Old PC tower startup issue

Jessica -  
Jojolaguitare Posted messages 12012 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   -
Hello,

I'm trying to turn on an old computer tower that I hardly use anymore to retrieve the files on it before getting rid of it.

When I press the power button, it turns on and then immediately turns off. Everything starts up, so I know the power supply works, but it shuts down after half a second.

What can I do?

Thank you for your help!

Configuration: Windows / Chrome 80.0.3987.149

6 réponses

titou337 Posted messages 228 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   1 919
 
Hello Jessica,

It's difficult to troubleshoot or diagnose from a distance... If it's just to recover data, there's an alternative solution: retrieve the hard drive and read its contents via an appropriate enclosure.

titou337

--
CCM Contributor and hardware specialist (components,
computer equipment, and PC assembly).
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Jojolaguitare Posted messages 12012 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   2 781
 
Hello.

>>> an old computer tower that I hardly use anymore <<<

If the motherboard battery has never been changed, start there. The change is very easy and costs about €3.50 for two (usually CR 2032). However, be careful to remove the battery gently so as not to break the plastic holder, and of course, respect the polarity.

If the problem persists after that, there's no need to insist. Follow Titou's advice (whom I greet)

See you later . . .

--
" Patience leads to success, haste leads to nothing "
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titou337 Posted messages 228 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   1 919
 
Greetings to you as well!

Could the dead CMOS battery prevent a startup?
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Jojolaguitare Posted messages 12012 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   2 781
 
Re.

The battery logically shouldn't prevent the startup. And yet... About 3 years ago, I dealt with a reluctant Acer tower at startup. This tower was 7 years old. I thought about changing the battery (without real conviction), but it restarted. Just the time needed to be set afterwards.

Now maybe a clear CMOS might be enough? Disconnect all peripherals, especially the power cable, open the access side of the computer, remove the battery, move the jumper on the motherboard, hold down the power button for 30 seconds, replace the jumper in its correct position, put the battery back, reconnect the power cord, and then try starting it again.

See you...

--
"Patience leads to success, haste leads to nothing"
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Jessica
 
Thank you all for your answers! I easily retrieved the 2 hard drives, and I will do some research with their references to check how I can read them.

Have a good day!
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Jojolaguitare Posted messages 12012 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   2 781
 
Hello.

Probably with an adapter if retrieving from a laptop. EXAMPLE ==>

https://www.rueducommerce.fr/produit/e-thinker-adaptateur-usb-3-0-vers-disque-dur-ide-sata-convertisseur-pour-2-5-3-5-ide-disque-dur-et-sata-hdd-ssd-avec-alimentation-externe-dc-12v-2a-et-1m-cable-usb-3-0-noir-62848979/offre-207264649

There might be cheaper options . . .

Otherwise, in a tower, set the HDD as a slave. If you're short on cables, remove the drive/burner and hook up the HDD instead.

Talk to you later . . . Have a good day too

--
"Patience leads to success, haste leads to failure"
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