The computer boots every once in a while. Why the computer does not start the first time - troubleshooting
This problem is very common and is faced by a large number of users. The bottom line is that when you press the power button, the computer does not turn on, although the warning light may symbolize the opposite. However, when you press the power button several times in a row, the computer still starts up as if nothing had happened. What is the reason for this and how to solve this problem?
Diagnosis and solution
I would like to immediately note that there is no single solution, since everything depends on the specific situation. Accordingly, the problem may be related to various components. So today I offer you several possible solutions.
It would be nice to open the case right away system unit, but we will postpone this procedure for now. Disconnect everything from the system unit additional devices, such as a scanner or printer. It is possible that they interfere with turning on the computer, plus they put some load on the power supply. Of course, the likelihood that the problem lies specifically in these devices is extremely small, but it still doesn’t hurt to check.
Now unplug the computer from the outlet and open the system unit. If you see a large number of dust collected during for a long time, don’t forget to get rid of it - I’ve already talked about this. And don’t forget to clean your computer from dust and dirt at least once every few months. This decision It often helps to “start” the computer right away.
After this, we carefully examine motherboard. You need to look first for physical damage, as well as swollen capacitors. Perhaps this is what is causing the problem. Moreover, it is not uncommon for capacitors to swell.
If the capacitors are in place and no damage was found, try disconnecting all additional devices. This includes sound card, internal modem, network adapter etc. I would also suggest turning everything off hard disks except for the system one, because the problem may be in one of the hard drives.
Disconnect the memory sticks, carefully wipe the contacts with an eraser and put them back in place.
As for the video card, you can do the same with it, since it may be the cause of the problem. If there is a built-in video card, start the computer, turn on the built-in video card (for example, through the BIOS), then turn off the computer and start it again. See how your device reacts.
Some users advise replacing the battery on the motherboard because it is simply dead. It is quite possible, especially since it is easy to replace the battery yourself.
Unfortunately, the problem often arises with the power supply. Why alas? Because it's enough expensive component and the problem can only be solved by repairing it (often very expensive) or replacing the unit itself. It is worth paying attention to the power supply if a problem with turning on occurs when starting the computer after a long period of inactivity. By the way, if you disassemble the power supply, you can find swollen capacitors there too. Try replacing the power supply if you have one at hand, for example, from another computer.
As you can see, there are many reasons, but it is impossible to say for sure which of them is suitable for your specific situation. If you still cannot find the cause of the problem, you should contact a specialized service for help.
Category ~ What to do (errors and problems) – Igor (Administrator)In this article, I will tell you what to do if the computer does not turn on the first time, as well as the nuances associated with this.
It's always unpleasant when something goes wrong with your computer. And it’s even more unpleasant when this happens with some frequency. That is, it’s as if the computer is not completely broken, but everything is unclear. As they say, waiting for something unexpected. The same thing happens in cases where the computer does not turn on the first time. Why? Because of which? It remains a mystery, covered in thick darkness.
In fact, there are a huge number of reasons why this failure can occur, and therefore there simply cannot be one single instruction. However, there are a number of things that are worth checking or doing first.
Due to the fact that the actions themselves are very voluminous in their description, below I will present a list of articles I have already written with small and short explanations:
1. How to clean your computer from dust - dust is not only “dirty”, it is also a good electrical conductor and heat store. In the first case, we are talking about banal static electricity and contact closure. In the second case, we are talking about the fact that dust can block the fans, which is why the computer can simply shut down unexpectedly. It is also quite possible that the internal devices have overheated and therefore an attempt to turn on the computer after a 5-minute shutdown may not work (the equipment has not yet cooled down). Be that as it may, it is worth cleaning your computer from dust in any case, since it is quite possible that you will have to open the system unit more than once.
2. How to clean your computer so that it doesn’t slow down - the computer can also turn off due to failures operating system or hardware problems. Therefore, many of the tips given in the article are worth checking out and doing. For example, due to problems in the registry or the presence of viruses, failures may occur when starting Windows.
3. Maintain the health of the hard drive with Windows Check Disk (chkdsk) - another common reason is the presence of problems with hard drive. Therefore, it is worth checking in any case. You can also use the Macrorit Disk Scanner program to additionally check for bad sectors.
4. How to check the computer power supply - another reason could be a weak power supply or its failure. In this case, everything is simple, a voltage drop means an instant shutdown of the computer or its restart. I advise you to also check related things. It is quite possible that your pilot or network filter is simply overloaded.
