Desktop will not POST, sometimes takes hours

[Deathgazer]

The PC is fairly new, got it around Feb. This has happened a few times, about a month or so between each other, usually while I'm afk.

I come back, screen is black from going into sleep mode I guess, although it seems to be frozen. PC is on but moving the mouse or hitting a key etc does nothing, forcing me to do a kill the power to it via the switch in the back. Holding the power button does nothing.

And then... it just refuses to POST. The mobo light is on, but nothing happens when I try and boot the PC up. Pushing the power button does absolutely nothing. First time it seemed to finally post up, randomly by itself about 15-30 minutes after I hit the power button. Another time it took about an hour to boot after I hit the power button and left it alone. This time it took many hours. This has happened around 3 times after I got it, starting around 3+ months after I've had it. I've replaced the RAM, and the CMOS battery (I was getting CMOS SETTINGS WRONG, Date/Time not set for awhile)

Once it finally powers on, the fans kick in, the lights turn on, it boots up just fine. Problem is getting it to start up in the first place.
PC is on 24/7. I have never overclocked. The room does get hot sometimes, texas heat and summer time, if that matters.

 

[Jacee]

Have you done a 'repair' install?

 

[xarden]

PC is on 24/7. I have never overclocked. The room does get hot sometimes, texas heat and summer time, if that matters.

I bet 2 mcDonalds cheeseburgers that this will be the cause.

You'll need to keep it cooler.

 

[Computerguys]

Do me a favour, When U get a chance to boot up again, Hit "del" button, go to BIOS and tell me d temp of ur CPU!!!!!

We can go from there mate!!!

 

[profdlp]

After checking the temps, (assuming they look good), see what happens when you try Safe Mode. If things run smoothly then you likely either have a bad driver or startup program which is holding things up.

 

[Skulblaka]

Maybe hardware damage due to overheating, also the PC running 24/7 in the heat doesn't sound best for a computer.

 

[MacGyvr]

Guys, why are you giving suggestions about Safe Mode and repairing Windows? Get real and read. He said the computer WON'T POST. The last I checked, Windows has nothing to do with whether your system will post or not.

To the OP...unplug ALL USB devices and try to start from no power. I'll bet you'll start right up.

 

[Skulblaka]

Guys, why are you giving suggestions about Safe Mode and repairing Windows? Get real and read. He said the computer WON'T POST. The last I checked, Windows has nothing to do with whether your system will post or not.

To the OP...unplug ALL USB devices and try to start from no power. I'll bet you'll start right up.

What does it mean when a computer won't "POST"? I've never heard of that term.

 

[alphanumeric]

POST stands for Power On Self Test. It's a function built into the BIOS on the motherboard. If it fails one of more of the checks you may get an error message , usually a series of beep codes, or in a really bad situation a blank or black screen. All this takes place before the operating system is loaded. Usually when the POST is finished you hear one short beep and then the OS starts to load. That is if you have a speaker connected to your motherboard. If you didn't have a speaker you could easily confuse a failed or stalled OS load with a failed post if you weren't watching too closely. Especially if it's the video card or driver thats throwing a wrench into things.
If it was me I would take the side of off the case and make sure there is no buildup of dust and clean things up if need be. Then I would power things up and try to get into the BIOS menu to check temps. While you have the side off make sure all the fans are running, especially the one on the CPU and video card.

 

[Petey7]

Guys, why are you giving suggestions about Safe Mode and repairing Windows? Get real and read. He said the computer WON'T POST. The last I checked, Windows has nothing to do with whether your system will post or not.

To the OP...unplug ALL USB devices and try to start from no power. I'll bet you'll start right up.

I was wondering the same thing. I was thinking I missed something.

The only time I've seen something similar is when my laptop takes about 3 minutes to post as opposed to the 4 seconds it usually takes. A few times now I have cut off my computer without letting windows load up all the way, and when ever I do this it takes awhile longer to POST. It might be that your bios is triple checking everything, but I'm not really sure what causes it. My only other guess is that your motherboard might be messed up. Not really sure how to help besides helping you find some cheap replacement options if you go that route.

 

[Skulblaka]

POST stands for Power On Self Test. It's a function built into the BIOS on the motherboard. If it fails one of more of the checks you may get an error message , usually a series of beep codes, or in a really bad situation a blank or black screen. All this takes place before the operating system is loaded. Usually when the POST is finished you hear one short beep and then the OS starts to load. That is if you have a speaker connected to your motherboard. If you didn't have a speaker you could easily confuse a failed or stalled OS load with a failed post if you weren't watching too closely. Especially if it's the video card or driver thats throwing a wrench into things.
If it was me I would take the side of off the case and make sure there is no buildup of dust and clean things up if need be. Then I would power things up and try to get into the BIOS menu to check temps. While you have the side off make sure all the fans are running, especially the one on the CPU and video card.

Thanks, now I know.

 

[MacGyvr]

It'd be nice to hear from the OP as to whether my suggestion was tried.

 

[xarden]

I still think its running too hot.
But Macgyver's suggestion of disconnecting USB devices also makes sense; I've noticed on an XP netbook, that bootup from power off takes a while when a USB flash drive is plugged in. Devices like our gaming controller and mouse hasnt really affected the bootup time.

Another suggestion would be to confirm there is an internal speaker attached. Most older mobo's have an onboard squarker. If your's has neither than you most certainly wont get the POST beeps which is the first point of troubleshooting a POST test.

Failing that, make sure your video card and ram are all properly seated. These are both show-stoppers if one or the other(s) are faulty. I doubt this is the case as it does eventually boot up, but its good to know anyway.

 

[barton]

"But Macgyver's suggestion of disconnecting USB devices also makes sense" Yup. One time I went to reboot a laptop with an ipod shuffle connected to a usb hub and it would not post.

 

[motc7]

I would say if unplugging everything doesn't POST right up, then you got a bad Mobo, or the BIOS is corrupt.

Either way, if this thing was only purchased back in Feb, why not start looking into getting it fixed per your warranty?

 

[Deathgazer]

The warranty still costs me shipping, which is a lot with this thing. Plus the downtime.

The PC finally managed to boot up after a few hours. But thanks for the info I'll be sure and try unplugging all the devices etc next time it does this. Using CPUID HW, idling the temps range around 111F, although 'TMPIN1' is around 170F, not sure what that is with this program. But these are also with me around and the AC unit on high. When I go afk the AC goes off and it can get hot in there.

RAM and GPU have been reseated before.
Also, just to clarify, it doesn't take long for the computer to boot/load up, it's just getting it to power on in the first place (whenever this occurs).

And one other thing I noticed is when it finally booted on I did receive the CMOS SETTINGS WRONG, DATE/TIME NOT SET screen again. I re-set it in the bios although I'm not sure why I still get this msg, since I've replaced the cmos battery twice.

 

[Lordbob75]

I am going to say that this is NOT an overheating problem.

I WILL say this:
When you boot up again, make sure to get into the BIOS. Hit delete or F1 or whatever key it is.
Then RESET your BIOS settings.

I bet that either a USB device (as said) is causing a problem, or the sleep setting in the BIOS is wrong and messed it all up.

If resetting the BIOS does not fix it, then we will have to get into the hardware and start pulling stuff.

~Lordbob