pc will not start

[madmonk44]

My PC has been running on Windows XP SP2 for a couple of years with no problems until a couple of weeks ago when it decided to power on directly from the mains switch i.e. no need to press the power button on the front of the case.

This kept happening and then I got a Checksum error and had to press F1 to load the default settings to get Windows to load. This happened for a couple of times until I was unable to start at all. The POST screen got as far as recognising the processor and that was it. I could not even get into the BIOS.

I thought it might be a problem with the battery so I replaced this and at first got the same no go problem but after pressing the rest button everything loaded. I had to go back into the BIOS to change the default settings (it wasn't recognising the processor as the right speed) and for about a week everything was back to its original state.

I was feeling pretty pleased with myself at curing the problem for the price of a battery but today, although I can use the power button OK, I had the same "no go" at start up. After pressing reset at least 10 times it has eventually fired up with no change to BIOS settings.

However I am now scared to turn it off!! Do I need a new motherboard?
Or is it some sort of loose connection or problem with the power supply?
I have checked all connections and hadn't opened the case prior to the power problem. If it is a motherboard problem as people suggest, how come it was going OK after I replaced the battery?

Any ideas anyone?

[redwudz]

Your BIOS may be corrupted. Go to the motherboard manufacturer and DL the latest version, along with the installer and see if that helps. If you are lucky, that's all it is.

The motherboard turns on the power supply. The front panel switch just sends the 'On' signal to the motherboard. In your case it does sound like a motherboard problem. There is some possibility that the power supply is at fault. The simplest way to test that is to replace the PS.

If the BIOS upgrade and a replacing the PS doesn't work, that would point me to a bad motherboard. There may be a few other causes, but if the computer runs normally once you get it booted, those would be my first guesses.

[madmonk44]

redwudz

Thanks for the advice.

Having asked around and checked out a couple of other forums I think what you are saying is right. My PC is running normally again now but I am not confident that it will remain that way.

I have upgraded the BIOS in the past but I think I will try another upgrade anyway. If this has no adverse effect all well and god but if eventually I cannot boot up again I think I will replace the PSU and the motherboard.