Hardware won't start at all.. sort of..?

Hey forum. I have a pretty weird dilemma and I need some help. I'm not sure if this is the place but it's the only one I know of

K it was just recently on a fine day that I realized that my computer (hardware) won't even boot up. I checked the whole power problem jazz by checking the jacks and noticed every thing connected to it was on and working properly except my computer.

Before I continue, I'll note that my computer doesn't have a power switch on the back, only a switch that indicates what power it's supplying (115 and 230 i think?) and a green light that is on to indicate that it's receiving power (this light is normally turned on as with my USP wireless which has blue light even when my computer is fully turned off).

Anyways, I tried to turn it again and here's what I observed:

1. From the inside, nothing looks out of place, burned out, nor noticeably wrong.
2. When i press the power button, the fans begin rotating literally for a SPLIT second before all power seems lost and the computer becomes dead (the green light on the back even goes out).

Fortunately I found a way to remedy this as I'm here requesting help from my computer. If I plug out the power chord that connects to the COMPUTER, and wait around 30 seconds to put it back on and wait another 30 seconds to a minute before pressing the button, it turns on!

But I notice that it isn't the way it's suppose to be or used to be. When it turns on, the fans initially rotates really hard as if it received tremendous current too fast and then it begins to slow down to normal and everything seems to work fine except for the high buzzing noise that my computer now makes. This high buzzing noise seem to continue and show whenever it is working hard during start up, but after everything is uploaded on start up, the high buzzing stops even when it's working hard again and everything seems perfectly normal. (I can play demanding video games, listen to music, etc etc)

Sorry for the huge flood of details but that is the problem. What do you think the problem is? Do you guys think it's safe to leave the computer on and/or use the same remedy method to turn it on? What should I do?

Have you opened device manager to see if there are any problem devices? Strange the buzzing noise - does it sound like a fan - sometimes they can get dirt in them or the bearing wears out, but only when it starts - it is possible if it is a fan bearing I guess starting to wear - but Im no expert in this field. Perhaps, wait for more replies. If your impatient, with good reason, take it to the local shop to have someone to look at it. Could also be the power supply - they get really clogged with dirt, and then start overheating, and eventually die if you dont get to them in time.

Well you might have to own up and tell us what you recently installed.

The symptoms you describe are often caused by incorrect fitting of leads on connectors ie one is shorting and PSU safety cutoff kicks in due to pushed in wrong way round.
Bit odd the PSU then works correctly!!


Can also be caused by a half pushed in lead either PSU power lead or part ie DVD to motherboard connector lead.

PSU is overloaded / poss. about to fail / PSU fan not kicking in first time

Pull out all your usb connections except for mouse/keyboard - Test

Then try some of the above - checking connections are correct on motherboard/back of all parts connected + pushing leads/connectors in - everywhere inc cards and memory/bios chips down into their slots.

Is your Dell still under warranty coz it woz only released a yr or so ago.

You may need a new power supply. That "unplug it, wait, plug it, wait, and it comes on" bit just smells of bad or leaking capacitors.

Also, a system will not start if the CPU fan header is not connected. But if the fan on the CPU does not spin up the system may shut down. Leave the case open and watch the fans as you boot. If the CPU fan is not spinning that would explain the behavior and (possibly) the noise.

You can (carefully) use the eraser end of a pencil to gently stop the fans in the computer for a brief second. Do this while the noise is happening. When the noise stops when you stop the fan you have found the problem fan.

The fan noise and the power issue do not necessarily need to be related.

I had a very similar problem. Look on your motherboard for a CMOS reset Jumper and make sure it is not on the pins for reseting.

Also, try taking out the battery for a couple of minutes.

nad said:

But I notice that it isn't the way it's suppose to be or used to be. When it turns on, the fans initially rotates really hard as if it received tremendous current too fast and then it begins to slow down to normal and everything seems to work fine except for the high buzzing noise that my computer now makes.

Ok... from your description of the fan behavior and the whistling noise, your power supply could be feeding a rather signficant overvoltage into your system... and that's about as "Not Good" as it gets...

1) Stop trying to fix the computer. Unplug it. Get that power supply tested, while you still have a computer.

2) There is something seriously distressing that power supply, which means you may have a short someplace in that computer. It will take a qualified technician to find it.

Sooooo... In your shoes I'd live with the bill and take it to the shop.

Neo - I swear to my honor and integrity that I did not install any software/hardware. Not that i know of.

CommonTater - Mind explaining # 2) please? If there was a short in the computer then I don't see how it works.

nad said:

CommonTater - Mind explaining # 2) please? If there was a short in the computer then I don't see how it works.

Lets say (just for example) your NIC card is cooked and causing a short to ground... your power supply probably puts up enough current to still supply the rest of the computer into marginal function... but it is going to be seriously strained by the shorted out board.

In electronics there is no such thing as a dead short... All circuits have some resistance, albeit in fractions of an ohm... So lets say your shorted nic card has become a 1/4 ohm resistor on the +5 volt line... Ohm's law for resistance tells us that will draw 5 volts / .25 ohm == 20 amps. Now most computer power supplies can put up more than that... some get up to 40 and 50 amps on the 5 volt line... but that 20 amp draw is going to put a significant load on that powersupply even while the rest of the computer appears to work...

Does that answer your question?

damn... yes it does. Sigh, i don't wanna go through the trouble of sending this whole thing to dell and stuff. It's still under warranty but still. gaahhh!!

nad said:

Neo - I swear to my honor and integrity that I did not install any software/hardware. Not that i know of.

CommonTater - Mind explaining # 2) please? If there was a short in the computer then I don't see how it works.

I remember some cases of dodgy microsoft mice many yrs ago their leads/wires broke inside causing a short.

Do you use a keyboard or mouse with leads?

Have your checked inside the mains plug for a loose/stray wire or is it factory sealed onto the lead?