Hi,

Not sure if this is a hardware or software problem but any advice would be welcome.

PC always switches itself on whenever the powersupply (a 4 plug gang with a surge protector) it is plugged into is switched on. This morning this happened and it blew a fuse on the main circuit board in the house. My partner has changed the fuse on the pc plug to a 5amp to prevent this happening again, however anyone has any ideas as to why the pc switches itself on with the power. (ie. I don't have to press the on/off switch on the pc)

We're worried that this will blow components in the pc.

PC is 3 yrs old.
Dell xps1000B 133/1000
512ram
120 gb western digital hdd
windows 2000 professional with latest service pack
office 2000
nvidia graphics cards
etc

Please let me know if you need any more information to advise.

Bad power supply, bad switch
Most likely a hardware problem.

Note: Dell sometimes uses proprietary power supplies/wiring patterns.

thanks

have you come across this kind of problem before?

How easy / difficult is it to change the switch and what do you mean bad power supply - the plug and extension cable?

Hello kas,

Welcome tohttp://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif Forums!

I'm not quite sure I understand which fuse you "beefed-up" to avoid blowing...however, It's never a good idea to "defuse" the protection as it was originally set up...

I agree with PrntRhd...switch or supply...

Being as it blew a fuse I would say just swap PSUs...

How easy / difficult is it to change the switch and what do you mean bad power supply - the plug and extension cable?

The PSU is the little metal box inside your computer case with lots of colored wires coming out of it, and where the AC cord is plugged into it.
And because it is Dell, you probably don't get to go just anywhere to get a replacement as they wire things differently.

:rolleyes:

Actually there can be a BIOS setting that can cause this behaviour (not the fuse blowing obviously:p ), trouble is I cant quite remember what the setting is usually called, something like "System state after Power Fail".

The fuse blowing is definitely more likely a faulty supply, go for a replacement.

How are you shutting down you computer ?????? are you just turning off the power strip??? if so thats a no-no.

Shut it down from the START option [lower left cornor of your desktop]

a shot in the dark