[PC startup] My PC has a very slow startup. Solved

Question

Hello,

My PC starts very badly; when I want to turn it on, I have to try several times. It turns on for 2 or 3 seconds and then turns off. I have to turn the power supply on and off with the power button between each attempt.

I have to try several times, sometimes up to ten times before I can turn it on.

The only check I managed to do was to check the power button, and it works perfectly.

My question is: do I need to replace my power supply, or is it something more serious (motherboard?)

Thank you for your response,
Sincerely.

Configuration: Windows XP Internet Explorer 7.0

flo88 · Accepted Answer

Test:
At startup, enter the BIOS. If there is no interruption, leave it idle for at least 5 minutes, then exit the BIOS to restart normally.
If the PC starts normally (and each time you perform the test), it means it starts when warm but not when cold, indicating an electrical problem. However, identifying the culprit is another matter.

Memory could be the cause: test it with Memtest or use another stick that is known to be working.

If the RAM is fine, the first thing to change is indeed the power supply.
If the problem persists, disconnect all internal peripherals (drive, hard disk, etc.) to leave only the motherboard, CPU, and RAM (+ if possible, another hard drive that is known to be working).

If the problem persists: 75% chance it's the motherboard / 25% for the CPU.

--
I'm Flo, like Florent.......

mode_actuelle · Answer

Hi,

My PC restarts just fine when it's hot, and there are no issues when I restart it.

Sometimes, if I switch off the power button for several hours, it starts up on the first try; but this is not consistent.

So is it the power supply? I don't know if this is normal, I hadn't noticed it before, but if I leave the power button on and the computer is off, the power supply stays warm even after several hours...

Thank you for your help.

mode_actuelle · Answer

Hello again,  Does anyone know how to respond to my last message?  Thanks.

flo88 · Answer

There is no certainty, but yes, you should change the power supply.   -- Me, it’s Flo, like Florent.......

remcat · Answer

Hello,

I have encountered this case before:

Check the condition of the capacitors on the motherboard:

They look like transistors with aluminum-colored tops and a cross engraved on them.

Normally, the tops are flat.

If they are bulging, it means they have overheated, which could explain the quick shutdown of the computer.

A good computer technician can replace them at relatively low cost without having to replace the motherboard, and it should work again.

Best regards,
Remcat

c100tabous · Answer

Hello,
I'm facing a similar problem,

hardware configuration: asus prob p4b pentium 4 IBM deskstar 60 GB hard drive 512 RAM Windows XP Pro (7 years old) 300 MHz power supply. However, it has been completely blown out with compressed air
it should be noted that this hardware still works super well given its age, but when I ask it to shut down from the start menu, Windows shuts down, the hard drive does too, but the motherboard and fans do not. So it's impossible to turn it back on; I have to fiddle with the battery and the main switch to completely power down the system to be able to restart. It should be noted that if I ask Windows to restart, it does so in 30 seconds without any issues. Thanks to anyone who can guide me on the problem because I see no hardware faults.

Prozac-14 · Answer

I think that for you it's a BIOS issue.
The simplest way is to reset the settings to default by entering the BIOS, and in Exit it should offer you: Default setup.
Otherwise: a Windows problem, but I doubt it.

c100tabous · Answer

Well, as soon as I remove the battery, the BIOS resets to default, and then it restarts on the BIOS, which I exit immediately with F10. But the problem persists :s what should I do?? And Windows XP has just been installed after a low-level formatting, and I have two PCs with the same configuration and the same Windows.

Prozac-14 · Answer

At this time of night, I don't see... I will see if Morpheus gives me an idea.  Have you changed the BIOS battery?

c100tabous · Answer

So that's the problem solved for me, the battery and the CMOS are dead so the motherboard is garbage and I need a new motherboard :s   Thank you for your help and see you soon.

chalex · Answer

Hello,  I have the same problem as you. My PC keeps restarting unexpectedly during startup. Here’s what I've observed: - at first, it would restart 1 or 2 times, but now it's more like 7 or 8 times - After several restarts, it automatically loads a default BIOS and runs a scandisk - to ensure my PC gets to a complete Windows startup, I have to disconnect everything from my external USB ports (except for the mouse) - once it starts up, as soon as I plug in my USB WiFi stick to connect to the internet, my PC restarts (but not every time) - once my PC is started, my USB ports are connected, and it hasn't restarted when plugging in USB, the PC works normally.  My solution that I will test this week (because I’m fed up with spending 10 minutes trying to start my PC): change the power supply, knowing that I normally don't have any viruses or trojans, because when I plug in USB (power supply through USB), my PC shuts down immediately.

