Win xp will not turn on again
 

Having a prob with xp,
When it is turned off normally, will not be able to restart for at least 5 mins, have reloaded op system but still the same, anyone know what component is The likely offender, cheers

Desktop or Laptop?

If laptop could be anything - hardware or power management
software. Would need more info on type of puter and if its an
old or new one.

probably leaking capacitors on the motherboard

voltages aren't being regulated properly

in the true spirit of technical support... have you tried a shut down and restart ?

:E :p :ugh:

seriously though, have you tried pulling all peripherals and letting the system boot without graphics cards, additional hard drives, scusi drives / cards sound cards / wireless cards (if desktop), usb accessories (desktop & lappy) etc ? you can also perform a diagnostic boot in xp, which you can see line by line each part of the boot process and it hangs on one specific itme that could be your problem. i had this happen after a MS driver update to an nvidia graphics card. had to pull the card let the system boot then reinstall the old version.

could also be, as milo suggested, a mobo component on the fritz.

When you try and restart (when it fails), any fans whirring or any sign of life ?

heated ice detector.

Firstly, after reading your post very carefully I think you have followed the following sequence
Start>>>Turn off computer>>Turn off
To shutdown normally, and then the computer will not restart, then hardware is the cause.(If you have followed Start>>Turn off computer>>restart, and the computer fails to restart, then the problem is with Windows and you may safely ignore my entire post.)

1. Please supply the information requested in earlier posts.

2. Is there any indication of activity in the conputer ( as per Mr Optomistic), or Power on light or harddrive activity light.

There is insufficient information yet to make a definite diagnosis, but so far my money is on correct operation of strategically placed temperature sensors within the computer. When the targeted fans in the computer shut down there will be a temporary increase in temperature in the monitored components probably preventing the computer from restarting until they have cooled naturally. In other words, I think your computer may be telling you that it's protection circuits are functioning perfectly.Good luck. :ok:

Thanks for the replies, The computer is a desk top, I have vacuumed the usual dust and hair from the internals, after shutting down and restarting lights on and fans are whirring but no indication on monitor at all, will try another monitor and then maybe graphics card and try to work thru it.
After waiting maybe 5 mins it will start up normally and work perfect.

Oh dear.

One does not "vacuum the internals". :=

Generates a lot of static electricity. Static + internals = bad

Next time, get yourself a can of compressed air (preferably one of the invertible ones).

I'm still unclear at what point your machine "comes to life".

Do you ever see the initial motherboad / BIOS screen at any stage ?

When see finally see something on the monitor (after 5 minutes), is it a completely delayed boot screen sequence starting with the motherboard / bios, or a fully loaded Win XP desktop - or something in between?

Are there any beeps from within the initial bios load, and if so, how many??

Is there any HDD activity during the period of inactivity (HDD led active - continuous, flashing, or nothing)?

"tis indeed a strange one .....

Next time, get yourself a can of compressed air (preferably one of the invertible ones).
============================================

Please tell why invertible - for future reference.

Hope everything on it is backed up incase if fails completely.

I have a similar problem. Normal Windows screen does not appear for a few minutes (monitor connected to MoBo graphics). Funny thing is, when I connect the monitor to the standalone graphics card, I can watch the initial startup and then it goes blank! I have never solved this. Repair by replacement eventually...

Put it on a Cat D MEL! :p

Hmm, sounds like the bios setting which tells the machine which graphics to use (should be PEG as I recall).

more like a defective - or loose - graphics card
reseat it in the slot and / or try another card

So you can get the gas blast into bits where you cannot if you hold the can "upright".




But, PLEASE, only do quick "bursts". Otherwise the blast will spray liquid as the air around it cools. Plus your fingers may freeze to the can if you just keep spraying.

This is where I'm probably going to get shot down. I have rather different views of static from most of what you'll read in the computer do-it-yourself books
In years of fixing computers I've never blown one with static from a vacuum cleaner, and I've never heard of anyone else doing so. In fact, for a number of major companies I've carried out contract work for, it was an essential part of their so-called "computer service" offering
To be honest, the worry of static in computers is vastly over-hyped. I've probably blown five motherboards in over 12 years of working on PCs professionaly, and most of those were in the early days with machines that were far less resilient.
The only one I've blown in years was on a highly crowded video editing suite, where in trying to remove a graphics card the motherboard somehow discharged and blew the PCI-express bus. That was a very hot, very sweaty day and the job was in a rush - and I believe the case design was flawed and possibly not earthed

basically, if the PC is properly earthed, then static really should not be an issue

I think static is a personal thing, I used to quite happily handle any chip, including CMOS with no adverse effects what soever but we nad a work experience lad in my dept for a couple of days and I thought a good job to give him was to burn a load of eproms that were needed urgently. But , despite standing on an anti-static mat and having both wrists manacled hes was death to any chip he touched.
I was taught that once a chip was soldered into a properly designed circuit then small amounts of static should not be harmful, obviously if you're going to attack it with a Wimshurst machine then that might be a different matter.

Like Milo I've vacced out many Machines with no detrimental effects.

I agree re; vacuuming. I think the extreme cold and the moisture induced from a can does FAR more harm. I hold the end of the Hoover close and gently brush with an old soft 1/2 incher, Job done. (Cleaning out boy, cleaning out. Dirty minds :p)! Never blown a board by cleaning or adding/removing cards. (So far......).:uhoh:

Regarding OP; How hot is the power supply upon shut down as start up uses far more power than steady state running. Just a thought.

The REAL cure of course...... never switch it off, just leave it running! :ok:

Having worked in my youth with several people who've gone on to top positions in the IEEE etc, I had a fairly good schooling in the effects of static.

It's not the presence of static per se that is the problem, but the difference in static potential between you and the device you touch that causes the issue. Hence, if you 'earth' yourself to the device before starting you are far less likely to cause issue (and almost guaranteed not to if you keep yourself earthed to the device during it). Also, earthing via a plug socket is not recommended.

"Also, earthing via a plug socket is not recommended."

Interesting you say that. I've always felt very leery of using wrist straps plugged into sockets on the very simple basis that I can't trust the wiring of the customer's buildings .
I've no desire to get a belt from a cross wired cable.
Is that that the reason for the negative recommendation - or is there another reason?

Think it is is more about increasing capacitance than current path. wired to mains earth is just daft