[SoDoWarts]

I've got an older HP Pavilion desktop (6-7 years or so) with Windows XP. The start button has become very finicky. I press the start button several times with out anything happening. Then I press it for about 5 seconds and then let it out I try again and it begins the start process until it pulls up the black and white "Start Windows Normally" screen. At that point it goes off again. Every now and again I can get it by that screen to the Windows XP logo screen where it also turns off. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Nofew]

Please post exactly what you've done right before this started happening. It's not easy to solve problems like this without that information.

 

[SoDoWarts]

its been a couple of weeks since I've tried. nothing really strange had happened before the problem started. The problem was there a couple times before but after some tries it always started up.

I just got it into a Safe Mode start and it ran down the list and stopped at a driver "apg440.sys" and then the system turned off.

 

[Geekgirl]

If its shutting down on its own I would suspect an overheating issue or power issue.

 

[Captainmark]

Sounds like a power supply problem but the more it turns off during boot up or running windows the more likely you are going to get file system coruption.

Boot it to Bios configuration and let it sit there. If it turns of you can safely ignore software issues.

If its and older HP then most likely a Psu..See if you can borrow one to prove it.(a good one)

 

[SoDoWarts]

Update -- now I can only get the "on" light to go on up for just a split second and nothing beyond that. Any ideas? Thanks for your help!

 

[Riskyone101]

From the sound of it and also given the age of the pc 6 -7 years old,
I would it is the psu.

Go here for instructions:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/362

See if you can borrow one or get one that works to replace it to see if thats
the problem for sure as captainmark has suggested in his post.

 

[louge1953]

third the power supply bad opinion. the original power supplies for those pavillions are very non standard with regard to physical size and of course the wattage is bare minimal too. get yourself a good 450 to 500 watt standard power supply and modify the mounting to get it installed.. I had to actually use tin snips on a HP Pavillion case to get one installed before but it will run so much better with a more capable power supply.