Weird computer bootup problem

adya33 · 28th March 2006, 18:47

Hello friends

Today evening after coming back from collage when I tried to start computer it refused completely. There was no response when I pressed power button on CPU. So called computer guy he thought since its with power SMPS must have gone bust. So he came replaced SMPS but still same thing.
Then next guess was CMOS battery. Tried replacing it but no luck.
This is where really interesting and weird part starts.
After removing power cord and removing battery, if I put battery into its place first and then attach power cord computer starts directly. And it works just fine. Only I have to adjust date and time and it works like there is nothing wrong.

The computer guy is gonna take CPU tomorrow to check motherboard. So I wanted to ask is there anything which I can do which will solve this problem?
Will I have to replace motherboard ?
Waiting for reply.

black12rr · 28th March 2006, 18:59

after it starts normally ..if u shoutdown and restarts wat happens ?
If it starts properply ....then how come MB is gone ? ..it could be bios settings ..cpu clock seetings might be problem ...if u have more than one memory cards (RAM) ...try starting with only one card and isolate the problem...aslo check the grounding ..if the case is giving u small shocks if u touch it..?

barbar · 28th March 2006, 19:05

Hmmm very weird case. Doesnt look like anything's gonna be wrong wit ur motherboard or processor. Might be some problem with the power supplu ( the box with the cables n fan etc)... Give it for check up and see. How old is the comp???

goldie_malhotra · 28th March 2006, 19:44

Most likely it could be a problem with the BIOS on your motherboard.

Or, like it happened in case of my dad's comp, there was a certain capacitor on the motherboard which used to get overcharged at times, and used to shutdown the system abruptly, after which it would not come up. Removing all sources of power used to help get it out of deadlock.

If it is something like that, then a professional h/w engineer will be able to replace that faulty part for you at a low cost. Though make sure that your service guy is really trustworthy and doesnt fleece you with the wrong reasons.

zaphod · 28th March 2006, 19:44

Dude - post your config - it'll help us.

1. check the battery voltage with a multimeter - IIRC - it should be ~3v
2. swap out your sticks of ram - try running with only one stick which works for sure.
3. any error beeps on bootup ? - if you have the d-bracket with the LED's , whats the light config ?
4. remove the power switch connector from the mobo and try starting by shorting the terminals with a screwdriver - for all you know, it's just a loose connection in the power switch
5. are you overclocking anything - run the bios on fail safe defaults first

My money's on your mobo gone bad but you never know....

(I can feel your pain - ive been experiencing a run of problems over teh last one year - omne mobo dead (gigabyte km400vm rev 2.0) , 3 6800GT's PCI-E.....2 hdd's , and one mobo - MSI neo4 ultra showing the infamous battery drain problem now- I'm going to get the earthing done again and see if it helps - and put a big stabilizer on the mains)

merve_extreme · 28th March 2006, 22:35

1)if there is a CMOS jumper,set it to clear position after removing the battery.return the jumper to the old position and reinsert the battery.
2)reinstall your ram modules.

v.tec · 28th March 2006, 22:40

make sure the ups is off...put the switch behind the cpu off ..then put the ups on..then put the switch behind the cpu on ..n power up!

adya33 · 28th March 2006, 23:50

Hello friends,
thank you for your quick response. I finally managed to trace problem.
No its not BIOS its not Mother Board its no RAM
its faulty power switch

(literally the button which I push on CPU)

I remembered having feature in BIOS which starts the computer as soon as mains power supply is switched ON (in my case its UPS) so thought to give it a shot & walla it worked. I switched off computer again & it worked again. and it is still working.

It seems that once battery is removed for next reboot computer starts when mains is ON and then previous settings are restored.

Thank you for offering help everyone. Really appreciate it.

