Comp hangs when cold (temperature...)

[KennethF]

I recently ordered a new motherboard, but am still wondering about this problem. Thought I could get some ideas because I hope this IS a motherboard problem, but who knows..but maybe some of you guys!

When the weather is warm, my computer turns right on (abit off limits p35). When it's cold in the morning, depending how cold it hangs even longer. For example, if it's 50 degrees in the computer room, it could be a half hour before it starts (BEFORE post screen). If it's 60, maybe 15? If it's 70, starts right up. That's pushing the power button and just leaving it, but it WILL eventually start.

Is this bizare? Or explainable?

Thanks!

KennethF

 

[Lemon law]

I had an a computer with an ashrock mobo that did the same thing. It definitely was not a power supply problem, a ram problem, or a HDD problem. I examined all capacitors for bulging, or any other ideas. I never did solve the problem, I finally reused the parts I could, and built another computer. But it was very annoying using that one.

 

[RebateMonger]

My previous personal PC, a P4 Abit motherboard with Antec power supply, started doing something similar. After running perfectly for several years, starting a few months ago, it will NEVER start the "Memory Countdown" in the BIOS boot screen from a "cold" boot. I have to turn off the power once and then hit the power button again and it always starts up fine.

Such behavior often can be attributed to capacitor issues, either on the motherboard or in the power supply. When Abit, Dell, and others had those bulging capacitor issues a few years ago, failure to cold boot was a common symptom.

Personally, I moved to a new C2D motherboard right around that time and the Abit is now a secondary PC, so I haven't been motivated to research my cold boot issues further. Those were Newegg "open-box" specials five years ago, so I pretty much got my money's worth.

I'd likely start troubleshooting with a complete test of the hard drive and memory. Next, I'd probably remove all the cards and boot the motherboard alone with no add-in cards (except video). If the problem continued, I'd start swapping motherboards and power supplies.

 

[mujizac]

Random thought that is probably totally wrong: On a colder day your lubrication of the cpu fan's bearing is not going to work as well, resulting perhaps in a fan that will be sluggish for a couple seconds. I remember that some abit boards are picky about posting if they cannot detect the cpu fan as spinning. Check for a disable for this feature in the bios?

I like blaming cap's on this one as well, but at least you could try this and see.