PC fails to power on after extended shutdown; reset process needed and files missing post-boot.
PC fails to power on after extended shutdown; reset process needed and files missing post-boot.
Hello, I recently installed a new motherboard and have encountered an unusual problem. If my computer has been powered off for several hours (such as overnight), pressing the power button yields no result—no fans spinning, no lights illuminating, nothing at all. To get it to start, I must switch off the PSU, wait 2–3 minutes, then turn it back on. After that, the power button functions correctly and the system boots normally. In Windows, I’ve observed that files I saved before shutdown are missing as if they were never saved (this only affects the C drive so far; I haven’t checked other drives). These aren’t just incomplete saves—they vanish after a reboot. I replaced the CMOS battery but it didn’t resolve the issue (I wasn’t expecting it to work), and disabling fast startup in Windows also failed. I suspect the CPU might have been dropped during installation, though there were no visible pin damages. Could this be related? Edited July 30, 2025 by SimplyMoron
Begin by updating the BIOS for the new motherboard. If the update fails, use a spare drive to swap in as the system drive and install a fresh Windows installation—this may resolve the problem. If that doesn’t work, consider installing a Linux distribution on a USB drive and observe if the behavior changes when running Linux. It’s unlikely the issue stems from a CPU accident, as such an event would likely cause more severe problems.
Thanks for the update. The new windows installation fully resolved the issue. I’m facing another problem now. After upgrading my GPU, connecting it to the monitor causes no output, though it functions perfectly with the CPU. I’ve tried reseating RAM, using DDU, and enabling PCIe Gen 3 on the GPU, but nothing seems to help. Could you assist me?
Glad to hear that helped, sorry to hear it took that much work! Have you set the mobo to use PCIe rather than CPU as the first video device? You may need to - it's in the BIOS somewhere, but I can't think of which section it might be in. If you have done that, I'd try reseating the GPU - just pull it out and put it back in again. Try connecting the monitor to another port on the card too, in case one is dodgy. As it is a new card, you cannot yet discount the possibility that it might be DOA - test another card (the old one) or this card in another PC.
Thanks for the update. I noticed the change from HDMI to DisplayPort resolved the issue. So far, this hasn't occurred with any GPU.