Computer won't shut down!

[gt24]

So, I tell my computer to shut down. I have usually left it on 24/7 but recently things have came up so I have decided to turn it off every evening... until I learned that I can't!!

My power supply recieves the "power down" signal from windows... then the computer clicks off, clicks on... clicks off, clicks on... clicks off, clicks on... until I hit the switch in the back of the power supply. Turn that switch on... and it boots just fine.

From outside windows, I hit the power button (yes, this is at the screen where I choose safe mode). Same thing.. click off, click on, etc. I hit the reset button... same thing... click off, click on...

Is my power supply failing? How the HECK can I solve this very frustrating problem?

[I.M.O.G.]

I would say you could be experiencing a Windows crash and its set to automatically restart when recovering from a serious error (such as a BSOD). Thats pretty common.

In your case, I would probably look to the BIOS. Reset to defaults and see what happens. If your overclocked record your settings so that you can restore them, but you may need to back off a bit for the problem to go away.

Could be a ACPI issue, could just be a BIOS configuration parameter, or it could be something causing instability when shutting down which forces an autorecovery startup. I would bet on the first two from what you said so far.

[benbaked]

Just throwing this out there, how do the caps on the motherboard look? Good luck! :thup:

[Peepaw]

I would say you could be experiencing a Windows crash and its set to automatically restart when recovering from a serious error (such as a BSOD). Thats pretty common.

In your case, I would probably look to the BIOS. Reset to defaults and see what happens. If your overclocked record your settings so that you can restore them, but you may need to back off a bit for the problem to go away.

Could be a ACPI issue, could just be a BIOS configuration parameter, or it could be something causing instability when shutting down which forces an autorecovery startup. I would bet on the first two from what you said so far.

Could he turn off auto restart? Maybe rule out the psu if it blue screened then.

[systemhost]

Make sure you have stay off on power failure turned on...

[gt24]

Stay off during power failure is set... all other normal stuff in relation to that is set.

Since I am moving, I won't be able to test a BIOS reset for a while (why is moving so difficult!?!?! :bang head), however I do want to try it.

The caps on my motherboard look ok... then again I use a very oversized heatsync so I might have missed seeing a few. Could the caps in my PSU be going bad?

Windows is kinda ruled out in this case because of the following test. I boot my machine and hit F8 to get the boot selection screen (as in, go to Safe Mode or normal mode or...). There, I hit my power button to turn off my computer. It should just turn off... however it does the restart thing.

Also, when this reboot happens, my hard drives click off (as if the shutdown is happening) and click back on nearly instantly... which sounds really NOT good for the drives. It seems like my computer does turn off for a fraction of a second before deciding that it wants to turn on.... and after being on for about 2 seconds, it does this thing again. Hope that clears some stuff up.

Thanks for helping. I will most certainly keep everybody informed.

[gt24]

Ok, computer is now set up and I reset the BIOS. Yay! The problem is gone!

Now... what the heck was causing this?

Here is the BIOS settings for my computer. It was rated (at overclock) to be a 2400+... a 500 Mhz overclock. It should be noted that the current CPU is not as good at holding the rails steady but it hasn't been an issue... I think...

CPU overclock
Bus Speed : 175 Mhz
Multiplier : x 12.0
Voltage : 1.550

CPU Default
Bus Speed : 133 Mhz
Multiplier : x 11.5
Voltage : 1.550 (wait a second, this should have reset!?)

I'm using an Athlon XP processor.

My memory was also overclocked... although without looking at my BIOS, I'm not sure what 11, 5, 5, 2.5 means off the top of my head. I think right now (if I got the numbers right) that I am at 7, 3, 3, 2...

So, where should I ask for assistance troubleshooting my overclock?

[gt24]

Triple post... but there has been an update.

After a normal experience using my computer this evening... of about the amout of time from my last post to this one... I decided to call it a day and I initiated a shut down and I had the same off, restart, off, restart stuff that I had earlier... and I am running on default BIOS settings...

:bang head

So... now what?

[gt24]

Another update... bumping to the top.

The last two days my computer hasn't had issues. It just shuts down. Today, it wouldn't turn on! The computer would power for a second and then turn right back off. I flipped the PSU power switch back and forth to no avail. Finally, I unplugged my PSU for 30 minutes and then retried... to get my computer working.

What do you think? What's wrong?

[Vagabond102]

Do you have a different PS handy to try? Either you've got a bad PS or bad mobo.

Also, if you haven't updated the BIOS recently, you might want to try that.

[I.M.O.G.]

I blame the PSU. Probably a lazy answer and I shouldnt say a grounding/shorting issue couldnt be the culprit, but I'm still gonna blame the PSU.

If possible, get another one to test and see if the issue persists. Thats the most likely culprit in my opinion.

