Win XP Shutdown & Startup

[SidBord]

When I shut down by Dell 8300 with Win XP, I watch the
lights on the disk and the CPU power button. When they go
dark, I assume that the shutdown is complete, then I turn
off the power to it and my monitor via the switch on my
surge protector.
When I start up my computer, I first turn on the power via
the surge protector switch, and that's when things get
strange. I see my keyboard lights and the light on the CPU
power button flash, then go out. Then I have to press the
CPU power button to start the CPU, at which time I see the
usual keyboard lights and disk drive lights flash.
It appears that when I first turn on the power with the
surge protector button, the CPU goes on very briefly, then
turns off.
Is that what's happening?

 

[Ron Martell]

When I shut down by Dell 8300 with Win XP, I watch the
lights on the disk and the CPU power button. When they go
dark, I assume that the shutdown is complete, then I turn
off the power to it and my monitor via the switch on my
surge protector.
When I start up my computer, I first turn on the power via
the surge protector switch, and that's when things get
strange. I see my keyboard lights and the light on the CPU
power button flash, then go out. Then I have to press the
CPU power button to start the CPU, at which time I see the
usual keyboard lights and disk drive lights flash.
It appears that when I first turn on the power with the
surge protector button, the CPU goes on very briefly, then
turns off.
Is that what's happening?

Yes. This is normal and expected behavior for a computer with an ATX
type motherboard.

With this type of motherboard thre is always a small amount of power
being applied to the motherboard, provided the external power source
has not been switched off or disconnected.

So when you turn on the surge protector switch the motherboard power
up partially.

Hope this explains the situation.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."