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Power Button

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by pc_techie, mcp

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I have a Gateway MA P5-166 PROFESSIONAL PC. When I do a normal shut down, I get the screen that says it's safe to shut off the PC. When I press the power button, nothing. I've kept it pressed for 10-20 seconds, nothing. I've changed the power settings both in the BIOS and within Windows. I've changed it to enabled and then to disabled with no results. I have changed the switch, thinking it was a bad switch, with no change. I currently run Windows 98SE. Any suggestions? I don't belive it's a software issue, thinking possibly motherboard. Thank you.

7 replies

by thechas

I have a system right now that has a similar problem.
I swapped out everything, and finally convinced myself that it is indeed the motherboard.

What I suspect happened, is that over time enough dust built up on the switch wires to allow a staticcharge to propagate from the button to the motherboard, and it damaged the power supply control circuitry on the motherboard.

A couple of things to check include any jumpers on the board, and the switch itself.

I would also swap in a fresh CMOS backup battery.

Chas

by dbesenho

win98 is notoriously horrible for power/shut-down problems. there are several ms patches out there that may help with this, and a few kb articles. also, there should be a setting to have it automatically power off, so you don't need to touch the button. if you don't see it in any of the menu's, there is a reghack for it, or try tweakui -- pretty sure that has this setting. or, have you tried the opposite -- keep bios apm enabled, and windows powermgmt off, or vice-verse? i've seen that workbefore for win9x machines. the last thing -- maybe the outside button isn't making contact with where it meets with the switch. I had this once, and had to take the front panel off, and push the inside switch in with a pencil (holding it in awhile!). that would only make sense though if you were also having problem powering it back on. hope any of that helped -- good luck!

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