PC won't come out of standby

[SharkD]

Lately, I have been unable to get my PC to come out of standby if it's
been sitting there unused for a few hours. Instead it simply powers
itself immediately off. The problem does not occur if it's only been
in standby for a few minutes. Also, the power LED seems to dim
gradually, which is weird.

I checked Event Viewer, but there aren't any errors that seem related.
I can post the event log if needed.

Any ideas?

-Mike

Windows XP SP3
AMD Sempron 3000+
1.5GB RAM

 

[Paul]

Lately, I have been unable to get my PC to come out of standby if it's
been sitting there unused for a few hours. Instead it simply powers
itself immediately off. The problem does not occur if it's only been
in standby for a few minutes. Also, the power LED seems to dim
gradually, which is weird.

I checked Event Viewer, but there aren't any errors that seem related.
I can post the event log if needed.

Any ideas?

-Mike

Windows XP SP3
AMD Sempron 3000+
1.5GB RAM

So, a power supply issue ?

There is no reason for the power LED to dim.

The power supply regulates its outputs. Exceptions
are made, if the supply is overheating. Heat continues
to be created, even when the computer is in standby, but
the amount of heat is supposed to be small enough, that
they don't run the fan.

I'd try another supply, one that doesn't dim the power
LED when in standby.

Paul

 

[SharkD]

So, a power supply issue ?

I hope not. It only dims until it's off when trying to come out of
standby. When still in standby it blinks normally without dimming.

-Mike

 

[Steve]

So, a power supply issue ?

I hope not. It only dims until it's off when trying to come out of
standby. When still in standby it blinks normally without dimming.

-Mike

I would say it's the power supply doesn't want to restart when warm and
powered continuously for a few hours, probably a leaky capacitor. Try to
borrow one to swap out, it's probably the only way to prove it's faulty.

 

[mm]

Lately, I have been unable to get my PC to come out of standby if it's
been sitting there unused for a few hours. Instead it simply powers
itself immediately off. The problem does not occur if it's only been
in standby for a few minutes.

I've had that too, for years, although only in win98SE. 1 gig ram,
800 MHz. I installed XP on the same computer and I don't think I have
it with that.

Also, the power LED seems to dim
gradually, which is weird.

I don't have that.

I tried moving the mouse a lot, (the usual way I wake it up) and
pressing a lot of buttons, and I've finally found a reliable way to
get it to wake up.

Cntl-alt-delete. Wait a few seconds to make sure it has time to take
effect (it doesn't happen immediately on my computer, even when it's
not in standby. )I don't want to press escape before it has taken
effect. Especially because it might ignore it then and then if I
press cntl-alt-delete a second time, maybe it will just restart. I
don't know.)). Then press escape. It works every time, but I don't
know about XP.

 

[SharkD]

when was the last time you changed the cmos battery.

I have no clue. Why?

-Mike

 

[SharkD]

Cntl-alt-delete.  Wait a few seconds to make sure it has time to take
effect (it doesn't happen immediately on my computer, even when it's
not in standby. )I don't want to press escape before it has taken
effect.  Especially because it might ignore it then and then if I
press cntl-alt-delete a second time, maybe it will just restart.  I
don't know.)).  Then press escape.  It works every time, but I don't
know about XP.

I'll try that, thanks.

-Mike

 

[SharkD]

So, a power supply issue ?

There is no reason for the power LED to dim.

The power supply regulates its outputs. Exceptions
are made, if the supply is overheating. Heat continues
to be created, even when the computer is in standby, but
the amount of heat is supposed to be small enough, that
they don't run the fan.

I'd try another supply, one that doesn't dim the power
LED when in standby.

    Paul

Yep, it was the power supply. I've lost a video card once simply by
touching the VGA cable with the toe of my shoe. I'm afraid my new
power supply will die too, as I feel a lot of static when I climb
underneath my desk. My desk has a steel frame too. Any tips on
eliminating static?

Mike

 

[Paul]

Yep, it was the power supply. I've lost a video card once simply by
touching the VGA cable with the toe of my shoe. I'm afraid my new
power supply will die too, as I feel a lot of static when I climb
underneath my desk. My desk has a steel frame too. Any tips on
eliminating static?

