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Computer will only start sometimes, I need help please

I have a computer which i have given to my niece and nephew to use for school. The problem is that sometimes the computer will not start. When you switch it on it bleeps and the fans whirl but then they cut out. I turn it off and try again and normally after about 20 minutes of trying to start it again everything kicks in and works fine. I have no problems once the computer is up and running and all my programmes are running fine. Once the PC has powered up it does not cut out.

I have opened up the casing and cleaned out all the dust. I have checked for loose wires and couldn't see any but the computer still will only power up sometimes.

If anybody has any suggestions then i would be really grateful.
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Comments

  • Could be a dodgy Power Supply Unit
    It's taken me years of experience to get this cynical
  • Could that be replaced and do you know if it would be expensive? Many thanks
  • about a fiver from ebuyer
    Ever get the feeling you are wasting your time? :rolleyes:
  • Thanks for that i will give it a go
  • Yes I'd go with the power supply too, mine packed up yesterday and was not a cheap one either, the effect was ticking on and off every couple of seconds, I chucked in one I pulled from my daughters computer (she will not notice for a week) and it fired up first time, when you do buy a new one check that you get a high enough voltage one for your computer, the same or slightly higher than your old one, it's written on the side, mine is 550w but I will eventually get a higher one because my system is fairly high end power hungry, also don't go for the very cheapest you see, some of those can be a little noisey as they bung in cheapo fans, and your system could end up sounding like a helicopter.
    There are 10 types of people in the world; those who understand binary and those who don't...
  • Thanks for that. I will have a look at the power supply when i get home tonight.
  • albertross wrote: »
    about a fiver from ebuyer

    You'd have to be MENTAL to trust several hundred pounds' worth of pc guts to a five quid power supply.

    Next time your £5 psu dies, you'll be lucky if it doesn't take half the components with it.
    They say it's genetic, they say he can't help it, they say you can catch it - but sometimes you're born with it
  • I'm mental then.. psu's are basic components in every piece of electronic equipment, they don't cost much to make, have no cutting edge technology inside, have been around for donkeys years, so spending £60 on a branded make is a complete waste of money, especially for an old pc. Why everyone goes on about you need to get a hyperdodaturbo psu is beyond me, too much reading of modding magazines perhaps?

    You can buy a whole brand new base unit for £150-£200, so how much do you think the psu cost the manufacturer?
    Ever get the feeling you are wasting your time? :rolleyes:
  • albertross wrote: »
    I'm mental then.. psu's are basic components in every piece of electronic equipment, they don't cost much to make, have no cutting edge technology inside, have been around for donkeys years, so spending £60 on a branded make is a complete waste of money, especially for an old pc. Why everyone goes on about you need to get a hyperdodaturbo psu is beyond me, too much reading of modding magazines perhaps?

    You can buy a whole brand new base unit for £150-£200, so how much do you think the psu cost the manufacturer?

    Well said! I agree £5 is enough. Only strange thing for me is that it is ok sometimes and not working the next? Can you check that non of the motherboard is touching the metal casing? It could be that the kids have been at the back of the pc plugging things in and knocked something.
  • I never suggested buying a top of the range psu. Not even a midrange one. I'd be very wary of any PSU that cost less than £20 though.

    a £5 psu is likely to have pretty bad fluctuations across all rails for starters. Components don't tend to like that much... It'll be considerably less efficient than better made units, so you'll make the difference in cost back over a year anyway. It'll also more than likely take whatever's plugged into it when it dies. And it will die.

    There's no cutting edge technology but there's such a thing as bad components and good components. Exploding capacitors aren't fun.

    Cheap power supplies are a false economy.

    Don't take my word for it though OP, have a google.
    They say it's genetic, they say he can't help it, they say you can catch it - but sometimes you're born with it
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