restarting

maggiemay48

New Member
When i switch my computer on in the morning Its starts then switches off then restarts again What is the problem ? any ideas
 
That ciould be one of a few. The least expensive is a possible need to update the bios if something got corrupted or the battery on the board is weak. When a battery goes the system won't start. A component failing like a cap on the board or a supply problem are the more costly. If the system has been in use for over a year it's likely a battery. The worst is a hardware failure in progess even a bios chip going.
 
That ciould be one of a few. The least expensive is a possible need to update the bios if something got corrupted or the battery on the board is weak. When a battery goes the system won't start. A component failing like a cap on the board or a supply problem are the more costly. If the system has been in use for over a year it's likely a battery. The worst is a hardware failure in progess even a bios chip going.
How d oi update the bios? thank you for reply.
 
The first thing to do before attempting that is to refer to the board's own manual whether included with the board or the online downloaded PDF file. Most newer AMD and Intel boards alike have their own EZ type bios update method. Some updates are available in a WinFlash form that yoiu simply double click and run while in Windows.

The old and more tedious method to see a good flash was to download the update to the root of C and copy it onto a boot floppy along with a dos flash tool provided by the board manufacturer. You had to enter the exact old name and new name of the bios there to see a good flash. It would be something like "ren 1002(old bios) 1010(new bios) and watch the progress as the bios was then reprogrammed. The board's manual and online instructions for that make and model board are the things to follow for that.
 
When i switch my computer on in the morning Its starts then switches off then restarts again What is the problem ? any ideas

Could be the power supply going , restarting from a cold start. I doubt if you have a corrupted bios or a dead battery. Did you install any new program or drivers before this started. If not you could try to just reset your bios to see if that works.
 
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Does this only happen during boot up from a cold fresh start (meaning the first time you've switched it on with, say an hour or more of it being switched off)? Funnily enough I have the exact same problem. It's not my PSU as I've tried another and it still does the same, although I haven't worried about it as it doesn't seem to affect the performance of the machine. Are you sure your power button isn't just sticking or something? Has this happened before / since you first got the machine? As it could be shorting out on your case. But then again I would have thought it would have done it more than one if shorting.

Breaks.
 
Does this only happen during boot up from a cold fresh start (meaning the first time you've switched it on with, say an hour or more of it being switched off)? Funnily enough I have the exact same problem. It's not my PSU as I've tried another and it still does the same, although I haven't worried about it as it doesn't seem to affect the performance of the machine. Are you sure your power button isn't just sticking or something? Has this happened before / since you first got the machine? As it could be shorting out on your case. But then again I would have thought it would have done it more than one if shorting.

Breaks.
It does it first think when switched on.You can here it booting up then it clicks off then clicks back on then off.Just clicking on and off all the time.It seems when its been switched off all night.No my power button isnt sticking.The light on the tower flicks on and off too.It doent do it all the time just ocassionally.But its so anoying.It was fine this morning.The machine was brand new 4 yrs ago.(old i know)Its just recently.its started doing it.But the keyboard goes off the same time as the tower.Just clicking all the time.I have to turn it off at the mains then start again.
 
Oh mine isn't that extreme. I press the button, it powers up, then powers down, then powers up and boots fine. Have you noticed any performance degrading with the system since this started occurring? Such as a decreased in speed etc. Might be worth replacing the motherboard battery but it sounds likely to be the motherboard or PSU going bad. Do you have any spare PSU's or Motherboards you can test?

Breaks.
 
Oh mine isn't that extreme. I press the button, it powers up, then powers down, then powers up and boots fine. Have you noticed any performance degrading with the system since this started occurring? Such as a decreased in speed etc. Might be worth replacing the motherboard battery but it sounds likely to be the motherboard or PSU going bad. Do you have any spare PSU's or Motherboards you can test?

Breaks.
To be honest with you.I have not the faintest idea about computers.All i know is the internet and my way round it (ebay) etc.Nothing about what your saying.Somtime the screen black.And it asks for reboot or something like that.
Havent got clue.sorry
 
Video card going out? RAM is bad? Overheating?

1. Try another video card if your using onboard video.
2. Take out one stick or ram (if you have 2)/ or try another stick of RAM.
3. Check temps in BIOS.
 
Video card going out? RAM is bad? Overheating?

