Start up problem

Marcq

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2001
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Guys, my dads pc won?t start on the first attempt, no video out signal, no bip, nothing, just the fans are working. It will only start on the third try, after that, he can shut it down and start up again no problem. But if he leaves his pc shut down over night the next day the same problem occurs and it seem to get worst, this morning it took him four attempts to get it started, what could be the problem?

Thanks, Marc..
 

Marcq

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2001
16
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The problem just occurred lately. It?s a amd 233 voodoo3 196 arm, owned it for 3 years.
I was thinking a faulty P/S
Marc..
 

RustyNale

Platinum Member
Apr 14, 2001
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I saw a rare occurance where one of the traces on the mobo had developed a slight crack, just enough that when cold it wouldn't start, once it had warmed up slightly, the trace would expand to make contact, and would boot and restart no problem.
If you have a meter, you could check out your psu. Have you tried removing everything and reassembling the comp to make sure that all the contacts are clean (this means the cpu too )?
 

jrini

Junior Member
Mar 14, 2002
19
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The symptom you are describing is often an indication of a degrading power supply.
Power supplys take a finite time to ramp up to the specified output voltages. If some thing changes this ramp up time, like an increased resistance in the path, the processor may not start on the first try. If using the reset switch, or pressing the on off switch rapidly, allows the system to start, then the power supply has now reached the required voltage level. If it is taking a few tries, the power supply is probably ready to quit.
 

inqztive

Senior member
Nov 25, 2000
737
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Yeah most likely it's a power supply problem. I have a power supply which did the same thing.
 

Marcq

Junior Member
Mar 24, 2001
16
0
0
Thanks guys, yes it was the P/S, it died this morning, I guess it was due, after ten year of hard laber
Marc..