Resolved Computer Case Power Switch Going Bad

When I exit WinXp, it automatically turns off the computer. Now, the switch on the computer case is going bad and I have to punch it several times to get the computer to power up again.

I want Windows to leave my computer alone when it exits and to have the computer on all the time.

I want to shut down and start up the computer with the surge protector without Windows doing it for me.

Is there something I can do in the computer case that will let the power supply run all the time until I shut down the surge protector?

I don't want anything shutting down my computer unless I turn off the
power supply!

 

A while back, you could exit Windows, then you would have to manually turn off your computer by using a switch on the power supply.

I want to go back to the same thing, so I don't have to use the switch on the front of the computer.

How do you tell WinXp NOT to shut down your computer?

I want it on all the time unless I turn off the power to it.

Mark

 

It sound like you want to put the PC in Standby Mode:
To automatically put your computer on standby
Open Power Options in Control Panel.
In Power Schemes, click the down arrow, and then select a power scheme. The time settings for the power scheme are displayed in System standby, Turn off monitor, and Turn off hard disks.
To turn off your monitor before your computer goes on standby, select a time in Turn off monitor.
To turn off your hard disk before your computer goes on standby, select a time in Turn off hard disks.
Notes

To open Power Options, click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Power Options.
You might want to save your work before putting your computer on standby. While the computer is on standby, information in computer memory is not saved to your hard disk. If there is an interruption in power, information in memory is lost.
To create a new power scheme, specify the time settings you want, and then click Save As.
If you're using a portable computer, you can specify one setting for battery power and a different setting for AC power.
To put your computer on standby, you must have a computer that is set up by the manufacturer to support this option.
Using Power Options in Control Panel, you can adjust any power management option that your computer's unique hardware configuration supports. Because these options may vary widely from computer to computer, the options described may differ from what you see. Power Options automatically detects what is available on your computer and shows you only the options that you can control.
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You can also put it in Hybernation Mode by doing the following:

To automatically put your computer into hibernation
You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in order to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings might also prevent you from completing this procedure.

Open Power Options in Control Panel.
Click the Hibernate tab, select the Enable hibernate support check box, and then click Apply.
If the Hibernate tab is unavailable, your computer does not support this feature.

Click the APM tab, click Enable Advanced Power Management support, and then click Apply.
The APM tab is unavailable on ACPI-compliant computers. ACPI automatically enables Advanced Power Management, which disables the APM tab.

Click the Power Schemes tab, and then select a time period in System hibernates. Your computer hibernates after it has been idle for the specified amount of time.

 

Mark,

I'd be more concerned with your switch issue but if you don't want to turn it off then don't, just do a restart when you want to reboot your system. I'm not sure how the earth savers would feel though.

My advice would be to fix that switch, it'll save you a few $'s in a matter of months.

 

Here is what I need:

When I want to shut down my computer, I want to use the surge protector.

When I want to start up my computer, I don't want it make me push the power button on the front of it to power it up.

When I turn on the surge protector, I want my computer to turn on and boot even though Windows will go into CHKDSK.

I think this may be a hardware question. What forum is this thread in? I forgot.

 

Why?

Why? If it's not running windows or any other OS what use is it other than a power drain. Actual power up only takes milliseconds so it can't be to save time.

My TV switches off when there's no signal, I prefer that to watching snow all night.

If you don't want to power down your computer don't shutdown windows.

 

Nope - that was NEVER an option. Windows, since day 1 way before Windows 95, needed to be closed "gracefully" - it was never good to simply power off - that causes a "hard crash" and is never good - and it affects the computer just as if you yanked the power cord from the wall.

That would be BAD!!!! DON'T DO IT!!!! That's a hard crash. The reason why you should not do that is shutting down a computer is actually doing 2 things. (1) It is exiting the operating system - Windows, and (2) it is powering off the hardware. When you simply hit the power switch on the surge protector, you create a "power outage ". Windows does not have time to properly close all the critical files and processes that are opened. This creates the very real potential of corruption of those critical files and failure to boot next time you want it to. This is why it is ALWAYS essential to "gracefully" exit (shut down) Windows before powering off the computer.

That's not how computers work today. I think you are confusing operating systems of today, with those of many years ago. Early versions of Windows were not operating systems, they were GUIs - or graphical user interfaces that sat on top of the "disk operating system" or DOS. Back then, you could actually exit Windows and when you did so, you would go back to a black screen, sitting at the DOS prompt. Modern operating systems don't use DOS so you cannot exit Windows and still be running.

Note that chkdsk runs because the system has detected corrupt files on the hard drive!!! If you have been able to fully recover every time, it is only due to pure luck, which will run out one of these day. Also note that running chkdsk is a pretty demanding task for a disk drive, and a lot of "wear and tear ". It does not help the life of the drive.

That's not a problem (depending on your motherboard). Look in your BIOS Setup Menu under power options. There should be an option to that dictates how the computer behaves with Power is "Restored ".

So understand, to shutdown your computer, you MUST do it properly through the Start menu. Once it has shutdown gracefully, then you can use the surge protector to remove power. To restart everything, you can simply use the surge protector.

Now there is another option which I would recommend. And it will kill two birds with one stone. Understand surge and spike protectors are little more than expensive extension cords. They are INADEQUATE when it comes to protecting your hardware from power anomalies. This is because they do NOTHING for sags (opposite of surges), dips (opposite of spikes), brownouts (long term low-voltage events) or long term surges. This is why I recommend ALL computers be on a good UPS with AVR - uninterruptible power supply with automatic voltage regulation. These devices, commonly called battery backups, typically come with software and an interconnecting cable that will control how your computer behaves during several power anomalies. One of the typical settings is in the event of a power outage, the UPS software will save all your open files, exit any open programs, then gracefully shutdown your computer. Then when power is restored, and with the correct BIOS Menu setting, it will start the computer.

The bonus here, and the primary reason EVERY computer should be on a good UPS with AVR is that the UPS will protect all your valuable hardware from power anomalies in a much superior way than a simple surge and spike protector by providing "regulated" power to your sensitive hardware. A S&S protector merely chops off ( "clamps ") the peaks of the excess voltage leaving a not too pretty sinewave for your power supply and motherboard regulator circuits to clean up.

Note that battery backup in the event of an unexpected power outage is only the icing on the cake. It is the power regulation that is important with sensitive digital equipment.

Do NOT plug a UPS into a surge and spike protector. This is because of the clamping action of the S&S circuits is often seen as anomalies (which they are) by the UPS. So in your case, you just use a plain extension cord with a power switch. You could even use a switched wall outlet. The only drawback is the UPS will beep at you when the power is lost - but some allow you to disable the beep so some researching would be required before buying.

Note a 1000VA UPS with AVR will protect and provide backup power for just about any computer, all your network equipment, and 2 LCD monitors. The only downside is UPS batteries need to be replaced about every 3 years - but this can easily be done by most users. FTR, I have UPS with AVR on all my computer, my big screen TV, and my home theater equipment.

 

Just to add my tuppence, you will have trouble getting a new switch for the computer case. The cases are sold with the switch and necessary wiring to connect to the M/B. I tried unsuccessfully recently to purchase a new switch, and ended up taking off the reset switch to get the old comp going.
Bottom line - a new/replacement case.
Thanks for all the info Bill - you have explained it very succinctly.
Merry Xmas Neil.

 

Neil,

I honestly don't think the power switch is at fault here, it is possibly a BIOS setting though but unless shrink comments further I can't anything.