1. Try another video card if your using onboard video.
2. Take out one stick or ram (if you have 2)/ or try another stick of RAM.
3. Check temps in BIOS.
Sorry to be rude.But i wouldnt know where to startI have no idea what any of it means(i am thick) How do i check temps of bios And where is it?
 
Could be the power supply going , restarting from a cold start. I doubt if you have a corrupted bios or a dead battery. Did you install any new program or drivers before this started. If not you could try to just reset your bios to see if that works.
Not that i know of.
 
Maggiemay48 that's fine, we all have to learn somewhere. Do you know anyone that does have some sort of knowledge with playing around inside an actual PC? As to solve this problem, or at least identify it, that's what you need. Someone who can follow the suggestions we make and move, remove and troubleshoot various parts inside of the PC.

Breaks.
 
Maggiemay48 that's fine, we all have to learn somewhere. Do you know anyone that does have some sort of knowledge with playing around inside an actual PC? As to solve this problem, or at least identify it, that's what you need. Someone who can follow the suggestions we make and move, remove and troubleshoot various parts inside of the PC.

Breaks.
I will have to take it t othe computer shop.Dont want anyone messing inside it if they dont know what they doing. Thank you for the advice.
 
One thing to mention is that it's not always guaranteed to occur. Most computer shops just switch it on once or twice, the problem doesn't occur and then they just say it works fine and charge you for them doing absolutely nothing. Might be worth writing down a few things that have been suggested here and mention it to them.

Breaks.
 
Sorry to be rude.But i wouldnt know where to startI have no idea what any of it means(i am thick) How do i check temps of bios And where is it?

If your monitor is plugged into the motherboard then its integrated. If its plugged on the rear bottom of your case, then your have an non-integrated video card. If you have an extra video card around plug it in and take the orgional video card out. If its integrated, just plug and play.

At POST, either press DEL, F1, or some other button. There will be an PC Health or Hardware Monitor. Click that. Look for CPU Temperature.

The RAM will be like a long chip. There will either be one or two. If two, take one out, (open the clips) and take out the RAM. Boot up.
 
If your monitor is plugged into the motherboard then its integrated. If its plugged on the rear bottom of your case, then your have an non-integrated video card. If you have an extra video card around plug it in and take the orgional video card out. If its integrated, just plug and play.

At POST, either press DEL, F1, or some other button. There will be an PC Health or Hardware Monitor. Click that. Look for CPU Temperature.

The RAM will be like a long chip. There will either be one or two. If two, take one out, (open the clips) and take out the RAM. Boot up.

Judging by maggiemay48 saying he/she doesn't know what we're saying with previous posts I think this one is a little too techie as well lol. I mentioned POST to a friend of mine before and he asked me what a computer has to do with the mail.

Anyway, piece of advice, if your not sure on what you are doing with computers from a troubleshooting perspective, be careful if you manage to get into your BIOS. Playing around with features in there isn't a good idea so make sure you never save anything upon exit of it.

Breaks.
 
We were all beginners one time :D

Just dont Disable/Enable or change anything. Just click on PC Health or something and look at temps. THen just exit out (dont save though)
 
When advising someone to go into the bios thay also have to know how to exit it! The hardware monitor is usually buried inside another main section. For a much easier way to look at system temperatures at the desktop you can download a small utility called SpeedFan and not have to worry about changing something by accident in the bios. That's a free program found at http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

For troubleshooting any hardwares bring it to some who does know how service systems for your sake of mind there until you become more pc knowledable. And despite the less informed remark by osmeone made earlier a weak not dead battery can cause a number of startup problems since that maintains the cmos information. When a battery does go doa the system won't even turn in most cases.
 
When advising someone to go into the bios thay also have to know how to exit it! The hardware monitor is usually buried inside another main section. For a much easier way to look at system temperatures at the desktop you can download a small utility called SpeedFan and not have to worry about changing something by accident in the bios. That's a free program found at http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

For troubleshooting any hardwares bring it to some who does know how service systems for your sake of mind there until you become more pc knowledable. And despite the less informed remark by osmeone made earlier a weak not dead battery can cause a number of startup problems since that maintains the cmos information. When a battery does go doa the system won't even turn in most cases.

Well the fact that in most BIOS' on motherboards having a very large EXIT option on the main menu of it is normally a give away on how to exit a BIOS.

Breaks.
 
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