Pc boots up, but my monitor goes back to sleepmode

How long has this problem been occurring? Did it just start, did your computer ever run, has it done anything similar in the past?

Alright, try this:
1. Shut down your computer
2. When it has turned off, unplug the power cord from the wall
3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds (this closes the circuit and lets the power dissipate from the motherboard components)
4. Plug the computer back into the wall
5. Turn the computer on.

This resets the BIOS and can reset the CMOS chip, which can fix some boot problems. Let me know if this fails to work AND give me some more information about your system, and we will go from there.

TVeblen said:

I'm sorry, but I feel I need to correct misinformation. Lots of folks read these posts.

The motherboard has a 3 volt battery installed in it. This battery provides just enough power to retain all of the BIOS settings regardless of the state of the main power or the power supply. Following the steps above will not reset the BIOS or the CMOS chip.

You can reset the BIOS defaults by selecting that option from within the BIOS settings. Usually on the Exit menu.

To reset the CMOS (Clear the CMOS chip) there will be either a jumper on the motherboard to perform this function with, or newer boards have an actual reset button.

The above procedure will work to restore the BIOS defaults if you add the step:
2b - remove the 3v battery.
But it will not clear the CMOS.

My mistake. Perhaps you can explain to me then: why does turning off one's computer, removing all power sources (battery, ac adapter) and holding down the power for 30 seconds fix so many problems that just resetting the BIOS from the BIOS screen does not? I have fixed 10-20 computer issues using this method when the previous method (the method to go into the BIOS and select the "Reset BIOS to Default Settings") did not work, so I know it does something. Can you explain what that is? I have tried doing research on the subject only to find that no one answers, or if they do, it is to say that it resets the hardware or BIOS/CMOS in some way.

Edit: And I have spoken to electrical engineers, and they told me that the holding down the power button completes the circuit, and it will drain capacitors of power, so it probably has something to do with that step.

TVeblen said:

You are probably talking about a laptop, and I was referring to a desktop. The routine is slightly different on each device.

My assumption from the OP's description was that he/she is working on a desktop computer. It has been a long point of contention on this forum that DESKTOP/LAPTOP should be included in the OP's system specs to help us all in these situations, but the management does not agree that it is necessary. But these are the kind of cases that point out that need.

FRAWN: is this a desktop or laptop computer?

What I wrote is long known to be true for a desktop computer. But a laptop is different. You can reset the BIOS defaults on a laptop pretty much the way you described except for one important step.

• You remove the power adapter
• Then remove the laptop battery
• Then press and hold the power button as you said.

Keep in mind this will not Clear or reset the CMOS chip. It only resets the BIOS default settings. There is a big difference.

To make things more confusing we cannot assume that all laptops are designed the same (as we can with desktops). Some laptops have a 3 volt battery on the motherboard that just powers the CMOS chip, some the battery will also hold the BIOS settings. Some laptops have a CMOS reset button that can be tripped by poking a wire through a hole on the bottom on the case, some do not allow a CMOS clear at all. So we learn to try and get more info from laptop owners before making any recommendations.

So why your process works on your laptop could be just the way it is with your laptop. But perhaps you have a larger problem with the battery in that laptop that would explain why you can reset the BIOS default settings without removing it. Maybe you can by design.

You may find my thread regarding the hard/hardware reset interesting Shut down computer, remove all power sources, hold down power button. I finally found my answer in the final post I made. The reset actually applies to desktop and laptops, but it is more effective on laptops; this is probably due to what you said about it also resetting the BIOS.

Hi everyone,
It's been awhile, because I was out of internet service and a lots of digging around.

I have a Desktop Computer.
I did not have that problem for 3weeks after I did what "writhziden" said.
And then after 3 weeks it happened again.
I must add it was a problem while my desktop comp was in his POST period.
And it went on 3 times on and off-ending with a beep. Nothing happened after that.
I turn the computer off, loose all cables, plug them back in. Turn them on. The problem is still there.
I leave it off for a night. The next day all is well.
Now, one day it didn't turn on anymore someone came to check it out.
It seems that it was my second RAM memory.
I had 2 separate 1GB ram memory and added a second 2GB ram memory.
But that memory was the problem.

Thanks for the help.
It's another thing to know about now.