Problem with starting the PC.
Problem with starting the PC.
Hello, I regularly face a problem where my computer fails to start properly. To get it going, I have to press the power button for over ten seconds, then press it again normally. The precise reason behind this is still unclear. My usual process is: at night, I safely shut down the system through Windows and disconnect the power source. In the morning, I reconnect the outlet and press the power button to turn it on. Notably, I never unplug the power cable from the wall. I’m hoping you can help identify what might be causing this and check if it impacts overall performance or hardware health. Here are the details of my setup: CPU – Intel Core I9-13900K; Motherboard – ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E; RAM – XPG Lancer DDR5 32GB (2×16GB) at 6000MHz; Cooler – Lia Li Galahad 360 AIO ARGB; Power Supply – EVGA SuperNova 1000 GT; SSD – 1TB NVMe GEN 4 with Kingston KC3000 plus two extra SATA drives; Case fans – three Cooler Master SickelFlow ARGB units. I also have a mechanical keyboard connected via the rear USB port, which lights up immediately when power is switched on, but the computer remains unresponsive until the power button is pressed. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
The timing after turning on the power seems important. It looks like the motherboard isn’t initializing correctly on the first power-up. The 10-second hold makes it difficult to reset, but then it works fine afterward. This is definitely odd. Check if unplugging the PSU using the switch at the back instead of the power strip changes the outcome.
My daily schedule follows a consistent pattern. I power it off at midnight and turn it back on around 10 a.m. Regarding the power button, yes—it’s important to hold it for over ten seconds before releasing it once more. Disconnecting the power cord from the main outlet and reconnecting after a few minutes resolves the issue. I suspect this relates to static electricity or grounding problems in my electrical system. Some sources suggest keeping the button pressed briefly can discharge stored current or power, clearing any residual effects.
Consider activating the power strip, then switching the PSU to cycle for 15 seconds (simulating unplug). With a multimeter, verify the wall outlet. On the hot and neutral wires you should detect 120 or 240 volts based on your location. Neutral and ground should show zero. Hot and ground should display 120/240 volts. Keeping the power button pressed will discharge capacitors when power is turned off.
I had attempted the same method before; it didn't function properly. It worked when I installed it three years ago. Now I'm uncertain. To address this, I'm employing a Smart Plug between the computer plug and the power strip, which cuts off power when usage drops below 3 watts for 40 minutes. However, this also isn't resolving the issue. I'm not disconnecting the computer plug from the power strip or turning it off entirely. I maintain everything active while keeping the power button engaged.