[kofte]

So my problems have been going on for quite some time now (I'd say a couple of months).

Almost every day, when I want to use my PC, I have to unplug the power cable from the back, and plug it in and out of the PC a couple of times to get my PC to boot. It's VERY strange. If I don't do this, the PC won't boot.

After I unplug and plug the powercable into my PC a few times, then the PC automatically turns on. What can be causing this and how can I fix this? I've never had this problem before up until recently (this started a few months ago).

My other problem is very annoying as well;

My PC freezes almost every day. This can be while I'm watching YouTube videos, or have many tabs open, or at random. It freezes/locks up and I have to restart the PC from the power button.

This also started recently and I don't know what to do. I got a very strange BSOD last night and I wish I could upload a screenshot of it, or the dump file as on reboot, it said a dump file was created. I'm not sure how to go about posting it though.

If you need any more info, please ask. I would really like to get this fixed asap.

Thanks in advance.

I can't seem to edit my post but I just saw that my post was moved to this section from the BSOD/Crash/Hangs section. Why? It doesn't sound like a CPU/BIOS/Mobo problem.

I just ran a memtest scan and after 1 pass and 60% into a 2nd pass, the results were ok. There were no bad sectors.

Any suggestions?

 

[Tyree]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

PC Specs?
Pre- Built Brand & Model Number
Custom Built- Brand & Model of Mobo-CPU-RAM-Graphics-PSU.
The requirement to R&R the power cable to the PSU sounds like a failing/faulty PSU.
MemTest needs to be ran on one stick at a time letting it make several passes.

 

[kofte]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

It's a prebuilt computer (desktop). Acer Aspire M5640. (AM5640). I have had this PC since the summer of 2008 and I have not had any problems with it at all up until now (recent months I mean).

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
3GB RAM
500GB HDD
ATI Radeon 3450HD

What's odd is that the trick I'm talking about, I usually have to do it in the morning or after coming home from work (ie after more than 10 hours ish. Could be less sometimes, though.).

For example, I came home today, did the plug/unplug thing and used the PC for about 3 hours. Turned it off to take a nap for about 2 hours then when I pressed the power button on the front of the PC, the comptuer booted without having to unplug/plug the power cable.

But I know that when I go to bed tonight, and wake up in the morning, If I want to use the PC, I'll have to unplug/plug the power cable. Or if I don't need it in the morning, when I come home tomorrow and want to use the PC, I'll have to do it then.

 

[Tyree]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

Failing PSU's can do strange things. The most logical resolution is to replace the PSU with a good quality 550W unit.
This would be acceptable: Newegg.com - SeaSonic S12II 520 Bronze 520W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Or either of the following.
Newegg.com - SeaSonic S12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - XFX Core Edition PRO550W (P1-550S-XXB9) 550W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

 

[kofte]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

So that power issue is down to a failing PSU for sure? What about the freezing/crashes? I've noticed it happens more often than not during video playback (ex. a couple of youtube videos in different Chrome tabs, movie, etc).

Also, if I do purchase a new PSU, will any of those, particularly the 1st link, make my computer louder than it is now? One of the best things about my current PC is that it's insanely quiet. The graphics card is a fanless card so it's a very quiet setup. I'm using the PC in a small room and I hate loud computers.

 

[Tyree]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

Have you ran MemTest on one stick at a time letting it make several passes?

 

[kofte]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

Since I have posted, I have not. I plan to do so sometime this week/weekend when I have free time.

So to go about doing that, I would just take out one of the RAM sticks, and boot into the memtest? Then after x number of passes, remove the tested RAM stick, and insert the other one? Do I test them both in the same slot or in each slot that they usually are plugged in?

 

[Tyree]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

Try using one stick at a time in all available slots to determine both sticks are functional in all slots.
If all is well, Run MemTest in the Primary RAM slot.

 

[kofte]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

I have a very serious problem now.

Whenever I turn on my computer, nothing shows up on the monitor. The monitor doesn't even turn on (the blue LED stays yellow, which means that there is no "signal").

I kept restarting the PC from the power button/power cable to no avail.

Just once I got the PC to show the typical start up Acer logo and then after that it said "BIOS Bad Checksum". It gave me options like F1 for setup, F10 for advanced, or something along those lines.

I didnt have my keyboard plugged in, so I couldn't do anything. Now, I can't get that screen to come up again. The PC just turns on, and that's it. No click, no POST, nothing.

Any ideas?

 

[Tyree]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

I'm back to the PSU. Any OEM PSU over two yrs.old is a candidate for failure.

 

[greenbrucelee]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

sounds like a power issue to me too.

if you have a multimeter then I would use it to test the psu but as Tyree has stated prebuilt computers often come with crap parts especially the psu and they dont take mucg stressing for them to fail and when an oem or low quality psu starts to fail they have a habit of damaging other compnents.

 

[kofte]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

Thank you for the suggestions. I plan to take the PC to a repair shop to get it looked at and if they (I'm sure they will) say that it's the PSU, then I'll purchase a new PSU.

I'll post back in a few days to confirm.

 

[Tyree]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

If the PSU requires replacement be certain they use a good quality unit with sufficient power. Many PC shops tend to offer up the low quality units to increase profit.

 

[kofte]

I've definitely made a note of that. I plan to invest in a good, effficient, quiet PSU.

Thanks again.

So I just came back from the PC repair shop, and it turns out it wasn't the PSU but rather the motherboard that died. Sucks.

I'd rather have it be the PSU than the motherboard, but c'est la vie.

Thanks for all the suggestions, though.

 

[Tyree]

Re: Computer freezes very often. Power problem as well. Please help!

Glad you got to the root of the problem.
Don't discount the PSU from being a contributor to the Mobo failing.