Problems starting computer

[Clutz]

My computer runs fine all the time unless I unplug it and take it with me somewhere. Then when I plug it back in, it runs for 2 seconds and shuts down. I have figured out that if I unplug my Maxtor HD, the computer will start fine using my sata drive. So what I did was unplug the Maxtor drive and turn the computer on, then quickly plug the Maxtor drive back in. Then everything works fine booting well as many times as I need to. But if I unplug the computer and take it with me someplace, then it won't start again unless I repeat this sort of hot plug process with the Maxtor HD. Does anybody know why this would happen, and how to fix it? Oh yes, I foolishly upgraded internet explorer, and maybe???? it was after that, that this problem started. Maybe???

P4 3.4 PRESSCOTT socket 478 cpu -800MHz bus hyper threading, 1MB cache
ABIT IC7 MOBO
1 GB DDR433 PC3500 Dual Channel Memory (two 512 sticks)
A raptor 150GB sata, and a Maxtor 160 GB 7200rpm w/ 8MB cache
Ati x850xt video card
Creative xtreme sound card
Intel PRO/1000 MT Ethernet
16X DVD+RW, DVD-ROM
DSL connection and Windows XP Pro.
Compaq Monitor 85HZ
 

Thank you very much, Clutz

[Tigger29]

What you have to realize is that when you shutdown your computer, you're not really turning it off.  It does a "soft" power down which turns off all the accessories, video output, etc... but the power supply still stays on just enough to power everything back up again.

So.. by unplugging the computer you're performing a "hard" power off.. where your power supply loses ALL it's power.. and it's possible a failing component in the power supply is having trouble restarting the hard drive... for some reason the "shock" of hot-plugging the hard drive in makes it work again for awhile.

I'm not real familiar with the electronics inside the power supply, but you see similar symptoms in the Automotive field when relays try to stick, but in either case I would be banking towards a failing power supply.

Good luck.

[Brenjen]

I had a really annoying problem where my Saitek throttle would sometimes cause my PC not to boot, it would just fire of a series of beeps in such fast succession that it was impossible to count them & the lights on the KB & throttle would just hang. For a long time I wasn't sure what was doing it, I would un-plug the power cord & wait 5 minutes & most of the time that would do the trick.

 One day I thought for a while about it & figured that since the boot would hang about when the Saitek & the KB were starting up one of them might be causing the problem & I un-plugged the JS first & the problem didn't happen again. I plugged it back in & all was fine for a while & it began again. Un-plugged it again & plugged it back into a main USB instead of the add on ports & it never gave me a problem again.

 I don't know what USB peripherals you have but you might start with them & see what happens. Might not help at all but it's the only experience of that sort I have encountered other than a failing mobo & that drove me nuts for about a week before I figured it out.

[Clutz]

Thanks for the help. I'm thinking power supply is on the blink, or now that you mention it, I'm starting to think the ide part of the mobo is giving me problems. I am shopping to build a new compute now, but I would still like to keep this one going.

The case I am going to buy for the new build has a 400w power supply that I am not going to use. I will try that in this current computer when I get it. If that doesn't work, I think I can borrow a HD from a friend and try that. If that doesn't work, I will pick up a generic mobo off of ebay for a few bucks.

[wooley]

Clutz - what's your current powers supply rated at? Particularly the 12v rail?

If it's lowish, there be nothing wrong with it - it might just not have quite enough juice to run 2 disks, a DVD rom, and reasonably power hungry CPU and graphics card.

A marginal power supply will struggle most at start-up.