Cold Boot Partially Works but Warm Boot Works Fine

[Aucklandgm]

I posted this on another board and got some help but before I go out and buy another power supply, I wanted to get some more advice.

Problem: Just recently when I press the power button on my PC, the PC seems to turn on normally. The lights next to the DVD drives light up. You can press the button and open the drive, etc. So obviously there is power flowing to the PC. However, nothing shows up on my monitor. Doesn't even get to BIOS. Only when I press the restart button does it boot up correctly and display on the screen. Then everything works great.

This worries me because about six months ago I had a similiar problem right before my hard drive died. Two hard drive deaths seem a big coincidence (especially from Seagate) though so I am guessing something else is causing this which is in turn frying my HDs. Since not even the BIOS is coming up I am guessing it isn't an HD problem behind all this because the BIOS would still appear even if the HD's were screwed up.

Recent changes: I did recently install a UC-9FATR2 (multi-function control panel from enermax). It worked fine but after the problem started I disconnected everything and removed the item but the problem persisted. I also checked every connection was snug and hadn't been jostled during installation. Since I have had this problem before, I don't think it is as simple as an unplugged connection though.


Specs
400 watt power supply
ATI RADEON 9800
1 gig of Ram
Intel 2.8 800 FSB
ASUS mobo p4p800 se
2 80 mm fans
Hasn't been overclocked (was planning on doing that but this problem has stalled that)

Things I have already tried to no avail

1. Updated BIOS
2. Checked all connections
3. Added everything up to make sure my power supply unit is sufficient. Looks like I am using less than 350 watts.

If anybody has any suggestions or had had this problem before, could you please let me know? The problem isn't huge right now but I am worrying if this continues my hard drive will die again.

Right now, I am leaning towards the power supply as the problem. Maybe 400 watts just isn't enough or it is slightly damaged. When I am restarting there wouldn't be as strong a drain the power supply since everything is already powered so that would be why it would work on a warm boot and not a cold boot. That is only a theory though and before I spend 60 bucks on a 450 watt power supply, I wanted to get more input if possible. Thanks.

 

[Fern]

Hi Aucklandgm and Welcome to the Forums!

When I saw your topic I thought "PSU".

If my Enermax gets too cold it acts that way. Too be sure it was actually it, I put a hairdryer/blower on it for a minute to warm it up and bam, worked right away.

Fern

 

[Aucklandgm]

Thanks. So if the problem persists without the enermax in you are recommending to go ahead and buy a new power supply? I think I will pick up one off newegg then.

 

[Fern]

First, I may have confused you a little by mistake. The Enermax in my case IS my PSU, not a control panel. Thus, my PSU exhibits a similar problem when cold. I mean "cold" too. My PC often sits in an unheated room and in the Winter time gets near freezing temps.

If your in a cooler climate, I'd be curious if yours fired up right away after "warming" up the PSU with a hairdryer. Even if it didn't, I still think it sounds like a PSU problem.

The best thing of course is to try another PSU b4 spending money. But I have the benefit of spare PSU's available for such purposes. You may not.

 

[Aucklandgm]

Thanks for the clarification. That makes a lot more sense. I will try the hairdryer trick (cannot hurt to give it a shot) and go the route of getting a new power supply. Unfortunately, I don't have an extra one lying around but it looks like I should be able to buy a pretty nice one for 50 or 60. Thanks.

 

[Aucklandgm]

Ok, I bought a new 480 Watt power supply and I am still having the same problem so I can rule out the PSU. Luckily I got in from Bestbuy who accepts returns with no restocking fee. Any thoughts on the source of the problem?

 

[kobymu]

generally: do some elimination
specifically(example) try with a diffrent video card, post with result.

 

[Aucklandgm]

Unfortunately I don't really have any spare parts so I would have to go out and buy more stuff which I would like to avoid. If I cannot figure anything else out that is probably the route I will have to go though, swapping in new parts and see what fixes it.

I am guessing it is not the video card because if it was simply a vid card problem I would at least get to BIOS?

Thanks.

 

[kobymu]

Originally posted by: Aucklandgm
I am guessing it is not the video card because if it was simply a vid card problem I would at least get to BIOS?

no....

Originally posted by: Aucklandgm
Unfortunately I don't really have any spare parts so .....
Thanks.

without spare parts u'r only option is to run the comp' with minimum components: psu/mb/cpu/minimal ram,kb, gpu.

*NO* hdd/optical/net/usb/sound (disable all unnecessary o/b components in bios), other add-in card/Peripherals and add one component each time a boot is successful.
if the first boot isnt successful than one of u'r core components is bad

good lack

 

[Insidious]

Do you see hard drive activity (flickering HD LED) indicating the system is booting despite no display?

If so, try turning off your monitor using it's power switch and then back on during booting. Sometimes when I re-start I get a blank screen, but I found it is just that the monitor hasn't realized it has a signal.

I have no clue what causes this with my display, but maybe you have something similar going on. (note: If I don't cycle the monitor, a re-boot always works as well.)

-Sid

 

[maluckey]

As goofy as it sounds, bad capacitors tend to act odd if they are overly hot, or cold. When bad, they trnd to like a zone close to room temperature. Look at the capacitors in the PSU (if you can open safely, without voiding warranty), and look at the capacitors on your mobo. If the tops of the capacitors are rounded, or bulging, or if there are signs of leakage around the base, then that cap is bad.

It's just a thought. I had a PSU with two bad caps act wonky with any temp over 25C, and any temp under 20C.

I also once had one of the bad mobos from a certain Taiwanese manufacturer that used inferior caps do the same.

 

[Aucklandgm]

Thanks guys, I will try all these tonight. I will try disconnecting everything also check the capacitors.

As for turning on and off the monitor, I have tried that before but it still comes up blank. Usually on a "bad boot" the hard drive will blink once.

I will post with my results.

 

[Sensai]

i also agree with maluckey, the caps on your motherboard maybe the culprit as I had similar symptoms though with freezing a windows splash or in 3d program/screensaver, any overclocking. i have a leadtek nforce 2, with like 3 leaky caps near the memory slots... your asus seems to be not as old as mine, so it looks like either bad caps to begin at manufacturing with or extreme abuse to them.

if that is the problem, only 3 things you can do:
1. if u have a lil engineering background, u can re-solder new caps yourself
2. RMA it back to asus if still under warranty
3. ......buy a used/refurb/new board