Alan2273 Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 For the past week when I start up my main computer in the morning it takes between 20-40 presses of the power button before it will start, I have checked the wires from the power button to the motherboard and they are OK, I have also checked the power button and that is OK. Once I have started it up I can shut it down and it will start first time then, but if I leave it for a couple of hours the same problem occurs. Any suggestions as to what could cause this would and how to cure it would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Possibly a fault in the PSU.The momentary contact power button activates a (electronic) solenoid type of device which should kick in and then keep itself on by the power it is supplying. This may be inadvertantly temperature sensitive so that the machine needs to be warm before the "solenoid" will keep itself switched on - after your 20-40 operations or when the computer is warm. After the two hours of being off, the machine is cold so it will then need the multiple operations of the Start button again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted October 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 My PSU is an Antec 480 watt modular unit and is about 18 months old, as I do not have another to try your theory out, it is going top be expensive to replace if that is not the problem.Is there any way to check out the PSU before I buy another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rong Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Nick your brothers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted October 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 Nick your brothers.Ha ha, I never thought of that, He has a Seasonic S12 600 watt, so I will strip it out and try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted October 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 After a bit of mumbling from my brother we stripped his PSU out and put it in mine and bingo it fired up no problems so I have ordered a Seasonic S12 600watt, the only problem being he wants the new one and I keep his old one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted October 13, 2006 Report Share Posted October 13, 2006 He's right I want the new one. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted October 14, 2006 Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 He's right I want the new one. :DSo you should, you helped him out. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted October 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2006 The saga is not ended yet, I went to switch on this morning and same problem, so I have spent £100 for nothing.So with it not being the PSU, wiring or switch, that only leaves the motherboard, :( Any one want to buy an Antec 480W Neopower modular supply?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted October 15, 2006 Report Share Posted October 15, 2006 Are you sure it's not the button? Perhaps it is not making proper contact. Trace the wires from the plug on the mother board up to the actual button itself. You may even want to try a different button (grab one off a scrap computer, or ask the local shop if they have any laying around) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 15, 2006 Report Share Posted October 15, 2006 I'm surprised that it initially worked OK when tested with another PSU and now it doesn't. Very odd!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted October 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2006 I swapped the power button over to the reset button to check that and also checked the wiring and power button with a multimeter.It may still have been a bit warm when we changed the power supply and that may be the reason why it worked.On another forum Jason, who tests computer hardware for a living and writes articles for computer magazines left a reply for me and this was was what he said.This is almost certainly a shafted motherboard (I've seen the symptoms many, many times). What's happening is that there's a crack somewhere on the board -- a crack in one or some of the tracks. When the system warms up, this crack is bridged, allowing the system to work. That's why you can use the system all day, and reboot as often as you like, once the machine's up and running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted October 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 I purchased an Antec PSU tester and hooked it up to check out the PSU and it passed with flying colours, so it looks like another motherboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Interesting theory.. the cracked motherboard. Sounds quite likely if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted November 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Pops you were right, it was the PSU.Fortunately for me the new Motherboard I ordered was D.O.A.So I tested the Antec PSU again and it showed a fault, next I put the Seasonic in and voila all the problems had gone.I have just RMA'd the motherboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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