Why do I have to "Jump Start" my computer by plugging and unplugging main ATX connector after a power failure? (8RDA+)

[Silly Burrito]

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but if you have, please let me know of a solution. I have an Epox 8rda+ motherboard with 768MB of RAM, a 40G hard drive, and I'm running XP.

This used to happen very rarely, now every time I have a power failure I have to follow this procedure.

Once the power goes out and comes back on, I can see that my motherboard is getting power by the little FFs on the diagostic LED. However, the power button does not work. I flip the reset switch in the back, wait a few seconds, then flip it back on. No power. I unplug the power from the computer, wait a minute, plug it back in, no power. I'm connected to a UPS, and this computer doesn't stay on when I'm not here.

To fix the problem, I have to keep the power running to the computer and unplug the main ATX connector to the board. Then, I just plug it back in. After that, everything works again.

I know this can't possibly be good for the motherboard, as well as being dangerous. I thought that maybe the power supply was the culprit, so I bought a new Antec PS. It didn't work.

Anyone have any ideas on why this is happening and what I can do about it?

Thanks!
Keith

 

[pspada]

Look for bulging, discolored, and/or leaking caps on the mobo. Or could you have one of the connectors (like the reset button) plugged in incorrectly?

 

[Silly Burrito]

It's possible. I can check it out. This was my first built computer, so I may have missed something.