[pedronicus]

Hi folks, first post.:up:

I am having problems in switching on my PC (Packard-Bell iMedia, P4, XP-HE, 4yrs old).

I usually turn it off overnight by using Start/Turn Off Computor. Recently I have had major problems in turning the beast on again the following morning as follows:

1. Push power-on button.
2. Power, h/d & speaker lights illuminate for about 1.5secs - no noise from pooter
3. Repeated operation of power-on button has no effect.
4. Unplug power lead from wall socket and wait 10-15 secs (until LED on USB hub goes out).
5. Plug power lead back into wall socket
6. Push power-on button again.
7. as per 2 & 3 above.

Sometimes the pooter powers up with h/d & fan noise for maybe 10 secs or so and then dies.

At other times the pooter powers up, goes though the opening screens and then dies half-way through the XP splash screen.

If it can get through the XP splash screen then all will be OK and it will run quite happily all day. I do not use standby as it sometimes dies whilst in that mode.

I have decided, for the time being, to leave it switched on all the time. Are there any issues with leaving the pooter turned on all the time other than the obvious power spikes/cuts etc [surge protector fitted]?

This morning it took nearly 30 goes of 1 to 5 to have any effect.

I'm leaning towards a PSU problem but cannot understand why, once started, it runs quite happily all day. I also don't understand why disconnecting the thing from the mains power would have the described effect.

 

[GripS]

Power supply issues can be very deceptive. That's where i would be looking first.

 

[redalert95]

I agree, the PSU could definitely be having issues, whether or not there seems to be any cause. As a matter of fact, I just had to replace a rather pricy PSU (thankfully it was still under warrenty), and I still have no idea what I did that made it stop working.

There are a few things you can do, if you own or have access to a PSU tester, use that. When I had issues with my PSU recently, I was able to take it into a computer service store nearyby, and they tested it for free.
If you can't get a PSU tester, there is a way to test it on your own, though it's not particularily healthy for the PSU. The way to do it is to disconnect everything from the PSU (taking it out of the computer might be good too). Turn the switch on the PSU to off (if you haven't already), and plug it into a wall. Then, using a bent-up paper clip, jump the 14th and 15th pin. The 15th pin is a ground, the 14th is the one that triggers the computer to turn on. Once you have the paper clip in the pin-holes, turn the power switch on the PSU to on. Leave it on just long enough to see if the fan starts spinning. If it does, your PSU is probably working, if it doesn't, it might not be. (This method is better explained at: http://www.duxcw.com/faq/ps/ps4.htm )
Obviously the PSU tester would be best, but the DIY method can work too.

 

[pedronicus]

Problem now appears to be solved with a new PSU. Thanks for the help, folks. I'm a bit confused as to why the PC appears to run faster with a new PSU - correct voltages now maybe?

 

[GripS]

Yes. Stable clean power can make your system run much more efficiently.