Let's play "what part is failing?"

[vsp]

Originally posted by Beestie
I assume you have tried alternate bootups. Someone above suggested with a floppy - do try that.

Also, try booting up while holding the F4 key. That will dump you into the BIOS config area before the OS cranks up where you can putz with the settings.

When it quits, the boot cycle doesn't last even remotely long enough for any of that to kick in. It's on -- it's off, maybe two seconds apart.

Also, consider not turning it off. I never turn mine off.

I live in an apartment complex, and do not trust that the building is properly grounded and insulated. I have a surge protector on my system, but do not take it on faith that that would be a 100% effective defense against power surges and lightning. I've lost a couple of modems in my lifetime to such things already, and have no interest in frying anything else; hence, if thunderstorms are likely and I'm not going to be right there to monitor things, it's getting unplugged.

I also wonder if you have a bad power switch.

Possible, but I'm wondering how I test that. I will note that the power switch behaves perfectly when I do the hold-for-five-seconds-to-kill-the-power thing.