Computer Doesn't Stay On

[punkemon1]

This problem just started today, when I turn on the power on my machine and then press the on switch, I hear the system starting up( hard drives and fans) but after about 3 second the power goes off. Pressing the on switch again doesn't do a thing. I have to turn the power off and then back on then press the on switch again and the same thing happens, it starts up but only for a few seconds. My machine is a 1.4g AMD CPU, EPOX MOBO, several SCSI drives, 1 IDE 100ata drive, ATX PC Power & Cooling power supply (350w).

Hope someone can help,
Thanks

 

[Harvey]

Sounds like either the power supply or the ATX control circuitry on the motherboard is taking a dump. If you can get another machine, take off the covers, and plug your motherboard up to the other chassis. Then try the other motherboard with your power supply. That will isolate which part is going bad.

You could also have a peripheral or component on the motherboard going bad and drawing excess power, which would cause the power supply to shut down. Before you do the above experiment, you could try substituting things like your vid card, a CD-ROM, hard drive or floppy. Depending on what you disconnect, you wouldn't necessarily be able to boot, but you'd know which device was causing the problem.

Good luck.

 

[SwampsterFL]

I have a somewhat simpler suggestion.

Open the case and position yourself so you can hit the power switch while watching the CPU and make sure they both work when it first gets power. If either is not working, it is set to turn itself off to keep from cooking something.

 

[punkemon1]

What I did was start disconnecting all the devices one by one and starting after each one. When I pulled out the vid card and tried to start, BINGO, started right up. I then wanted to see what would happen if I put the vid card back in and then start it. Well, it started up normally. I checked to make sure the card was seated correctly before I pulled it out but I wonder if it wasn?t and was was causing some kind of short.

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[punkemon1]

Thought I found the problem, even bought a new vid card, but the same thing happens; 1 or 2 seconds after starting it powers down. I disconnected every device including memory but no go. The funny thing is once is a while I try disconnecting something, for example my CD-RW, and it will stay on. The next day, the same thing happens even with the CD-RW being disconnected...that's how I got burned with the vid card (put the new card in, started it up and it worked but the next day, it didn't). Any other trouble shooting tips I can try before I take it in for repair?

Thanks