Power On Problem

alnuwer · Joined: Mar 10, 2006 Posts: 29

I have an HP Pavillion that sometimes (more frequently lately) will not power on when I push the power button. To get it started, I have to pull the power cord, wait awhile, and reconnect it. Sometimes, it takes several trys before it starts up. I notice that every time this happens, the clock has stopped somewhere in the middle of the night (I power down each evening after I'm done using it). Any idea what is going on?

User: inactive Posts:

Two problems.
Any clock problem (with the system clock in your computer) should tell you it's time to change the little coin-type battery on the motherboard. The first one can go bad at any time,,,,,the replacement usually lasts about four years.

If you're referring to a clock in your house, then that could mean that you are having line power failures, or the clock is defective.

Second problem would be the power supply itself. HP is notorious for installing very Under-powered PSU's in its computers.

Try the battery first, then figure out how you're going to replace the PSU.
HP loves to use proprietary PSU's and you'll likely NOT find one at your neighborhood computer store.

Cheers.

Shadow Cool

pcrattail · Joined: Jun 11, 2004 Posts: 406

I agree with the second part of what..... TheShadow said...

The Clocks stopping. I presume... is in reguards to your "house" clocks...
IF this is the case, YOU are having... Power surges/fluxes/downage.

Any of the 3 are occurring. On the....downage, by that I mean.. Blackouts
as well as Brownouts.

THESE "home" power problems...could have Messed up the Power Supply
and/or Switch on your PC. Unless you have been using an UPS,
you may have done damage just by keeping it plugged in at night.

Surge Protectors will take care of ONE part, but there are still TWO others.
Both the... fluxes and downage..... can be taken care of by an UPS.

Be prepaired ....... you may STILL have to replace the Power Suply/Switch.

BTW........ I would get an electrician or the electric company itself to check the LINES in your house.

..
.

goretsky

Hello,

Approximately how old is the Hewlett-Packard Pavillion computer?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

alnuwer · Joined: Mar 10, 2006 Posts: 29

Thanks for your thoughts - the clock that stops is the system clock. We have no problems with blackouts or brownouts. I will definately replace the battery and see how things go. Any chance that it could be the reason for the failure to power up?

alnuwer · Joined: Mar 10, 2006 Posts: 29

User: inactive Posts:

alnuwer · Joined: Mar 10, 2006 Posts: 29

Well, we can close this guy out - it got to a point (after I replaced to battery) where it would turn on, but not boot at all. I took it to my friendly service center, and they advised me that the mother board was dead. Now I have a new PC on order.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Al

User: inactive Posts:

I have an HP PC that was given to me after it appeared to be totally dead.

After it sat around my shop for a month or two, I one day decided to fuss with it a little. I removed the CMOS battery and left it out for about an hour, then replaced it with a brand new one. The system booted right up as normal and has been working ever since.

Sometimes, when a battery gets low, it allows data in the Bios memory chips to become corrupted. Only removing all power from the chips for a time, like 30 minutes or so, will cause the chips to totally forget what was stored in them. Installing a new battery and rebooting the system causes new bios information stored in ROM to be loaded into the Bios ram.
The computer will come up with Defaults loaded. Some customizing of the Bios settings will usually be needed, like setting the clock and drive boot order.

Since this one experience, I've used the same technique to revive several HP systems. It seems to be more of a problem with HP systems than other brands. Go figure!

Good Luck,
Shadow Cool

alnuwer · Joined: Mar 10, 2006 Posts: 29

Wild! Guess I will hold on to it for awhile rather than donating it to Goodwill right away.

Al

User: inactive Posts:

Yeah,,,,remove the little coin type battery for a few hours and then install a new one and see what happens.
I buy those batteries by the dozen for about a buck a piece. Every PC over two years old that crosses my bench, gets a fresh battery.
It's just cheap insurance against Call-Backs.
I usually don't even charge my customer the buck for the battery.

Cheers!
Shadow Cool

alnuwer · Joined: Mar 10, 2006 Posts: 29

I'll give it a try - after I put it back together (which will be some time now that I am into reconstructing my stuff on my new system).

Thanks for all of your help!
Al