I must manually reset power supply

Hi,

I think this kind of problem falls into one of two categories...

1. A hardware problem that requires a powercycle before a successful reset can happen.

2. A value that persistes in the CMOS between boots. This normally means something the BIOS has set.

Make sure your BIOS isn't set to be a plug and play OS in case the BIOS isn't querying all the devices in your system and successfully resetting them for the boot.

It may be worthwhile flashing to the latest BIOS too. You'll find it on your motherboard's manufacturer's website.

Cheers,
Tim.

If the power supply is an ATX power supply, then the problem may be in how you are shutting down or in the BIOS. Most new motherboards based on the ATX form factor have a setting in the BIOS under power management called something to the affect of "restore state after power loss." If the system is not shutting down currectly then when you try to start it will try to restore the lost state (which usually results in a blank screen, with no beep codes). You then have to power down, switch the power supply off or unplug it then cycle the power which clears the system and then turn the power supply back on or plug it back it and the system should work fine. Check your motherboard manual for a setting that matches the above one. If you have it try disabling it. It you don't have an ATX power supply then it is probably bad.

I have had similar problems with a number of Socket A SDRAM based motherboards. Usually when using a CPU of 1GHz or faster.

The default CPU speed table in the BIOS is based on the 200MHz FSB.
However, with SDRAM, the FSB is limited to either 100MHz, or 133MHz.

The BIOS detects the CPU speed correctly, but as a result of the table, the CPU is clocked at 1/2 speed.

For a 200MHZ FSB CPU, set the FSB to 100MHz, the multiplier as needed to acheive proper clock speed, and is you are using PC133 SDRAM, set the Memory clock to FSB + PCI, (133MHz).

For a 266MHz FSB CPU, set the FSB to 133MHz, the multiplier as needed, and the memory clock to FSB (133MHz)
NOTE: You must use PC133 SDRAM for 266MHz FSB socket A CPUs.

It is also possible, that you need a BIOS upgrade, or you need to enable ACPI under power management in BIOS settings.

Chas

I'll take a simpler approach on the off chance it's a possibility. Is it possible your PC isn't turned off at the time you are hitting the power button to turn it on, but instead in sleep mode or hibernation? If so you may be having trouble with the PC recovering from sleep mode, rather than power supply or hardware problems.

You may want to verify your power saving settings and the action your power button is set to within the CMOS.

Point value changed by question poster.

This question was closed by the author