My computer has recently started refusing to boot. The Bios doesn't start and the monitor doesn't turn on. The hard disk powers up but then stops - nothing else happens. The problem is intermittent but frequent, and apparently random. When it does boot up, the Bios settings are correct as saved last time and Windows loads fine. It either works properly or not at all. Can you advise?
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Check that the cable from the power supply to the motherboard is fully pushed into its socket, and that all other connections are tight. If the connections are okay, the most likely explanation is that your power supply is failing. However, to verify this, you need to check the voltages provided by the power supply using a voltmeter, or use a different power supply that is known to be working. If the problem isn't the power supply, it can only be an obscure motherboard fault.
Our wild guess is that one of the oscillators that generates timing pulses for some important component (such as the processor) isn't always starting when the board is powered up. Even your average computer engineer isn't equipped to diagnose and fix something like this, so your only option in this case is going to be a new motherboard. See also tip Self-built PC's Bios won't run
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