Computer comes on without pushing power button

[Dinah]

266 Pentium II
160 RAM
30g IBM Deskstar on Promise Ultra 100 PCI card
Afreey 56X CD-ROM (primary master)
Hewlett-Packard 8100 CD-RW (secondary master)
Internal Zip drive (secondary slave)
SoundBlaster Live
ATI AIW 4mg
Windows 98 SE Upgrade clean install

All of a sudden, my computer is powering itself on as soon I turn on the power to the surge protecter.

I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but my new Deskstar hard drive is bad. I have tested it with the IBM Drive Fitness Test (DFT) and it tests defective. Everything is working for the time being, except it makes a high pitched scatching noise and locks the computer up when running ScanDisk. I am waiting on a RMA number to send it back. (Unfortunately, I bought an OEM, special promo and I have a gut feeling this is going to be a problem getting it replaced.)

I have taken the front cover off of the case to make sure the power button wasn't "pinched" in.

I am clueless as to why this started. When I shut down - Windows shuts down fast and turns the power off like it's supposed to. The quick shutdown is disabled in Windows, so I don't think it is cutting the power off before closing everything.

Thanks for any help, Dinah

 

[Jonny]

Thats what it supposed to do. When the power supply first revieves power it turns on, but then should turn off again in a few seconds.

Most people do not turn off their power supplies and therefore don't have this problem.

 

[Dinah]

Thanks Jonny,
That is usually what happens when I turn on the surge protector - you see a brief flash of the LED lights. But, I used to have to physically push the power button in to get the computer to come on, now it powers up all the way without pushing the button.
I don't leave the power on to the surge protector for fire safety since I live about 10 miles from a fire department and there are no fire plugs out here. Would it be just as safe to leave the surge protector on all of the time? Thanks, Dinah

 

[Souka]

Many older Gateways turned on when the power cable was plugged in, or surge strip turned on.

It's nothing to worry about.


About your IBM HD. If you have proof of purchase, you should have no problems with IBM. They will ship you an identical replacement HD (refurbished) and you send back the defective HD in the same packaging. This is asssuming you have a credit card because IBM likes to have some collateral.

Back when 10GB drives were fairly new, I went through 4 IBM drives in 2 months, before selling the last replacement drive on an auction. Bought a Maxtor 10GB...still have it today and no problems.

Edit: Leaving the powerstrip on is fine.....never had a problem in the 10yrs in the business. (I would be leary of those $5 strips...just a fancy extension cord).