28th March 2006, 18:47	#1
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	Weird computer bootup problem Hello friends Today evening after coming back from collage when I tried to start computer it refused completely. There was no response when I pressed power button on CPU. So called computer guy he thought since its with power SMPS must have gone bust. So he came replaced SMPS but still same thing. Then next guess was CMOS battery. Tried replacing it but no luck. This is where really interesting and weird part starts. After removing power cord and removing battery, if I put battery into its place first and then attach power cord computer starts directly. And it works just fine. Only I have to adjust date and time and it works like there is nothing wrong. The computer guy is gonna take CPU tomorrow to check motherboard. So I wanted to ask is there anything which I can do which will solve this problem? Will I have to replace motherboard ? Waiting for reply.
	() Thanks

28th March 2006, 18:59	#2
black12rr Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ridin earth now Posts: 1,278 Thanked: 339 Times	after it starts normally ..if u shoutdown and restarts wat happens ? If it starts properply ....then how come MB is gone ? ..it could be bios settings ..cpu clock seetings might be problem ...if u have more than one memory cards (RAM) ...try starting with only one card and isolate the problem...aslo check the grounding ..if the case is giving u small shocks if u touch it..?
	() Thanks

28th March 2006, 19:05	#3
barbar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 60 Thanked: 3 Times	Hmmm very weird case. Doesnt look like anything's gonna be wrong wit ur motherboard or processor. Might be some problem with the power supplu ( the box with the cables n fan etc)... Give it for check up and see. How old is the comp???
	() Thanks

28th March 2006, 19:44	#4
goldie_malhotra BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 757 Thanked: 12 Times	Most likely it could be a problem with the BIOS on your motherboard. Or, like it happened in case of my dad's comp, there was a certain capacitor on the motherboard which used to get overcharged at times, and used to shutdown the system abruptly, after which it would not come up. Removing all sources of power used to help get it out of deadlock. If it is something like that, then a professional h/w engineer will be able to replace that faulty part for you at a low cost. Though make sure that your service guy is really trustworthy and doesnt fleece you with the wrong reasons.
	() Thanks

28th March 2006, 19:44	#5
zaphod BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: NO IDeA/Madurai Posts: 236 Thanked: 4 Times	Dude - post your config - it'll help us. 1. check the battery voltage with a multimeter - IIRC - it should be ~3v 2. swap out your sticks of ram - try running with only one stick which works for sure. 3. any error beeps on bootup ? - if you have the d-bracket with the LED's , whats the light config ? 4. remove the power switch connector from the mobo and try starting by shorting the terminals with a screwdriver - for all you know, it's just a loose connection in the power switch 5. are you overclocking anything - run the bios on fail safe defaults first My money's on your mobo gone bad but you never know.... (I can feel your pain - ive been experiencing a run of problems over teh last one year - omne mobo dead (gigabyte km400vm rev 2.0) , 3 6800GT's PCI-E.....2 hdd's , and one mobo - MSI neo4 ultra showing the infamous battery drain problem now- I'm going to get the earthing done again and see if it helps - and put a big stabilizer on the mains)
	() Thanks

28th March 2006, 22:35	#6
merve_extreme Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	1)if there is a CMOS jumper,set it to clear position after removing the battery.return the jumper to the old position and reinsert the battery. 2)reinstall your ram modules.
	() Thanks

28th March 2006, 22:40	#7
v.tec BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 251 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	make sure the ups is off...put the switch behind the cpu off ..then put the ups on..then put the switch behind the cpu on ..n power up!
	() Thanks

28th March 2006, 23:50	#8
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	complex problem simple solution Hello friends, thank you for your quick response. I finally managed to trace problem. No its not BIOS its not Mother Board its no RAM its faulty power switch (literally the button which I push on CPU) I remembered having feature in BIOS which starts the computer as soon as mains power supply is switched ON (in my case its UPS) so thought to give it a shot & walla it worked. I switched off computer again & it worked again. and it is still working. It seems that once battery is removed for next reboot computer starts when mains is ON and then previous settings are restored. Thank you for offering help everyone. Really appreciate it. Last edited by adya33 : 28th March 2006 at 23:52.
	() Thanks