PC decides to sing the song of its people

[Plok 319]

This happened to me a few minutes ago while turning my PC on. The second I pressed the power button, it did the following:

 

1) start the fan

2) do a rotation in the DVD drive

3) make a sound similar to some sort of a brake

4) be deactivated for 2 seconds

5) repeat 20-25 times

6) start normally

 

Sometimes, this would only occur once, but this time it really frightened me. What gives?

[Guest Rabbit]

My guess is an issue with the motherboard. When the motherboard is going, the computer can start doing some funky things. You might have to get a new one soon, if someone else agrees with me.

 

As an example of personal experience, while playing some online game many years ago, I randomly had packet loss, my computer stopped connecting to the internet, a random beeping started and stopped randomly, and ultimately, the computer decided not to start once I powered it down. Sure enough, the motherboard was fried.

[Doctor Destiny 40]

Open case, disconnect and remove everything from motherboard, reconnect everything, try it again. Clear out static and reseat all connections. Try that first.

[Plok 319]

I'll give it a try once I find time.

 

And DD, there's no need to copy what you told me on Skype.

Edited September 15, 2012 by Plokite_Wolf

[Traymen 6]

I think it is issue with AC. Try another one.

[Plok 319]

Just a small update: upon starting it this morning, it only did the crazy run twice. I'm cleaning it from the inside this afternoon.

[AZ-Stalker 88]

You could try disconnecting your DVD drive from the rest of the PC and see what happens. Same with any other non-essential component.

Edited September 16, 2012 by AZ-Stalker

[Doctor Destiny 40]

It's unlikely that a DVD drive would cause this type of issue. It sounds more like power than a faulty drive.

[Plok 319]

Actually, I do have issues with my DVD burner (and my previous one) as well. Sometimes it would declare an error while burning (though it may have something to do with disc brands, among which is Traxdata) so the disc would become useless. I also unplugged the CD-R drive below it, still the same.

[Sonic 292]

I'd say its your PSU. The DVD drive problems sound completely unrelated to me.

[Plok 319]

Okay, I've vacuumed the inside of the PC (didn't do it for 4 months) and checked if the PSU was properly plugged in. Result: no crazy run this time. I'll inform you if it returns.

[Doctor Destiny 40]

I told you to disconnect and reconnect everything. That can solve intermittent issues like these.

[Plok 319]

Unfortunately, yesterday it started normally one time and irregularly the other.

[Doctor Destiny 40]

Have you disconnected and reconnected everything like I told you to do? If you have, or even if you haven't, yank the power cord out of the power supply and hold the power button down for 30 to 40 seconds. That will discharge the capacitors and, hopefully, clear any lingering static that might be present.

[Plok 319]

Epilogue to this story:

 

My PC just refused to start up two days ago. It would only make a second-long blink with the power and CPU lamps in the front, and it would turn off immediately. Repeat until bored. We took it to our IT expert to inspect it. It turns out the PSU went to the other world like Sonic said. It was apparently caused by the maybe improper ventilation system. So we got a new PSU and ventilation. He also stated that the graphics card should perform somewhat better and that all other components are in great shape.

 

Thanks for the help, guys!

Edited October 12, 2012 by Plokite_Wolf

[Doctor Destiny 40]

Called it. Power issue. Sonic called it too. Awyeah.