RSVert · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:18 am Post subject:

from my somewhat experience, hp's have always had small/weak power supply units. But this isnt the normal problem I see with them.

Take it by tony and have him take a stab at it.

But honestly, a 2002 model might just be easier to replace it. In computer terms thats an old machine.

Xophertony · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 10:13 am Post subject:

a power supply is 25 bucks for a cheapo one. i may have an extra laying around for testing purposes. if not we could yank the one from my desktop and test with it. the only sucky part about these prebuilt PCs (HP, Compaq, gateway, Dell.. ETC) is that they often have proprietary equipment inside that is not compatible. for example you may have a non standard size power supply. we could test with another as the plugs are probably the same, but we would have to replace with an HP power supply.

two options there. new case (cheapo ones are $30-50, and may come with power supply) or i could source the HP power supply through work. probably would be about the same price.

regardless, we won't know until i take a look at it. i am free Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. i will be looking at houses mid day on SUN, but eavening should be fine.

DBL_TKE · Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:14 am Post subject:

Well I finally got the thing fixed. It ended up being the power supply, and it turned out that I actually did have an extra computer laying around in the garage. A Medion M^3 Composer 5200. the power supply in that was 350W and the one in my HP was a measly 250W and all the connectors plugged in without a fuss. I'm typing with my fixed computer as we speak. thanks for all the help guys.