Weird power issues - computer won't turn off

Dukenukem117

Member
Aug 25, 2016
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0
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Note to mods: I know I have another thread going on about stability, so I wasn't sure if I should make another thread or redirect that one. The topics are unrelated, but I don't want to seem spammy.
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I'm trying to fix a friend's computer that recently had booting problems, but I think that might be a symptom of something wrong with either the powersupply, the motherboard, or the case.

The more obvious problem is that I can't turn this thing off. It won't shut down from windows and sometimes even reboots itself automatically. Even if I use the power supply switch to shut it off, it immediately turns back on when I switch it back. It also turned on when I was clearing the CMOS. As soon as I pull the jumper out from the "clear" state, it turns on. My friend says it's always been like this, and he's had it for two years now.

The only effective way I've found on keeping it turned off is to hold down the power button until it shuts off. Though my friend says that sometimes even that doesn't work.

The other problem is booting. When everything is plugged it, it will not boot into an OS. I tried booting Linux as well, and after the loading screen of either Linux or Windows (with the spinning thing), it would just stay a black screen that's still backlit. The problem started when it suddenly crashed one day, and we thought it was the hard drive (1TB Samsung SSD), but I was able to pull all the data from it so now we're not so sure. I was not however able to detect the hard drive when plugging in internally, only with a SATA->USB adapter.

The new hard drive (ADATA 256gb SSD) seemed fine at first but then started exhibiting the booting problem as soon as he took it home. I am able to boot into my own OS hard drive when I attached to his computer, and I was able to boot his new SSD with my computer. I suspected the odds of two bad SSD's is pretty unlikely, and this seems to confirm it. So the problem seems to reside with his system. He has a Corsair Carbide 540, which has this hot-swap hard drive sled attachment system where the hard drives connects to plugs on the floor of the case. I wonder if something could be wrong with that connection.

I've updated the bios, tried different OS installations, cleared the CMOS. I'm going to get a new power supply later this week to try switching that out, but if it's the case or the motherboard, I'm not sure how to diagnose it aside from process of elimination. Since the power off thing has been there that long, could it also be poor wiring of the case jumpers? Computers not turning off seems to be a common complaint on motherboard forums, with some people saying a changed BIOS setting was all it needed. I haven't been able to replicate those results. I searched and found a lot of people having trouble turning their PC's on, but does anyone has experience with trouble turning it off? Thanks.

System Specs:
4970K - Stock speeds
Asrock Z97-Anniversary
Firepro W7000
Corsair 2x8gb 1866 Vengeance DDR3
1TB Samsung 840 (that seemed like it died)
256gb ADATA not sure what model (that sometimes detect)
Cooler Master PSU (not sure what wattage. I didn't even know CM was in the PSU business)
Corsair Carbide 540 Case
OS Tried:
Windows 10 - 64 bit
Linux Elementary (latest release)

http://proclockers.com/sites/default/files/images/review/corsair/air540/air540_2.JPG
 
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Dukenukem117

Member
Aug 25, 2016
34
0
11
witch on op is on,and are they both connected.could be one or the other bugging the system

As of right now I'm only trying it with the ADATA drive. The Samsung is no longer being tested and is disconnected from the system. There is one additional disk storage drive connected but that has not had problems with either being detected or accessible. So these were my results:

(Plugged means it plugs into the cases's hot-swap ports.)

ADATA (Cabled) + My computer = Detected (reference point)

ADATA (Plugged) + Storage HD = No detection of ADATA

ADATA (Cabled) + Storage HD = No detection of ADATA

ADATA (Plugged) = ADATA Detected, No boot
- No display after loading OS. Blank screen with black light.

My SSD (Cabled) + ADATA (Plugged) + Storage HD = ADATA Detected / My SSD not detected but no boot

My SSD (Cabled) + ADATA (Plugged) = ADATA Detected / My SSD not detected / No boot

My SSD (Cabled) + Storage HD = No detection of my SSD

ADATA (Plugged into 2nd port) = Monitor glitched out and started flashing the DELL logo. I had to turn it off to reset it.

ADATA (Plugged into 2nd port retry) = ADATA Detected , No boot

My SSD (Plugged into either port) = My SSD Detected / Boots into OS! / SHUTS OFF!

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Ya, I'm totally confused.
 
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Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,559
248
106
I am guessing a short somewhere or a bad power supply. I would try a known good power supply first. Shorts can take a while to find.
 

denis280

Diamond Member
Jan 16, 2011
3,434
9
81
Cooler master are not the best in the west,as mention by my friend Ketchup try with another power supply.the cooler master is probably going south.
 

Dukenukem117

Member
Aug 25, 2016
34
0
11
You guys were right. It was the power supply. Wow. He's been having the failure the shut down problem since the very beginning. That's a pretty lousy power supply.
 

denis280

Diamond Member
Jan 16, 2011
3,434
9
81
Good to ear.and thank you for telling us about it,this will be helpful for other members.