Windows XP Turn off/Start Up

[hawkeye]

Can anyone please explain why, when I turn off PC I must also turn off the mains supply???

This is to ensure the PC starts up in the correct manner the next time.

I find that if I do not turn off the mains supply, when I turn on the next time I get as far as the XP WINDOW (with the scrolling blue blobs!!), this scrolls about 3 times, then slows down and eventually freezes. I then turn off/on again and then I get the “we apologize for inconvenience but windows did not start properly” window. Click on Start Windows Normally, and everything’s fine.

I always used to just turn off and then on again – no problem.

Now I have to turn the mains off – does this signify a problem somewhere??



PC is made up as follows:



Asus M2V Motherboard

ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro GraphicsCard

1GB DDR2 667 mhz Memory

AMD x2 2800/64 Bit CPU

160 GB Maxtor SATA Hard Drive

250 GB Hitachi (additional Hard Drive)

4 in no. Disk Drives.

 

[TriplexDread]

Welcome to the forum

Check your settings are not set to hibernate or standby in the power options

 

[hawkeye]

Many thanks for reply.

Have checked settings in Power Options, they are as follows:

Power Schemes - Never
Never
Never

Advanced - Shut Down
Stand by

Hibernate - Box is is unchecked.

Do I need to alter any of these settings?

 

[floppybootstomp]

No, no need to alter those settings.

I suspect a power supply or motherboard fault.

Also, check all your BIOS settings, particularly the power ones, something in there may give you a clue.

 

[hawkeye]

Are there any tests you can carry out to test the Power Supply/Motherboard.

Also, not being too technical, could you please spell out in easily understood language what I need to do to check Bios power settings?

Thanks

 

[TriplexDread]

Tbh I would change standby to shut off however thats personal preference

You can buy a PSU tester they range in price from £5 - £15

 

[hawkeye]

I believe that the power supply unit may be the culprit.

Will be getting it tested shortly.

If I need a new one can I have some suggestions for good, reliable PSU's. (Not necessarily cheap)

500watt??


hawkeye

 

[floppybootstomp]

If you don't intend to seriously upgrade your system in the near future, particularly the grpahics card, go for a PSU between 500 & 700 watts from either Corsair; Be Quiet; Seasonic or OCZ.

Don't be tempted by the cheapo PSU's, they're crap

Be aware though that if your motherboard is faulty, you'll then have to replace that. Often substitution is the only way an accurate fault-find can be made.

 

[hawkeye]

floppybootstomp,

I was seriously contemplating an OCZ 500W Stealth X Stream 500-Watt PSU.

What do you think?

 

[floppybootstomp]

floppybootstomp,

I was seriously contemplating an OCZ 500W Stealth X Stream 500-Watt PSU.

What do you think?

Go for it

 

[hawkeye]

floppybootstomp,

Actually went for the OCZ 600W Stealth X Stream OCZ 600SXS PSU.

Being fitted tomorrow 26/3.

Will let you know how I get on. (Hopefully the PSU is the problem and nothing else !!)

 

[hawkeye]

floppybootstomp

Had new PSU fited today.

Witnessed turning off/on again 3 or 4 times - everything OK.

Took PC home - plugged in all the bits and pieces - switched on - OK, or so I thought - until I turned off and back on again - would not boot up. Back to where I was before. I still need to switch off at the mains to ensure PC boots up next time - it will not boot up the next time just by turning off.

My fear is, I might have done some damage to the new PSU, similar to the previous one, which was shown to be faulty when tested.

Can you make anything out of what I have now described?????

I need some further advice please.

 

[Abarbarian]

floppybootstomp

Had new PSU fited today.

Witnessed turning off/on again 3 or 4 times - everything OK.

Took PC home - plugged in all the bits and pieces - switched on - OK, or so I thought - until I turned off and back on again - would not boot up. Back to where I was before. I still need to switch off at the mains to ensure PC boots up next time - it will not boot up the next time just by turning off.

My fear is, I might have done some damage to the new PSU, similar to the previous one, which was shown to be faulty when tested.

Can you make anything out of what I have now described?????

I need some further advice please.

Take the new PSU back to be tested as it may be faulty.

Try a different power cord.

 

[floppybootstomp]

I will assume you had the PSU fitted by a local dealer/shop?

With their peripherals (mouse, keyboard, monitor) it worked fine yes?

With your peripherals you have your problem back.

Suspect either your mouse, keyboard or monitor.

I did warn earlier it's often a process of elmination.

How friendly are the people who fitted the PSU?

If they're ok take your computer back to them with mouse, keyboard and monitor then hopefully together you can pinpoint where the problem lies.

One other thing - your mains supply where you live - how's the earthing there? How clean is the 240AC? That may be worth getting checked out.

And as Abarbarian said the new PSU may be faulty although in light of the above info I'd say that's unlikely, but it's definitely worth trying a new mains lead.

I hope you didn't throw the old PSU away as from the info above it's possibly quite ok. Still, the OCZ PSU is a nice upgrade.

 

[hawkeye]

floppybootstomp and others

Thanks again for replies.

Let me go through your latest reply:

New PSU was fitted by a friend in the business.

I've been back this afternoon and had the new PSU checked - no problem there.

Tried several times with his mouse/keyboard/monitor - no problem there!!!

He, like yourself mentioned the mains supply/cleanliness of the supply - not checked yet.

By now I'm fairly well brassed off.

Anyway, arrived back home and went through the motions again - connected up just the mouse/keyboard and monitor - surprise surprise - no problem - off and on about 5 times.

What I did leave unconnected, which I hadn't disconnected before was the connection from the Netgear Router.

Whenever I plug the Router back in the problem returns????

So, it seems like I have found the problem - the router - but what now?

What is actually causing the problem?? Any suggestions??

Can the router be checked out?? Or do I just bite the bullet and get a new one? (Although everything works fine as long as I switch off at the mains)

Excuse my ramblings, but I thought I would just try to explain the latest episode to this annoying saga.

 

[floppybootstomp]

Ditch the router and get a new one.

It's probably faulty and likely has a voltage on the signal lead that shouldn't be there.

You're lucky it didn't cause permanent damage to your PC.

Good luck, and I'm glad to see you've isolated the problem.