weird computer problem

[lordhutt]

Ok, this has been pretty much an ongoing problem since I built this computer over a year ago but since I hardly ever turn my pc's off I just dealt with it.

The issue is when I turn on the pc.
I have to hold the power button for approx 4 seconds (no more no less) or it will not boot.
If I don't hold it the right amount of time the case fans and video card fan will continue to run but the pc will not post. When this happens I either have to hold the power button in until it shuts down or pull the plug and try again. I pretty much have the timing down but there is no reason it should do this.

I am thinking it has to be something with the motherboard (I have not called gigabyte yet)
Since I built it the video card and hdd's have all been upgraded.
I have swapped the ram.
So I think it pretty much narrows it down.
I doubt it's the cpu so that is why I am leaning towards the mobo...unless it could be the power supply

any thoughts?

I have a Silverstone case with a Gigabyte mobo 9GA-P35-DS3R) with an intel core2duo cpu.

[ranchhand]

Pop the side of the case, find the cable lead that runs from the power-on button back to where it plugs into the mobo. Pull that plug off at the mainboard. Cross the two, tiny contacts on the mobo with a screwdriver and see if it will power up immediately, or if you still have the same 4 second problem. If you do, your problem is in your mainboard-there is nothing else that would cause this. If not, your power button is faulty. Try setting the BIOS back to factory defaults just in the weird case that there is some setting on the BIOS that is corrupted (I doubt this is the problem, but it will only take one minute to do so why not?) While you are in the guts of the computer, check your capacitors for leaking electrolyte or bulging at the top. A bad cap could also cause this.

[fatbloke88]

if you can lay your hands on a spare try swapping the power supply I had a 1000w tagan which gave simular problems in my main pc when i bult it but worked fine in my older pc.I just swaped the psu's

[redwudz]

Good advice. The front panel power switch is at logic level. (5VDC) When the signal gets to the motherboard an electronic switch sends a second signal through the ATX power supply connector to the PS and tell it to turn on. Most times if the fans turn on and the LEDs work, the PS should power up all rails and turn on the PC. It would be a very rare case that the rails that run the CPU were not turned on at the same time, but anything is possible.

It does sound a little like a firmware BIOS problem. Reseting the BIOS would be one thing to try, but copy down any custom BIOS settings first. You can use the shorting jumper to reset BIOS, but I usually just unplug the PC and remove the BIOS battery for a few minutes. If no help there, check with GB to see if there is a updated BIOS available. Your BIOS may be corrupted.

[lordhutt]

Well, I think it is confirmed to be the switch.
I've always had problems with this switch sticking but never wanted to mess with it. I just figured it a standard momentary contact switch and as long as it makes contact for a second to send power to the mother board then it was fine...that is why I always dismissed the switch as the problem.

Emailed Silverstone for an RMA...hope they take care of it...it's probably out of warranty.

Thanks All!!

[redwudz]

One simple option if the pwr switch is bad, trade the reset switch terminals for it. They both work exactly the same and I doubt you use reset that much, and the failed pwr switch may work fine for occasional use. That doesn't really sound like a pwr switch problem, but if the reset switch works, easy enough fix.