If there is no easy/cheap way of doing that, disconnect everything but essential components (leave primary HDD, HS fan, mobo, keyboard, mouse, and monitor connected, all RAM but single stick). Ensure thermal protection is turned off in BIOS. Ensure nothing is shorting on the case and your mobo mounting is good, or remove the innards from the case entirely and see if that makes a difference by rebooting/shutting down repeatedly.

I've tracked down a similar issue before and a faulty PSU made the symptoms impossible to consistently reproduce. I was reduced to just swapping out parts - on a hunch I did the PSU first and that solved my issue. In my situation a full power off and static discharge, then a BIOS reset usually allowed me to boot back up... That lasted for a month or so. Then it got worse and wouldnt start up at all for hours. It seemed temperature related I had noticed, and dead cold starts were the most difficult. I borrowed a friends hair dryer (I'm bald), and directed that at my mobo CPU/PSU intake area. After 10-15 seconds it started right up - after I had tried everything for several hours (I lived by myself and had no TV, my computer was it). This lasted for several weeks. The time it took with the hair dryer got progressively longer until finally I couldnt get it to boot at all. Thats when I replaced the PSU, and all my problems were solved.

I'm a firm believer in troubleshooting and systematic approaches. The hair dryer situation undeniably improved my observed results and I will likely never be able to explain why. Goes to show how troubling a failing PSU issue can be - the symptoms it exhibits can point to any number of devices failing and causing power problems.

[gt24]

I wonder if there is a correlation to power supplies failing in this fashion and not so great capaciters being in some devices. I would think that if the capaciters were acting unusually that it would cause some unusual situations like this... but I'm not a heavy electrical expert so I wouldn't know.

For me, I have an Antec power supply. (I had a Thermaltake PSU from back when they were highly recommended and it still blew itself up... and the Antec was an emergency buy). Anyways... the Antec masters put a large fan on the underside of the PSU that doesn't spin agressively yet it still takes a good portion of the heat away from my oversized heatsync on my overclocked processor.

I theorize that my PSU might have slowly gotten cooked over its' lifetime and it is getting worn out. There isn't a great way to keep the PSU cool since it is so close to the processor area and I heard that this Antec power supply hates to be stressed because it cannot remove excess heat. So, the dots kinda line up.

Anywho, I'm thinking it is the PSU myself. At least, I would think about replacing that. Irregardless, I am going to replace the motherboard, prcessor, and video card soon anyways... depending on cash flow.

Is there any power supplies that you recommend? I would prefer one with a longer lifespan...

[I.M.O.G.]

One with a big fan - quiet and decent airflow. Other than that, I would go by brand according to the PSU thread in this forum.

[gt24]

Now my main machine won't turn on at all. All it does is power on, power reset (after 2 seconds), power reset, power reset... until I pull the plug.

sigh... Power supplies are too expensive to blow every couple of years..

[gt24]

Update and double post..

I managed to get my computer to boot again on the bad power supply. Before I did so, I shined a flashlight in the back of the PSU to see if I could get a look at a capacitor.

I found one! The siver cap on it is buldged outwards slightly and a dark orange compound is oozing out...

So, even though the power supply is barely working, should I just remove it and stop using it? Finally... I thought these capicator problems were RESOLVED... so what companies are guaranteed not to be using bad capaciters?

[I.M.O.G.]

There's a psu thread that lists the more reliable brands/models, I would start there. There will always be brands that use less reliable parts to cut costs.

[ssgohan434]

Might want to take advantage of this :D
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=521743

[RollingThunder]

Update and double post..

I managed to get my computer to boot again on the bad power supply. Before I did so, I shined a flashlight in the back of the PSU to see if I could get a look at a capacitor.

I found one! The siver cap on it is buldged outwards slightly and a dark orange compound is oozing out...

So, even though the power supply is barely working, should I just remove it and stop using it? Finally... I thought these capicator problems were RESOLVED... so what companies are guaranteed not to be using bad capaciters?

The Antec Smart Power and True Power models have a long history of blown capacitors. If you have a receipt and it's less that three years old, get an RMA on it.

[gt24]

Yeah, that would have been the intellgent thing to do (which is keep the reciept...)... :bang head

However, the link above is quite promising. When things get to be a bit more settled down here (especially since band camp for me starts next week), I might take advantage of that service. Therefore, I will have a backup power supply (a first).

[RollingThunder]

Yeah, that would have been the intellgent thing to do (which is keep the reciept...)... :bang head

However, the link above is quite promising. When things get to be a bit more settled down here (especially since band camp for me starts next week), I might take advantage of that service. Therefore, I will have a backup power supply (a first).

The capacitor replacement by SN? That is a nice offer but keep in mind that those Antec TP and SP may have up to 3 or 4 of the purple capacitors in question to replace but I don't remember offhand. You may want to PM him and ask his opinion. Otherwise those Antecs aren't that bad except for those "fujy" specific capacitors.