My computer has troubles turning on, but once it's on it runs fine!

[Knyteguy]

This started happening recently. I try to turn my computer on, and it just doesn't want to sometimes. This happens much more frequently in the cold weather. Once the thing is on, it will run for days and days without problems. The only trouble I have, is actually getting it on!

Usually, if I hit the on switch, wait 5 minutes, hit it again, it will turn on. But that 5 minutes has turned into much longer since it started getting colder out. It's really damn frustrating. I built my computer from scratch, had very little trouble, but I can't figure this out.

Does ANYONE know what the problem could be? If anyone knows, its you guys. Thanks!

 

[gorbs]

do you mean it takes forever to boot up or for the power to come on ?. power supply maybe ?.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Usually the only things adversly affected by lower temps are those with moving parts i.e. hard drives.

What happens if you hit the switch several times in quick succession?

 

[wwswimming]

i think it might be an intermittent connection with the power plug,
not making contact with the mating connector in the power
supply.

i suggest trying a new power cord, and, if you can, cleaning
the spades in the mating connector in the power supply.

with the power supply removed from the case, the power
cord not plugged into the wall when you're doing cleaning,
proper electricity precautions, etc.

 

[RebateMonger]

You didn't say which motherboard or power supply you are using. Some have known power capacitor issues that COULD cause behavior like you are seeing.

Take a quick peek at all the capacitors on the motherboard, looking for any sign of bulging or leaking.

 

[Knyteguy]

Theres some white goo on a few parts of the power supply. I was thinking it was just that temperature stuff though.

It's an antec neopower 450watt PSU, and NF4 Lanparty board. I've had the computer just about a year.

Oh, on my Mobo. I'll check right now.

 

[Fardringle]

I recently worked on a computer with exactly the same problem. In my case, the power supply was failing and it was only able to supply enough power to boot the system after it was warmed up. Starting cold never worked unless I disconnected ALL peripherals including the video card and put in a crappy, low power card. Heating up the power supply with a hair dryer (I tried it once just to see what would happen), or just letting it sit partially on for a while until it warmed up allowed the computer to boot normally. Once the PSU was warm, the system ran perfectly until the computer was turned off and allowed to cool down again. Your problem has almost exactly the same symptoms so I would suspect the problem is with the Antec PSU.

 

[kaioshade]

I had the same problem. Replaced PSU and all was good.

Ironically, it was an antec as well.

 

[kim oc]

I had the same issue also. I just un pluged the chip also and it fixed it.