TSGL: Start-button problem

[Don Penlington]

Heidi wrote:
>BIOS tells me about a graphic card problem>>


OK let's start with that. Unscrew it and remove the graphic card 
completely, then click it back into place. Do that 2 or 3   times. In an 
old computer, sometimes the contacts can get corroded. Removing and 
replacing it can sometimes overcome that for a while.

The problem could be the switch or the power supply, as you suspect, though 
if you get signal beeps that means there must be power coming through.  I'm 
a little confused by your description. Your motherboard manual should tell 
you what the beeps mean. That depends on the Bios.

  Modern switches are funny things, they often have multi functions. On 
mine, you have to hold it in for 8 seconds before it will fully switch off. 
Occasionally it won't do anything at all, and I have to pull the plug (not 
a good thing).  Then, after reconnecting, I sometimes find that pressing 
the power switch doesn't do anything. Zero. Zilch. Same thing happens if I 
go away on holiday and leave it unplugged. I plug it in, and the power 
switch is dead.

If that happens, I then unplug the power again, leave it unplugged for 30 
seconds, replug it in, don't touch anything but go away for 10 minutes, 
come back and then I can press the power button and the machine boots just 
like normal. Sits there grinning away at me like I was a fool. (Well, maybe 
I am and it knows that!).

It's been like that for at least 2 years, but I've never bothered to try 
replacing the switch. In the end, it seems to settle down OK until I next 
go away on holiday. Sometimes I have to go through that procedure 2 or 3 
times before anything happens.

So try unplugging the power to yours, leave it for several minutes, and try 
booting again. Repeat the formula if you have to.

With luck, the same procedure might work for you, too. Swearing and cussing 
at it helps, too. And threatening to buy a new computer works wonders. But 
don't hit it, they don't like that.

Don Penlington


 From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
Computer tutorials, local scenery,  and other things at my website:
http://users.tpg.com.au/deepend/index1.html