5. The computer does not turn on, reasons and what to do - as I already said, something that happens with a certain frequency may be a signal that the computer may subsequently stop turning on altogether. Therefore, it would not be superfluous to go through the entire list described in this article.
Please understand that this is not the entire list. possible reasons, however, these are some of the most common ones that are worth checking anyway.
Sometimes equipment malfunctions at the most inopportune moment, when you urgently need to do work or send a message. How to quickly figure out what causes the problem associated with the lack of a power-on signal from the computer? Should you take some actions on your own without the help of specialists? Let's try to find out why the computer doesn't turn on the first time and how to fix the problem without contacting customer service.
Main reasons
In most cases, switching problems are caused by faulty components:
- power unit. Life time technical means depends on the reputation of the manufacturer. If the computer is from a little-known company and purchased at a very low price, it probably will not last long.
- Frame. The reason why a personal computer does not turn on the first time is dust accumulated in the equipment, which leads to shorted contacts and malfunctions of the coolers that cool the system.
- Computer components. In this case, incorrect operation may occur. hard drive, video card or processor. In addition, the reason may be hidden in the condition of the loops. How serious the damage is can be determined by the presence sound signals or their absence.
- Power button. Its retraction is caused by frequent pressing or is associated with low quality details.
- Motherboard. This failure can be identified by signs of “stuck” work software. In this case, the “on-off” indicators may light up, but nothing is displayed on the monitor. Signals may appear on the screen with instructions on how to correct a technical problem.
- CPU. Such cases occur extremely rarely, but problems with turning on the equipment may be due to overheating of the equipment.
What do the beeps mean?
If the computer does not turn on the first time, the reason is determined using sound signals: constant or short-term.
- One short signal indicates the successful launch of the components. In this situation, you should wait until the software downloads successfully.
- Two short alerts indicate a problem with the monitor.
- One long one occurs when the video system functions fail.
- Three long ones or changing one long one to a short one happens when the motherboard breaks down.
- A serious failure of the power supply is indicated by the complete absence of sound signals.
Why the personal computer does not turn on the first time: what can you do yourself?
Attempts to resolve the situation can only be made if you have skills in working with equipment components. It is recommended to do the following:
- Disconnect from personal computer any additional devices: printer, scanner, TV tuner.
- Clean the system unit and connectors from dust.
- Check the connection of the cable pins between the motherboard and the hard drive.
- Take out the slats random access memory from the motherboard connectors, leaving only one connected. After this, you need to try to start the computer.
- Replace the BIOS battery if it runs out of power.
- Determine whether there is burnt wiring, this can be done when visual inspection parts or smell.
If all attempts to diagnose why your computer does not turn on the first time have failed, only specialists can help determine the cause of the breakdown and restore the equipment’s functionality.
In fact, if the computer does not turn on, you can determine the reason yourself, without having any skills. In this case, there are not many reasons, and you can determine what has gone wrong in literally 5 minutes. This is exactly what I want to talk about today, how to do it self-diagnosis computer.
So as not to bother your head unnecessary information, use the article navigation and go straight to the section with your symptoms.
The computer does not turn on and beeps
Let me guess, you probably opened the computer to clean it or change components? But, there are times when no one touched the computer, and it itself began to make squeaks when turned on. Be that as it may, the speaker gives a signal that something is connected incorrectly or is out of order.
Your PC can beep in different ways, it can be: short/long beeps, 3-5 beeps, or even continuously. Each of these signals indicates a specific problem, but each BIOS has its own signals. First you need to determine what kind of BIOS version. The easiest way is to remove the PC cover and look at it, look for a chip there with the inscription BIOS, and under it there will be its version (AWARD, Phoenix, AMI, Intel, UEFI).
Now that you know what BIOS you have, remember the number of signals, look at the table below and it will become clear what your problem is.
