Hey everyone! I've been dealing with a weird problem where my computer randomly powers on and off. This started about a year ago, and I even took it to a repair shop where they told me my power button was broken. They replaced it, but the issue persisted, and they also changed the CMOS battery. Oddly enough, it fixed itself for almost a year, but it's back now! Basically, while I'm using it, I get a shutdown prompt asking if I want to shut down, and if I cancel, it shows up again until the PC finally shuts down. I can't share the video I have of it, but if anyone has any idea what's going on, I'd appreciate your help! Here are my specs for context: Intel Core i7-6700, 12 GB RAM, Samsung EVO 870 500GB SSD, and I'm currently using Kubuntu (though the issue started when I was on Win10).
2 Answers
It sounds like something might be shorting out. One possible solution could be to try a new motherboard since there are a lot of places where shorts can happen. Alternatively, check if something inside the case is bent or touching that shouldn’t be—especially if it’s been bumped around.
Sounds like the problem might be due to phantom power-button presses. There could be a short in the case switch or cable, or even the motherboard front-panel header. A quick test would be to unplug the case power switch and start the PC by briefly shorting the header pins. If that stops the pop-ups, you should replace the switch or cable. If it doesn’t help, then it might be time to check the motherboard or the power supply unit.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I’m not sure that’s it. When I plug in the CPU and it starts by itself, it shuts off again mid-boot. Normally, if I press the power button during boot up, it doesn’t power off. So I doubt it’s due to the button being triggered. I have a video of it, but I don’t know how to share it!
Is your comment AI-generated? It kinda sounds like something I read from ChatGPT earlier!
LOL, sounds like something I'd accidentally do, but I promise I haven't kicked the case! It's on my desk, not under it. Is it common for motherboards to fail like this after 6-7 years? That's how old my PC is.