Mike

A higher relative humidity might help, but there is a
limit to how far you can push that. Above 60%, your
carpet will begin to mildew, so the problem can't be
solved completely that way. They tried a high humidity
approach in one large room at work, and it cost a
fortune to repair the room later (mold).

You can get treatment for carpet, but it has to be
applied over and over again. Even the purchase of
an antistatic carpet, may not remain antistatic forever.

http://www.ultrastatinc.com/static_carpet_spray.html

To bring your body to ground potential, it helps if
your footwear is conducting, and the floor is also
a conductor. That helps reduce the accumulation of
charge. A carpet makes such an approach less effective.
(Removing your shoes and going around in socks, is
a way to emulate the performance of the antistatic
shoe.)

You could replace the table with a wooden table. My
computer table is built from two pieces of 4' x 4' x 0.75"
plywood, mounted on 4"x4" wide legs. (That makes the table 1.5"
thick, as the two sheets are bolted together.) The table
is strong enough to stand on. And no static problem with that.
Of course, if I was in your situation, I'd probably
be zapping my computer, each time I reached out to
touch it. So the change of table, still doesn't solve
the problem of zaps to the computer case itself.

As for your video card, I suppose it could have
been static. But the design of the PC is such, that
zaps to connector shells, will tend to flow through
the metal computer case, and then through the safety
ground and into the wall socket. There should be less
energy heading elsewhere. Due to the antenna effect
though, you can also induce potentials in other wires.
And that is another way to get damage or upset.

It could have been, that when you touched the VGA connector
with your foot, you moved the card in its socket. And
then, the wrong contacts touched together, ruining
it. With the AGP connector, there isn't much room
for vertical positioning error.

Paul

 

[SharkD]

Rig an earth ground
wire to a bare metal portion of your desk frame (easy way is
crimp a ring connector on and fasten it to the sheet (or
tube) metal of the desk with a screw).

Could you explain in more detail how to do this?

Move the system out
of reach of your feet if you feel it's likely you'd shuffle
them and contact a cable again.

It's not just the PC. It's the monitor, peripherals, headphones etc.

I should also probably buy a line tester, as the wiring was done by
family friend. Normally, he is quite thorough, but he might have made
a mistake.

Mike

 

[SharkD]

A higher relative humidity might help, but there is a
limit to how far you can push that. Above 60%, your
carpet will begin to mildew, so the problem can't be
solved completely that way. They tried a high humidity
approach in one large room at work, and it cost a
fortune to repair the room later (mold).

I may try that.

You can get treatment for carpet, but it has to be
applied over and over again. Even the purchase of
an antistatic carpet, may not remain antistatic forever.

No carpets, just hardwood floors.

To bring your body to ground potential, it helps if
your footwear is conducting, and the floor is also
a conductor. That helps reduce the accumulation of
charge. A carpet makes such an approach less effective.
(Removing your shoes and going around in socks, is
a way to emulate the performance of the antistatic
shoe.)

Yeah, I think the problem is worse when I have shoes on instead of
socks.

You could replace the table with a wooden table. My
computer table is built from two pieces of 4' x 4' x 0.75"
plywood, mounted on 4"x4" wide legs. (That makes the table 1.5"
thick, as the two sheets are bolted together.) The table
is strong enough to stand on. And no static problem with that.
Of course, if I was in your situation, I'd probably
be zapping my computer, each time I reached out to
touch it. So the change of table, still doesn't solve
the problem of zaps to the computer case itself.

I should clarify that the top of the desk is formica (I think). Most
of the frame is also painted (or anodized?). Only the lowest portions
are exposed metal.

It could have been, that when you touched the VGA connector
with your foot, you moved the card in its socket. And
then, the wrong contacts touched together, ruining
it. With the AGP connector, there isn't much room
for vertical positioning error.

I don't think so. The cable between the monitor and video card is very
loose. The cable between the monitor and power strip (a flat one
underneath my monitor) is bundled tight though.

Paul

Thanks for the reply.

Mike