Help!!

[edjukati0n]

Hello, Im pretty good with computers...when they are ON... But the Outside stuff, Im not so good with. Anyways Im hoping you people can help me with my problem. I have a HP computer with Windows ME. I cant seem to get it started all the time. Sometimes it will start when I press the button but sometimes it wont. Its not old and it hasnt been treated wrongly, but It started about a week ago while I was online, It just shut down on its own. I would turn it back on with no problem but then about two days later it wouldnt start on command, It would almost seem like it had a mind of its own. I thought maybe it was dust so I took the frames off it and just gave it a cleaning then screwed the frames back on. Praying it would start back up(dust being the problem) There was no luck. Im running out of ideas...Please someone will you give me some help, I cant bare to not be on my computer every hour.

~edjukati0n

[washe]

well you can try an switch the power cable with the reset cable in the motherboard and turn on the pc with reset!!!....

If it works then maybe the microswitch of the power button gone bad..

Welcome to Techimo!!!

[edjukati0n]

Hrmm..... Ok you said to swtich cables? One problem I don't know how..I dont exactly know which cord is which. I could be unplugging the WRONG one....That wouldnt be good.

[MitaDC]

Well on most mobo's the plugin part is all the way near the bottom (if the case is standing up) and toward the front. Atleast with all the mobo's I've worked with. My mom has an HP but I don't remember what these plugs look like on hers. U might not be able to do it cuz there might be a thin plug that attaches all of the front panel connectors to the mobo, but anyways there are wires that come from the front of your case. Find the one that comes from the reset switch, or just look where it plugs into the mobo and it might say rst on it or something. Then find the pwr on or pwr plug and switch them. That might be kinda confusing so let me sum it up

Find the rst switch wire and disconnect it from the mobo, do the same with the pwr switch wire and swap them. Man that was a lot easier

[edjukati0n]

Ok...I have two questions now, Will these plugs have their names on them? e.g will the rst switch have rst on it? Will the things you told me to do have labels on them so I know which is which. I am like...WAY scared to mess anything up.

[washe]

yep most of them have the name on it, if not check the maiboard manual and check the location of the cable....

[rrcn]

or just look at the power switch and follow the cable back to the mother board then do the same with the reset switch and switch the two.

[edjukati0n]

Ok... So your saying... Where I plug the Computer into the electric part, Follow the cord up to the part where it goes into the computer... and switch cords with what? Im so confused. Again Im trying to keep up with you guys... being that im only 14.

[LeftCoast]

Originally posted by washe
well you can try an switch the power cable with the reset cable in the motherboard and turn on the pc with reset!!!....

If it works then maybe the microswitch of the power button gone bad..

Welcome to Techimo!!!

Now that's a good idea I've not considered, and could have used @ 6 months ago...

I'm not sure it'll easily be done on the HP, as I believe they may use one big plastic plug for all those wires.

edj, read the manual (always a good idea) concerning reset/power switches. It should clear things up a little. If it's separate switches (not one big plug), this is no big deal to do; just remember to unplug the power cord from the wall and keep touching the metal frame of the case to keep grounded. You don't want a spark toruin your motherboard.

[edjukati0n]

Ok, Now I have a problem. My computer has one plug that goes into the wall to turn computer on... No other switches... The other switches are for like...the screen...mouse ect. So its not going to be so easy for me... Any other things I can do?