Computer Stalls on power-up, literally

pradhan · 01-17-2008, 02:36 PM

Greetings and thanks for being there.
I have an unusual power up problem. When the computer is powered on, the drives start, lights go on as usual, etc, but after 1-2 seconds, the computer shuts off as if there is no power. If I turn off the main power switch (on the back) and then back on and then power up again, this can repeat 20-30 times.

If I am lucky, eventually the computer starts and then it runs fine until for some reason, the system has to be shut off.

I am thinking either
A) Bad power supply or
B) Maybe a hard drive is bad. Is there such a thing as a stuck hard drive, or any other malady, causing a system to shut off?

Any help, suggestions would be appreciated. Forgive me, kindly, if I am posting in the wrong forum,

Thanks,
Pradhan

dai · 01-17-2008, 06:04 PM

what are the specs including the power supply
did you apply the paste correctly to the cpu heatsink and check it is seated properly
either will cause a overheat shutdown
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm

pradhan · 01-17-2008, 07:48 PM

Hi, and thanks for your response...
Let me make clarify that this is not a shut down problem...it is a non-start problem. The system is not shutting down from overheating. In fact, it can run for days.

To clarify...if the system is shut off, and it can be off for days, so heat is not a problem...it won't restart. It starts to cold-boot and then stops just as quickly a second or so later, as if someone pulled the plug. Shut the main power off, and restart and the same thing happens until it is lucky enough to "catch" or not short or not whatever it is doing to have this happen. Then, it can be on for days again. Our work around is to simply not shut it off, but every once in awhile, someone shuts it down. So, the problem is not overheating, not a heat sink or anything like that.

It seems to be electrical. I don't think a stuck drive would cause this because that would simply register as a drive failure, yes?

Any other input?

Pradhan

dai · 01-18-2008, 05:50 AM

where are your specs

pradhan · 01-18-2008, 09:44 AM

I'll need to get back to you on power supply specs, etc. Its an ABS computer (I think they are history now, altho I am not sure) ASUS mother board, for sure, but drive manufacturer and power supply I have to open up box to see.

Pradhan

**speedster123** · 01-18-2008, 10:53 AM

also, when you open the computer, blow clean everything including the supply.

01-17-2008, 02:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
pradhan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Win XP	Computer Stalls on power-up, literally Greetings and thanks for being there. I have an unusual power up problem. When the computer is powered on, the drives start, lights go on as usual, etc, but after 1-2 seconds, the computer shuts off as if there is no power. If I turn off the main power switch (on the back) and then back on and then power up again, this can repeat 20-30 times. If I am lucky, eventually the computer starts and then it runs fine until for some reason, the system has to be shut off. I am thinking either A) Bad power supply or B) Maybe a hard drive is bad. Is there such a thing as a stuck hard drive, or any other malady, causing a system to shut off? Any help, suggestions would be appreciated. Forgive me, kindly, if I am posting in the wrong forum, Thanks, Pradhan

01-17-2008, 06:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 41,784 OS: vista 32x ultimate retail	Re: Computer Stalls on power-up, literally what are the specs including the power supply did you apply the paste correctly to the cpu heatsink and check it is seated properly either will cause a overheat shutdown http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm __________________

01-17-2008, 07:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
pradhan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Win XP	Re: Computer Stalls on power-up, literally Hi, and thanks for your response... Let me make clarify that this is not a shut down problem...it is a non-start problem. The system is not shutting down from overheating. In fact, it can run for days. To clarify...if the system is shut off, and it can be off for days, so heat is not a problem...it won't restart. It starts to cold-boot and then stops just as quickly a second or so later, as if someone pulled the plug. Shut the main power off, and restart and the same thing happens until it is lucky enough to "catch" or not short or not whatever it is doing to have this happen. Then, it can be on for days again. Our work around is to simply not shut it off, but every once in awhile, someone shuts it down. So, the problem is not overheating, not a heat sink or anything like that. It seems to be electrical. I don't think a stuck drive would cause this because that would simply register as a drive failure, yes? Any other input? Pradhan

01-18-2008, 05:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 41,784 OS: vista 32x ultimate retail	Re: Computer Stalls on power-up, literally where are your specs __________________

01-18-2008, 09:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
pradhan Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Win XP	Re: Computer Stalls on power-up, literally I'll need to get back to you on power supply specs, etc. Its an ABS computer (I think they are history now, altho I am not sure) ASUS mother board, for sure, but drive manufacturer and power supply I have to open up box to see. Pradhan

01-18-2008, 10:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York Posts: 3,904 OS: xp pro My System	Re: Computer Stalls on power-up, literally also, when you open the computer, blow clean everything including the supply. __________________ Infection Detection and Removal Thermal Grease Instructions Bench Test