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hardware problem?

Started by valla2 Apr 4, 2005 at 5:58 AM 7 replies 700+ views

Original Post

Apr 4, 2005 at 5:58 AM

Hi. My computer seems to have a problem. When there are programs running you know the computer is thinking when the electric lamp ( there are 2, the one at the top ) is flickering. My problem is that when i open my pc, and windows load, sometimes the monitor turns off and that lamp stays turned on. And the computer stays like that, and you can do nothing. There isn't a particular time that this happens, it just happens sometimes (.. very offen ) (ususally at the beginning) and i have to restart my pc by closing and opening the socked. Becuase i forgot to say that the restart button on the box doesn't work when this happens. And when this problem happens in a raw it's very annoying ( there are times you have to restart the pc 5-6 times before you can work with it ) what could the problem be? thanks in advance

joanusdmentia

Apr 4, 2005 at 6:55 AM

Try holding the power button in for 4 seconds (this can be a LONG 4 seconds on some systems), this should do a hard reset of the system (just pressing the button quickly will only trigger a soft reset, ie. tells the operating system to shut down). Also, the electric lamp (LED, light emitting diode) that flickers is the IDE indicator, it flickers when there is disk access.

As for what's causing it, it's hard to say without more info. Do you have standby enabled on your system? Do you have a TV hooked up to your computer?

SirLuthor

Apr 4, 2005 at 9:14 AM

Had a problem sort of like this a few weeks ago, except my moniter wouldn't turn off, the computer would freeze completely, but the moniter stayed on. Anyway, I had just gotten a new video card, and, well on looking inside the case and feeling the GPU fan, well lets just say I had blisters on my fingers for a day or two. Apparently, the fan on the GPU was foobarred and it was overheating like hell's ovens.

Check to make sure that all your fans are running, and that nothing is extremely hot (preferably do this when the computer is *off* and unplugged, as touching the delicate parts of a computer while it is running is not recommended, personal experience.). Failing that, I have no idea what your problem is.

jbadams

Mod

3,228

jbadams

Apr 4, 2005 at 9:22 AM

Quote:
Original post by joanusdmentia
Try holding the power button in for 4 seconds (this can be a LONG 4 seconds on some systems), this should do a hard reset of the system (just pressing the button quickly will only trigger a soft reset, ie. tells the operating system to shut down).

On many systems I've encountered, this time is 8 seconds, possibly acounting for the excessive length of the 4 seconds. [wink]

valla2

Author

valla2

Apr 4, 2005 at 10:47 AM

joanusdmentia, my computer has 2 buttons. The one is the button that turns it on ( and then one that can be hold for 4-8 seconds to turn off the compter -> this works when the problem occurs ) and the other, little, button is the one that when you press it the computer restarts. The latter one doesn't work when i have the problem. I think i have standby enabled, does this matter? I didn't ever had any problems with it. But i am not sure if it is enable; if i want to do a standby i either go to start->trun off computer-> stund by or i click a button in my keybord.

SirLuthor, i don't believe anything will be hot in my box, since i don't have my computer turned on for too long...

i don't know what to do..

SirLuthor

Apr 4, 2005 at 11:14 AM

Valla, it doesn't have to be on for any long amount of time, my card used to short out at the 'select a user' windows screen, or if I managed to log in, 1-2 minutes afterwords. It doesn't take time for for things processing pulses of electricity at about a billion+ times a second to get hot.

Honestly, it makes no difference whether you think there's anything hot in your box or not, you may as well check. It'd be a shame if that was the problem and you never found out because you were sure it wasn't. Of course, it probably isn't, but have a look inside while it's running for stopped fans anyway.

Ravuya

296

Ravuya

Apr 4, 2005 at 11:16 AM

Might be a crappy power line (particularly if you live in Hicksville). If you live in a rural area, see if you can get a line conditioner or a decent (i.e. APC) surge protector.

valla2

Author

valla2

Apr 4, 2005 at 12:37 PM

SirLuthor, ok you might be right i would like to have a look in my box, but because i know it will take too much time ( because the box is in a.... let's say "wrong" place in my office ) i'd prefer not to get into that trouble. I appreciate your help though :) I know that could be the problem ( but why does it happen now? i have my pc for so long and i didn't have any problems with it. and why doesn't this problem happen everytime i open it? it can run for too long and nothing happens ) but nevermind...

Ravuya, thanks for the help i'll see what i can do.

joanusdmentia

Apr 4, 2005 at 3:31 PM

Quote:
Original post by valla2
joanusdmentia, my computer has 2 buttons. The one is the button that turns it on ( and then one that can be hold for 4-8 seconds to turn off the compter -> this works when the problem occurs ) and the other, little, button is the one that when you press it the computer restarts. The latter one doesn't work when i have the problem.

The fact that your reset button doesn't work sounds odd (I'm assuming it works normally and is wired up to your motherboard), I haven't heard of any systems that disable it when entering different modes but that doesn't mean they don't exist either. How computer savvy are you? If the answer is 'not very' then you may need to get a computer tech in to have a look if our suggestions don't work. Trying to diagnose something like this in a forum is tricky at best [smile]

Quote:
I think i have standby enabled, does this matter? I didn't ever had any problems with it. But i am not sure if it is enable; if i want to do a standby i either go to start->trun off computer-> stund by or i click a button in my keybord.

The reason I ask is that my mum's old computer would sometimes fail to recognise the events that should bring it out of standby mode, so once it entered it you had to do a hard power off like your describing. Having said that though it would come straight back on normally afterwards. Try getting into the BIOS and disabling anything related to power management and see if that makes any difference.

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