Computer hard to start like an old car

[Webwolf88]

I need someone to confirm or deny what I already suspect. Lately, when I press the power-on button to my pc, it tries to start up in that the fans come on but then it shuts back off. I can do this 5-6 times then finally I hear a click as the hard drive whirls up. At that point the pc boots normally. It has also shut itself off the past couple of nights. My guess is that the hard drive is starting to fail. What I need is some input to confirm or deny this diagnosis before I spend the money on a new one and have to rebuild my system. If its not the hard drive, what else could it be? The controller on the mother board? How I can pin point the cause of the problem?

 

[Freestone]

Sounds more like a power supply or overheating CPU issue. However, if you suspect the hard drive, try removing the power connector from it and see if the system still fails to power on. Obviously you won't boot, but if the system doesn't stay on, then it's not the hard drive.

 

[paparazi]

I agree, the PSU is a more likely culprit given the symptoms.
Martin

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[nlm9802]

try blowing out any dust on the motherboard and especially in the power supply. Dust can cause some strange malfunctions.