Power Button Issues

artod4789 · 01-25-2007, 03:23 PM

Hey all,

My computer died the other day and I'm not sure how to fix it. It worked as normal, and then one day, I tried to turn it on, it didn't work. I turned the power supply off and then on again and it worked. Then the next day, it wouldn't work again. Tried turning the power supply off and then on, and nothing. And now it won't turn on at all.

I opened her up and the motherboard is lighting up, so there is power getting to there, but I can't see how the power button on the case would just stop working after 3 years of it being perfectly fine.

Any thoughts on what to try? I would hate to rebuild this thing in another case!

Thanks!

**Barry_R** · 01-25-2007, 03:40 PM

Make sure the power button is not damaged and properly connected to your motherboard.

If it is a bad power supply then just get a new one. You dont have to buy a whole new case. The power supplies that come with a case are usually not very good so your are improving your PC.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-25-2007, 03:41 PM

Hi,

You can take the on/off button wires off and take something like a paper clip and momentarily touch (don't leave it on there) the two pins where the wire came off. If it starts, then you know the Off/On button is bad and needs replaced. If it does not, I would guess you will need to consider a new power supply. I recently had an Antec power supply that did exactly what you are describing...the power supply was dead although that motherboard light stays on.

Post back with questions/concerns.

artod4789 · 01-25-2007, 04:21 PM

Thanks for replying so quickly!

It is actually a power supply that did not come with the case. I ended up getting a better one.

But with that, even if the green light on the motherboard is lighting up, there might not be enough power to actually power up the computer?

I'll definitly try the paperclip idea and see if that works or not!

Thanks!

Tumbleweed36 · 01-25-2007, 04:43 PM

Hi,

The paper clip will tell you if it is a off/on button or not. If it starts when you put that clip there, then it is the button. Don't hold it on there only a second or so, because that is all it takes to start your computer is to make contact (slight) between those two posts.

What the light on your motherboard simply is saying is that there is electricity in the circuit, not that it is the power needed to run the computer. If you must buy another power supply, please read the power supply information under my signature area. Let us know if we can help further.

artod4789 · 01-25-2007, 05:31 PM

Well, I tried the paperclip and nothing. I could hear the power supply making a very light noise, but wouldn't do anything. So I ended up buying a new power supply from tiger direct. Oh well. Hopefully that will work!

Thanks for all of the info! And especially the power supply link in your sig!

Tumbleweed36 · 01-25-2007, 05:56 PM

Hi,

That will most likely fix it, but one can never know exactly. That was what was wrong with mine as I mentioned. What power supply did you order?

artod4789 · 01-26-2007, 04:08 AM

I ended up getting the OCZ GameXStream - Power supply ( internal ) - ATX12V 2.2/ EPS12V - 700 Watt - active PFC from TigerDirect. Unfortunately, it won't ship until next week, so I'll be without my computer until then. Luckily I have a mac laptop that I can use in the meantime.

I was kind of surprised to see my power supply die as I have had other machines which have lasted much longer than this. And the power supply I got for the pc I'm using now (well, not right now as it's dead in the water) was supposed to be a very highly rated one when I got it. Oh well. At least it lasted me a few years!

When I get it, I will definitly let you know if that fixed the problem or not.

Tumbleweed36 · 01-26-2007, 04:12 AM

Hi,

Glad to hear that you got the OCZ. That is definitely top-of-the-line and is just a great supply. Thanks for the reply.

artod4789 · 01-26-2007, 05:11 AM

And it's $25 off at TigerDirect! :) $104 or something like that! Beat out all of the others in that area.

artod4789 · 01-31-2007, 02:05 PM

Well, just so y'all know, I got my new OCZ power supply, hooked it up and it is purring like a kitten! So it all seems to work...for now, at least! Thanks so much for your help!!!!

Tumbleweed36 · 01-31-2007, 02:21 PM

Hi,

So glad to hear that. Tell you what, don't be a stranger on here now, stick around and enjoy the forum. Happy computing.

