The following is a list of the most common situations that were found to be the causes of startup problems when a computer won't start up, or starts up properly randomly after the user has gone through a routine that involves using the reset button, switching off the on/off switch on the power supply, smacking the case, etc.

1. A loose screw in the case was found to have been rolling around in the case. If it came to rest so that it was shorting the motherboard, the computer would fail to boot. If it came to rest where it wasn't shorting anything, the computer would boot properly. Hence the random startups.

2. - The power supply was failing. Installing a new power supply unit solved the problem.

3. - There were some blown of faulty capacitors on the motherboard that were found to be bloated and/or leaking. The capacitors are the tin-can shaped components that stick up from the surface of the motherboard. Bloated and blown capacitors are usually caused by cheap power supplies (PSUs), or by a faulty manufacturing process. A few years ago, there was a spate of faulty capacitors used in motherboards when materials of poor quality was used in their manufacture. The capacitors store an electrical charge and are used to stabilise the power supply to the motherboard. Faulty or blown capacitors can cause RAM memory corruption and system lockups. Replacing the motherboard and/or the power supply fixed the problem.

Click here! to go to information on power supplies on this site.

Note that Windows XP might have to be reactivated over the telephone to Microsoft if th