camsa · Answer

I had exactly the same problem, I solved it by changing a capacitor in the power supply. I read about it in a forum (it was unusually bulging: I removed it and tested it, it cost me 1.5 euros and 15 minutes, disassembly, soldering and reassembly).
Good luck, for my part it's resolved permanently.

mehdi · Answer

I have a problem with my computer; when I turn it on, neither the taskbar nor the icons appear. What should I do?

malbaraise31974 · Answer

Hello everyone!  When I turn on my computer everything is fine.  Then a page opens and tells me that there was a problem during startup so it's asking me if I want to start it in safe mode, safe mode with networking, with the last configuration, or normal startup.  I clicked on normal mode and it shows me the logo page but the problem is that it keeps spinning, it keeps spinning but doesn’t open the desktop page. It’s the same when I click on last configuration.  I have Windows XP, an antivirus that I downloaded, anti-trojan, spyware...  Can anyone help me?  Thanks in advance.

titi858 · Answer

Bonjour, mettez-le à réparer. J'ai Leclerc, c'est de bons prix là-bas. C'est cher. Si vous avez un problème, je suis informaticien en PC.

Old Bones · Answer

Hello, I would like to know if a lack of power in watts in a power supply can cause this kind of rebooting or crashing problem?

And....
Smart guy, are you an "Aformaticien"? (personally I don't know)
You must be very intelligent and cultured, right!?

Old Bones · Answer

Oh yes, I almost forgot, sorry for posting this question here but it relates to my first one... I plan to add RAM to my PC, knowing that I have 4 slots, 2 blue and 2 black, on an old Asrock P4V88, and a Celeron 2.5... It seems that I can upgrade to 4 GB of RAM, while others say it’s pointless under XP... I am constantly struggling to manage my loops before the PC crashes (grose "audio" config but 768 MB of RAM),  So I wanted to know:   1: Can the black slots be used independently of the blue ones?  2: What would you suggest as an alternative to be completely at ease knowing that my power supply will be changed because it's noisy and the fan is worn out,   Change everything (motherboard, CPU, etc.) or ........... "Can my current hardware still suffice for some time if I change the power supply and add RAM..."  PS: I tested my RAM with RamTest, no problems reported... and I did not notice any bulging...  Thanks in advance and sorry for this lengthy read lol ...

Old Bones · Answer

"memtest" and not "ramtest" oops...

Goury31 · Answer

Hello,
Like you, I have a PC problem that starts very poorly when it's cold outside. This summer it started up just fine, then it got cold and we turned on the heating, so it always started up perfectly. However, the boiler has broken down and the temperature when I turn on the PC is around 10 to 12°. That's when the malfunction started.
I've found two techniques that work to still get the PC started:
- Start it, it freezes, turn it off, restart it, it freezes after a little longer, turn it off, start it....... until it stops freezing.
- Open the side panel of the PC and blow in hot air directly from a space heater for a few minutes: then it starts on the first try.

At startup (once it doesn’t stop anymore), it asks me to press F1 because it detects that I've changed the CPU (which I haven’t). So I press F1 and it works normally.

I have proof that the malfunction is indeed related to the ambient temperature because I've tried it in warm rooms and cold rooms, and every time it's the same: below 14° it doesn't work, and above 15° it works.

Since a PC is subjected to temperature variations, I thought it shouldn’t be very sensitive to it. But when it's cold, there's often condensation, so I thought about a short circuit caused by a misplaced drop of condensation.

Goury

steven38110 · Answer

Good evening, I don't know much about computers, but I can explain my problem in my own words. To start, the computer starts normally until the loading bar (2 or 3 green lines on a loading line), where at some point, when the 3 lights on the keyboard turn on, the computer freezes and I have to restart it. I don't really know the terms for computers and I quickly get lost when you talk about "BIOS" or other words like that. Thank you for your various advice.

miphifracla · Answer

Cold start (after being off for a night) the green power indicator LED blinks for 15 minutes and then stays solid, and the on/off button then powers on the computer and it works normally.
If I start it hot (power remaining on) there is no problem.
What should I do?

weshlemonde · Answer

Hello, I've tried your techniques but my computer doesn't turn on like usual, the screen stays black and my computer is really empty! Thank you for your responses.

gg67 · Answer

Hello,

This forum is awesome and so are all the people who answer questions

I had a startup problem with my computer, I followed your various pieces of advice and I solved the issue.

The capacitors in the power supply were swollen (the ones with a cross on top), there was even one that was starting to leak. In short, I salvaged a power supply from an old PC and after installing it, my computer works like new again.

What a pleasure when it works!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again to everyone GR

bilou · Answer

weshlemonde July 4, 2010 at 11:22 PM
hello I’ve tried your techniques but my computer doesn’t turn on as usual, the screen stays black and my computer is really empty! Thanks for your replies

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