01-25-2007, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
artod4789 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro	Power Button Issues Hey all, My computer died the other day and I'm not sure how to fix it. It worked as normal, and then one day, I tried to turn it on, it didn't work. I turned the power supply off and then on again and it worked. Then the next day, it wouldn't work again. Tried turning the power supply off and then on, and nothing. And now it won't turn on at all. I opened her up and the motherboard is lighting up, so there is power getting to there, but I can't see how the power button on the case would just stop working after 3 years of it being perfectly fine. Any thoughts on what to try? I would hate to rebuild this thing in another case! Thanks!

01-25-2007, 03:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Barry_R TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: California Posts: 700 OS: Win XP Home, Linux Mint My System	Make sure the power button is not damaged and properly connected to your motherboard. If it is a bad power supply then just get a new one. You dont have to buy a whole new case. The power supplies that come with a case are usually not very good so your are improving your PC. Last edited by Barry_R; 01-25-2007 at 03:41 PM.

01-25-2007, 03:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 18,021 OS: XP Professional	Hi, You can take the on/off button wires off and take something like a paper clip and momentarily touch (don't leave it on there) the two pins where the wire came off. If it starts, then you know the Off/On button is bad and needs replaced. If it does not, I would guess you will need to consider a new power supply. I recently had an Antec power supply that did exactly what you are describing...the power supply was dead although that motherboard light stays on. Post back with questions/concerns. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

01-25-2007, 04:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 18,021 OS: XP Professional	Hi, The paper clip will tell you if it is a off/on button or not. If it starts when you put that clip there, then it is the button. Don't hold it on there only a second or so, because that is all it takes to start your computer is to make contact (slight) between those two posts. What the light on your motherboard simply is saying is that there is electricity in the circuit, not that it is the power needed to run the computer. If you must buy another power supply, please read the power supply information under my signature area. Let us know if we can help further. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

01-25-2007, 05:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 18,021 OS: XP Professional	Hi, That will most likely fix it, but one can never know exactly. That was what was wrong with mine as I mentioned. What power supply did you order? __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

01-25-2007, 04:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
artod4789 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro	Thanks for replying so quickly! It is actually a power supply that did not come with the case. I ended up getting a better one. But with that, even if the green light on the motherboard is lighting up, there might not be enough power to actually power up the computer? I'll definitly try the paperclip idea and see if that works or not! Thanks!

01-25-2007, 05:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
artod4789 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro	Well, I tried the paperclip and nothing. I could hear the power supply making a very light noise, but wouldn't do anything. So I ended up buying a new power supply from tiger direct. Oh well. Hopefully that will work! Thanks for all of the info! And especially the power supply link in your sig!

01-26-2007, 04:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
artod4789 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro	I ended up getting the OCZ GameXStream - Power supply ( internal ) - ATX12V 2.2/ EPS12V - 700 Watt - active PFC from TigerDirect. Unfortunately, it won't ship until next week, so I'll be without my computer until then. Luckily I have a mac laptop that I can use in the meantime. I was kind of surprised to see my power supply die as I have had other machines which have lasted much longer than this. And the power supply I got for the pc I'm using now (well, not right now as it's dead in the water) was supposed to be a very highly rated one when I got it. Oh well. At least it lasted me a few years! When I get it, I will definitly let you know if that fixed the problem or not.

01-26-2007, 04:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 18,021 OS: XP Professional	Hi, Glad to hear that you got the OCZ. That is definitely top-of-the-line and is just a great supply. Thanks for the reply. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

01-26-2007, 05:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
artod4789 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro	And it's $25 off at TigerDirect! :) $104 or something like that! Beat out all of the others in that area.

01-31-2007, 02:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
artod4789 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 6 OS: Win XP Pro	Well, just so y'all know, I got my new OCZ power supply, hooked it up and it is purring like a kitten! So it all seems to work...for now, at least! Thanks so much for your help!!!!

01-31-2007, 02:21 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 18,021 OS: XP Professional	Hi, So glad to hear that. Tell you what, don't be a stranger on here now, stick around and enjoy the forum. Happy computing. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.