BIOS Award Signals
| Signal type | |
| 1 continuous signal | Problems with the power supply. |
| 1 repeating long | Problems with RAM. |
| 1 long + 1 short | RAM fault. |
| 1 long + 2 short | Video card error. |
| 1 long + 3 short | Problems with the keyboard. |
| 1 long + 9 short | Error reading data from ROM. |
| 2 short | Minor faults |
| 3 long | |
| Continuous sound | The power supply is faulty. |
AMI BIOS signals
| Signal type | Decoding and what it means |
| 2 short | RAM parity error. |
| 3 short | Error in the first 64 KB of RAM. |
| 4 short | |
| 5 short | CPU failure. |
| 6 short | Keyboard controller error. |
| 7 short | Motherboard failure. |
| 8 short | Video card memory failure. |
| 9 short | BIOS checksum error. |
| 10 short | Cannot write to CMOS. |
| 11 short | RAM error. |
| 1 dl + 1 cor | The computer's power supply is faulty. |
| 1 dl + 2 cor | |
| 1 dl + 3 cor | Video card operation error, RAM malfunction. |
| 1 dl + 4 cor | No video card. |
| 1 dl + 8 cor | The monitor is not connected, or there is a problem with the video card. |
| 3 long | Problems with RAM, test completed with error. |
| 5 cor + 1 dl | There is no RAM. |
| Continuous | Problems with the power supply or PC overheating. |
Phoenix BIOS Signals
| Signal type | Decoding and what it means |
| 1-1-4 | CPU error. |
| 1-1-4 | Cannot write to CMOS. The battery on the motherboard is probably dead. Motherboard failure. |
| 1-1-4 | Invalid BIOS ROM checksum. |
| 1-2-1 | The programmable interrupt timer is faulty. |
| 1-2-2 | DMA controller error. |
| 1-2-3 | DMA controller read or write error. |
| 1-3-1 | Memory regeneration error. |
| 1-3-2 | RAM test does not run. |
| 1-3-3 | The RAM controller is faulty |
| 1-3-4 | The RAM controller is faulty. |
| 1-4-1 | RAM address line error. |
| 1-4-2 | RAM parity error. |
| 3-2-4 | Keyboard initialization error. |
| 3-3-1 | The battery on the motherboard is dead. |
| 3-3-4 | Video card malfunction. |
| 3-4-1 | Video adapter malfunction. |
| 4-2-1 | System timer malfunction. |
| 4-2-2 | CMOS termination error. |
| 4-2-3 | Keyboard controller malfunction. |
| 4-2-4 | CPU error. |
| 4-3-1 | Error in RAM test. |
| 4-3-3 | Timer error |
| 4-3-4 | Error in RTC operation. |
| 4-4-1 | Serial port problem |
| 4-4-2 | Parallel port problem. |
| 4-4-3 | Problems with the coprocessor. |
In my practice, it most often beeps due to RAM. The fix is quite simple: take out the RAM, clean the contacts and firmly insert it into place until the fasteners click. As for the other sounds, there is a lot of information on the Internet for each of these errors that is easy to find. I see no point in describing it, the article is already cumbersome.
The computer won't turn on at all
If you press a button and the computer does not turn on at all, i.e. no emotions, sounds, squeaks, no indicators light up - first check the power supply. If you have changed the outlet, tightly connected the power cable and there is still silence, remove the PC cover and turn it on. If it spins, then scroll down the page, but if nothing happens, we will check for functionality.
How to check the power supply
- Unscrew the power supply from the computer case and disconnect all wires. Remove the power supply from the computer.
- Take a paperclip and break it in half to make a letter U.
- Take the thickest wire harness with the largest hole (that you disconnected from the motherboard) and insert a paperclip to close it black And green the wire:
- Connect the power cable to the power supply and plug it into a power outlet. Important!!! Do not hold the power supply in your hands and make sure that all wires are disconnected from the motherboard. fees.
Now one of two things: the power supply will either hum and work, or there will be silence. If the power supply starts working by shorting the black and green wires, then the problem is in the motherboard; if there is silence, then you need to buy a new power supply.
Self-repair of power supply: you could write about how to restore the power supply, but I’m more than sure that if you could do it, you wouldn’t be reading this. In addition, often after improper repair of the power supply, other components burn out. I strongly recommend buying a new one (it’s not expensive) and saving your computer and your time.
The computer does not turn on, but the system unit fans are working
It’s not a pleasant situation in which almost everything is unclear. This symptom may hide many breakdowns, which will have to be sorted out one by one to understand what exactly happened.
- PSU is faulty. Perhaps it provides tension, but it is not enough. First, open it up, make sure that there are no traces of burnt parts, liquid on the board from capacitors, and check the capacitors so that they are not swollen as in this photo:
If you find them, most likely this is the problem. The power supply works, but not at full capacity and the computer lacks this. To make sure, take a working power supply from someone and install it for yourself to make sure.
- Video card failure. Your computer is running at full capacity i.e. Does it sound the same as before the breakdown? If yes, connect the speakers to the computer, turn it on and wait for the system greeting (OS boot sound). If this happens, you see that the PC is working, but there is simply no image, this means that the video card is faulty.
