Computer takes several attempts to boot

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ShinyPhoenix

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Oct 16, 2013
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10,510
I've found a whole lot of different threads about this nasty problem, but none of them were quite similar to this. The computer is a pre assembled HP, comes with an AMD Athlon II triple core @ 3GHz, mounted an Nvidia GT 630 about 3 years ago and 4GB (2×2GB) of RAM. The computer is now about 7 years old but can still run pretty smoothly quite heavy games at medium/low settings. As soon as I switched back to W7 (it's odd and can't be a software related problem, I know, but still it used to happen with W7 some time ago, switched to W8, the problem vanished and after about 6 months with W7 the problem appeared again) the computer would take several attempts to boot. It used to take from 2 to 5 attempts, now it's about 50 to 60 and it gets progressively worse. I also hear, just once a day, specifically in the morning a "scratching" sound I've no clue where it comes from. As it boots, it runs just fine and I can load/stress any component as much as I want, it does its job pretty well. This would let me exclude a RAM/CPU/GPU. Having it taking several attempt doesn't make any sense: the only thing that might require several attempts to charge is a leaking capacitor... so either the mobo or PSU. I did run the paperclip test and the PSU fan spins as soon as I hook the power cable in. Any suggestion?

Update: I unplugged the video card and the computer booted at first try. It's odd. Could that be that the video card requires more power than the PSU can actually output (300W) and for all this time it worked with less power overall?
 
Solution
digitaldoc
The PSU is a definite possibility, and one of the less expensive components to replace which unless you are an electrical engineer with a multimeter the only simple way to exclude a PSU problem.

The scraping sound may relate to a fan hitting another component or the case. Take it apart, and see if you can find anything that might be getting in the fan's way, such as wires.
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digitaldoc

digitaldoc

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The PSU is a definite possibility, and one of the less expensive components to replace which unless you are an electrical engineer with a multimeter the only simple way to exclude a PSU problem.

The scraping sound may relate to a fan hitting another component or the case. Take it apart, and see if you can find anything that might be getting in the fan's way, such as wires.
 
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Solution
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ShinyPhoenix

Honorable
Oct 16, 2013
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10,510
Took it apart, doesn't look like there is any fan hitting anything. The backup is still running, it's been quite a few hours now. I'm looking forward to buying a 500W PSU, hopefully this new bad boy can sustain the graphic card sufficiently. What is still odd to me though, is how the computer itself has been running with no (almost) problems of this nature at all for all this time and just started complaining about not having enough juice. Maybe the PSU got stressed? Its capacitors eventually? And thank very much for your help, I really do appreciate it!
 
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ShinyPhoenix

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Oct 16, 2013
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10,510
Rather pleased to hear that they do... considering how "inexpensive" they are ahah! As you said the only way to make absolutely sure it went bad is achieved through knowledge I'm definitely missing, so... since everything has been working fine for hours, I'll give it to that dusty spinning-power-producer of mine and replace it as soon as possible. Thank you very much, again, I appreciate it! Solution picked.
 
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