Dead Case Power Switch?

[moonguppie]

I want to run this past your collective techie brains out there.

I have a Aspire (Power someting model), with an Asus KV8-X SE motherboard, Athlon 64 2800, 1 gig Ultra ram with Windows XP pro.

This all started a year and a half ago when I moved. I moved in to my new apartment, plugged in my machine and the case lights would flicker on or I would have my motherboard tell me (yes a voice and no beeping) that CPU failed. But after a few more attempts I would start up my machine and it would work beautifully, and shut down and start up just fine. This occured every time I unplugged the machine or if the power failed. I would always have to play with the power supply power switch and the front power switch to get the machine to start up. Again, then it would work fine until the next time power was cut from the machine. Occasionally when the PC booted up successfully, I would get an error that overclocking had failed and that I could retry or press F2 to return to default settings. I would press F2. I have changed the CMOS battery by the way, because I thought the motherboard was just "forgetting" some settings and was causing the failure.

Now, I have moved again and I cannot get the machine to power on completely. This is the reason I think it's a bad power switch. The only time I can get the machine to almost boot it when I press the power button and hold it somewhere between all the way in and before it clicks. I can get the lights to come on and the computer to boot, but I am still getting the audible POST message that either overclocking failed or CPU failed. I am wondering if the break in the power switch is causing the error in the POST. Thoughts?

A little knowledge is dangerous.

 

[G0AOZ]

I'd suggest it's the PSU that's failing. Once you've got the machine running and it's switched off in the conventional manner, I expect it usually starts up ok. It's probably just when you remove the (live) power lead from the back of the PSU that it fails to start again next time.

When the PC shuts down normally the circuits inside the PSU are still live - all that is required to start booting up is the signal from the motherboard, via the front panel button, and off it goes. Removing the mains lead from the PSU allows the stored voltages to decay to zero, and hence this common problem with a PSU that is starting to fail.

Try subsituting the PSU with a known good one.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[paparazi]

I agree with Roger on this one, sounds like the PSU is failing! typical signs.
Martin


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[wahnula]

Get a gentler mover next time!

I am wondering if the break in the power switch is causing the error in the POST. Thoughts?

This is a momentary-contact switch, meant to be pressed and released. It completes a circuit in the MB to power up. If the contacts are shorted for more than a few seconds, the MB shuts down. A stuck switch could cause problems.

A quick test would be to open the case, look for the "PWR SW" plug (write down or map the pins!), remove it, and, with the PSU on, briefly short across those pins with a small screwdriver. The PC should switch on.

I agree with Roger about the PSU...betcha.

Another thought would be to open the PC, blow everything off (1/2 second bursts), and re-seat all cables, cards and RAM. Something may have been jarred loose in the move.

Tony

 

[moonguppie]

Thanks all. I will give a new PSU a try...as soon as I finish unpacking completely.

A little knowledge is dangerous.

 

[moonguppie]

Thanks all. It was my crappy, stock, power supply that was causing the problem.



A little knowledge is dangerous.