- BIOS crashed. This happens, it even happened to me. To try to fix it, turn off the computer, remove the cover, take out the battery (the size of 5 kopecks, similar to the battery in a scale) and wait 20 minutes. Then insert it into place and turn on the computer. If it helps, the BIOS has crashed and I would recommend checking for updates for your motherboard. fees.
- The problem is in the components. Almost always in such cases, the speaker tells you what exactly is wrong with the computer, but it is possible that you do not have one or it is not working properly. Disconnect all components one by one until you find the one with the problem.
Start with your video card. If you have an integrated one and an external one, try removing the external one and connecting the monitor directly to the motherboard. If that doesn't help, remove the RAM and then try inserting it into another slot. Disconnect the HDD, if this is the case, the image will appear.
- Checking the motherboard. Do you see a large chip on the board (like a box of matches), perhaps an aluminum radiator is installed on it?
This is a chipset worth checking out. Turn on the computer and hold this chipset with your finger for 3-5 minutes. If it gets very hot, it means the bridge has burned out. I do not recommend soldering it, because the computer will not work for a long time and after a short time the breakdown will recur.
You can also watch the video, it’s quite possible that I missed something, and I haven’t encountered anything at all:
If nothing helps, it is more than likely that your motherboard is burned out. As I said above, there is no need to solder it, because the next breakdown is not far off.
The computer does not turn on the first time
Most likely, you have swollen capacitors somewhere in your power supply or on the motherboard (see example picture above), which is why this is happening. If I'm right and you find them, immediately turn off the computer and resolder them or take the PC to service center. Until your computer does not turn on the first time, and then the entire motherboard may burn out!
Reason #2 – bad contact. Open the computer, disconnect everything you see and reconnect everything in place, making sure that everything is connected well. It is also advisable to wipe the contacts with alcohol, then wipe them dry and insert them back.
That's all, I hope I helped you, and you figured out your problem without going to the service center.
It happens that after a long period of inactivity, according to the rules, a switched off computer does not start the first time. Pressing the reset button once does not lead to normal startup of the PC, and the monitor indicator light blinks. It is possible to start the system unit only after repeated (five, ten or more times) reboots of the system unit.
When this computer behavior occurs again, the user begins to wonder why the computer does not start? There are quite a few reasons for such a malfunction to occur.
Diagnosing a problem that prevents your computer from starting the first time
First of all, you need to disable external devices, such as a printer, scanner, etc., which may interfere in this case and open the case of a switched off computer for internal inspection of the system unit.
Next, you need to clean the insides of the computer from accumulated dust and remove all devices without which the system can boot and operate. Such devices include sound and LAN card, if they are not integrated into the motherboard and other devices, for example, a TV tuner or internal modem. At this stage you also need to pay attention to the video card. At a minimum, it is recommended to remove it from the motherboard, clean it and the connector area under it from dust, and reinstall it.
Sometimes an incorrectly connected or loose cable connecting the motherboard to the hard drive (HDD) can cause a malfunction. To eliminate this, we “distort” all the connectors.
There may also be malfunctions in the operation of the RAM strips, without which the computer will not start. This is quite easy to figure out. If there are two or more sticks on the motherboard, carefully remove them one by one, carefully wipe the contacts, then install only one memory module in place. We start the computer and observe the reaction when loading. If the download has started, then turn off the system unit and add the rest of the memory one by one.
If the above operations do not restore the computer's functionality, we move on to the next stage of diagnostics and begin to closely examine the motherboard for physical damage. A common damage to the main board of the system unit is damage to the capacitors, when they fail, it is visible to the naked eye that they are swollen.
Sometimes the motherboard can be repaired, but this will require a qualified technician who will agree to do this for an acceptable price, not exceeding the cost new board. Therefore, it is easier to replace it with a new one.
Any physical defect can lead to negative consequences that affect the work as a whole.
In some cases, after many reboots, a positive result is observed. Just like in the first case, you reboot the system using the reset button, which is located on the front panel of the system unit.
If the computer does not start the first time, but after a successful start it works normally for quite a long time and the problem appears again after a sufficiently long shutdown and inactivity, then the culprit of the malfunction is often the computer's power supply, which converts network energy and powers all internal components of the system.
The power supply has the property of “settling down” and delivering energy different from that required for booting and normal operation of the system unit.
It is not difficult to check this option; if there is a replacement power supply, then it will take a short time to check the functionality, in otherwise, if all the recommendations of the article are followed, you need to buy and replace the unit with a new one.
Diagnostics of the system unit may also show a malfunction in the battery that powers the basic setup systems - BIOS. In this case, you only need to replace the dead battery with a new one.
