hi linux fans,

I have a very old desktop roughly 7-8 years old.

I have to push the power power button several times before it powers up.

I'm not sure if the power button is dying, a loose power cable or something with the power supply.

Anyway, the computer works fine after boot up and it doesn't reboot or anything like that. It's just the power button which I have to push several times to get it power up.

Any ideas on the power button? Thanks

Intermittent connection, likely the button.

I second this: probably a hardware problem. Stuff wears out.

Since it's a desktop, you can open it up and easily inspect the wiring. If you have a multimeter, you can also easily test the continuity.

7-8 year old PC should use ATX-compatible hardware (PSU with 24-pin connector) were the power button is the simplest thing - low current normally open non-latching switch. You can even tear off two wires leading to the button and short them momentarily to start the PC, it is a dirty fix but it will work. The button is probably connected to two pins on the motherboard marked POWER and if you want a nicer fix, replacement buttons are available. You can also short these two pins with a paper-clip to verify that the issue is indeed with the button. https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=e...x+power+button

While it could be a mechanical problem with the switch I would not rule out a PSU problem. I've had to replace them on several of my old Dell desktops. If your computer is a Dell some models have a built in PSU test function.

You also might want to look at the motherboard for bad capacitors.

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions.

I can't do the wiring fixing or the button replacement as I don't know how and I fear I would do it wrong and cause a fire.

Anyway, I've been thinking of getting a new desktop for a couple of years.

It's time now for a new desktop.

Again, Thank you to all

Changing the button is a no-brainer, really.
It's plugged into the mobo with two twisted wires and a small plastic plug that you cannot put in the wrong way round.
A new switch costs about 1 euro I guess.
Buying a new computer only because of that is a sin.

That's true ondoho. But my computer has lots of old technology and it's kinda slow for what I do alot of, video encoding.

I need something more snappier and faster now like a intel i7, 8 gigs of ram or higher, a dedicated GPU video card and a SSD drive as a minimum.

I will still keep my old computer around for light/medium tasks or a simple server.

I love it!

I've used the same reasoning to buy newer stuff myself.

There's plenty of things I 'could' fix, but if I don't wanna, and if I'd like a newer, better one anyways, I may get the new one.

Who's to say it's just the one thing too?

* it it persists i would FIRST SUSPECT THE POWER SUPPLY

if you have access to a new/fresh one. try it.

* i've seen several power supplies die. the newer boards tend to have power button issues on first attempts when the power supply begins to fail

It's plugged into the mobo with two twisted wires and a small plastic plug that you cannot put in the wrong way round.

WRONG - the questioner was clear it is a 7 yr old PC that worked in the past

"Never give up ... never surrender."

- Cmdr. Peter Quincy Taggart

For real ?

"...very interesting ...but stupid "

What started as an assumption of bad 1 euro switch turned into

... get a new computer for .., insert your guess here... reason.

Where is your logic you have probably been exposed to in kindergarten?

As far as one can tell - we still do not know if IT IS a bad switch.



I am not questioning the economy , just the "no matter what is broken - get a new one " philosophy.

And yes, I agree that if you are not comfortable using your hands - do not do it, and it is not just matter of starting a real fire.
Electrical burns are the worst ones if you do not know what you are doing.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
How does the first sentence relate to the second?
Also see post #4.

I'd go for the button. I had exactly the same thing happen to one of my desktop systems. I had to remove the side panel (Powered off and cables removed obviously.) Work out how the front panel/bezel unclipped then get access to the button itself. If I remember correctly, the switch, a momentary action job, worked fine, but the plastic clips which fixed it to the bezel had broken so it was loose and only intermittently worked. I had to do a bit of re-engineering by adding a neoprene pad to hold it in place when the panel was replaced. Worked a treat! Zero cost! Minimal work required!

I've fixed computers and stuff all my working life, go for the most obvious (and easiest!) thing first.

However... I have a strange suspicion you may have started this post in order to justify buying a new system?

After the 2020 we've just had? Go for it!

Play Bonny!

My desktop is 8 years old. I was going to get a new one even If I could fix the power button. It's slow with old technology.

I admit I'm not a pc troubleshooter but I do know how to do basic upgrades like adding RAM, PCi cards and a hard drive.

I asked the question to see if I could do anything about it before giving it away to a family member. I will put chromium OS from https://www.neverware.com/#intro on it.

The desktop power up after 5 presses of the button. after that it works fine as always.

- Cheers