TSGL: Start-button problem

[Computerfee]

Thank you guys for your ideas!

This morning now it became even worse, oh well, different - when I switched 
on the power going to the computer (I have the plug in a socket I can switch 
off, but tried another socket then as well with the same result, so no 
problem with the socket) the 3 LEDs on top of the keyboard (Num-, Caps-, 
Scroll-Lock) were flickering and nothing could stop them for a while. Took 
the plug out several times but then at last when it had stopped, the power 
button of the computer did not do anything, so I left it all in piece for a 
while with power stopped and then for a change after pressing the button 
several times with the usual no start at all, it did work, not a single 
start without the monitor but it did start the computer and monitor right 
away. Seems though I will have to talk my husband into taking the machine 
out of its place which always is a problem as you cannot take it out far 
enough to see the back of the computer (some cables are really short), so it 
always is a kind of game and very uncomfortable to get all the plugs back 
into their sockets there after working and I cannot work with my head and 
arm in that small place anyway, so cant do without his help unfortunately.

have a nice day
Heidi


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Computerfee" <computer.fee at googlemail.com>
To: "TSGL" <List at tsgserver.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 8:24 AM
Subject: TSGL: Start-button problem


Hi there everybody!

First time in ages I have a problem with my own computer and right now my
hardware guy (my son) has broken is right hand and can't drive, so taking
the 1 hour trip by public transport is not possible for him just for fun
with his working hours plus doctors visits. My husband is doing the job when
he has to but he gives up too easily and knows much less than our son. So I
first hope you can help me to find out what can be and what can't.

The problem is that the computer does not start every time I want to start
it. To describe this morning which was like most mornings lately but not
all - took me about an hour with several breaks pressing the power button
again and again before at last it worked (yesterday it was working after
just 3 tries). Now don't think, it is only that the button does not work -
at first nothing happens when I press the button, then something is
happening in the way that you can hear/see a red light in the mouse ticking
on and off, same time the blue light behind the start button does flicker
same as some red light somewhere in the computer, next step then after
having this go on for a while the button suddenly usually starts working
most times (by now after pressing it so often for days and days already it
sticks quite a little) - result the computer starts properly (I can
see/access it from another computer in the house) but without the graphic
card, so the screen stays black and the BIOS tells me about a graphic card
problem with a long and two short beeps. Then going through this start with
the beeping a hundred times suddenly it will start all correct, i.e. the
computer starts with the graphic card and I can work.

My son insists that the graphic card is loose but I think last time he did
some work on the machine he fixed that old problem with the missing screw at
the graphic card and so I tried and found the card was sitting tight, so
this I think, can't be the problem. I think it is more likely that actually
the start button is causing the problem, but is it possible that the start
button does leave out the graphic card when starting the entire machine or
is there something else going wrong then? And what will I have to do to
repair that strange button, if it actually is what is wrong?

Have a nice day

Best wishes from sunny Berlin

Heidi