New computer fails to turn on.

justaquestion

We have a small form factor computer for out son, got through the family fund as he is non verbal and autistic. Has a separate monitor

Only got it a week, but now the main unit fails to switch on a lot of the time, when power button is pressed on front usually a blue light comes on there but totally dead a lot of the time when trying to power up. We have tried switching the power cord but no good.
Then all of a sudden maybe hours later it will power up when power on button is pressed, and loads fine into windows 10.

Am I right in thinking its probably a power supply problem or a power on switch problem at front of unit?

Its going back, but hope it plays up when they get it, an it seems to be an intermittent problem.

Thanks a lot

bengalknights

Its either the power connection or possibly motherboard connection causing the issue

forgotmyname

Something loose inside possibly, unplug everything and plug it back in or send it back to the seller for repair/refund.

Maybe a faulty PSU or maybe even the switch itself.

Robisere

In sevaral years of building computers, I have had 2 returned with this problem and both involved the Power Button on the case front. As you are sensibly sending it back, I would do that without opening it up, but if it comes back there may be a solution.

Find out what make and model of case it is built into. Then Google that for the manufacturer website. Quite often, there is a Support section which has Parts for sale. This may mean buying a whole case front, but sometimes the power button assembly is avalable. I know for certain that Coolermaster and Corsair definitely have parts like this available and they are not expensive, I have bought replacements and fixed the problem at my expense.

That said, I hope that the seller can solve this for you. Be firm without being nasty: say that, under the new Consumer Rights Act, you are entitled to a new computer or a refund. Good Luck!

Fightsback

Immediately reject it as faulty and return to the vendor. Out of curiosity what is the make, model and supplier ?

Cycrow

You say the power light comes, does it stay on, but nothing else happens, or does it go off again straight away ?
Are the fans spinning at all ?

if it stays on, then its unlikely a loose power connection. The power light is connected to the motherboard, so the motherboard has to be getting power for the light to come on.

it could still be a PSU problem, giving it enough power to turn on but not enough to actually POST.

If the power light is on, fans spinning etc, its possible that the computer is working just not displaying to the monitor, did you check the monitor cables ?

Also try pressing caps lock on the keyboard and see if that lights up

justaquestion

Cycrow wrote: »

You say the power light comes, does it stay on, but nothing else happens, or does it go off again straight away ?
Are the fans spinning at all ?

if it stays on, then its unlikely a loose power connection. The power light is connected to the motherboard, so the motherboard has to be getting power for the light to come on.

it could still be a PSU problem, giving it enough power to turn on but not enough to actually POST.

If the power light is on, fans spinning etc, its possible that the computer is working just not displaying to the monitor, did you check the monitor cables ?

Also try pressing caps lock on the keyboard and see if that lights up

Thanks for replies.


When the power light at front does come on then everything works perfectly, a fairly loud fan noise which I presume is power supply fan kicking into action, quietens down after a few secs, and windows loads fine, everything great.


But at other times pressing the main power button at front, nothing happens, no blue light on power button, no power to mouse, or keyboard lighting up, as far as I can tell no power is getting to unit. By the way the power supply doesn't have an on/ff switch at back of unit. Tried different power chords etc but no good.


To be honest I think that moving it sometimes can cause it to work again, so maybe a loose connection. Just a little apprehensive it will work perfectly when the supplier gets it and will wind its way back to us with same problem.


The supplier so far is being really nice about it, as it was given to us by the family fund who help disabled children, so its being picked up no cost to us.

robmar0se

Having worked in a school for children with learning difficulties, we often found that the kids at times pressed the on button too heavily and could damage the usual plastic fitting.

As a previous poster said, it could well be the button connection at the front; usually these are not repairable and have to be replaced. The front panel is removable with care (again with plastic clips so care is required).