The machine works fine at the repair shop but not at home. The obvious question is what is different? Are you using the EXACT same mouse, keyboard, monitor, and any peripheral devices like printers? AND this has happened more than once.

If so, there may be a problem or perhaps more accurately an abnormality with the power in your house. Computer power supplies are designed to handle a range of conditions but it's possible that yours might be slightly out of spec or damaged in some way. Is there anything that seems abnormal at your home? Light bulbs that burn out too quickly or lights that get brighter or dimmer without apparent cause? How old is your home? Does it have older wiring where there may not be a good ground?

I'd suggest trying another circuit in your home. Turn off the breaker serving the room the computer is in and use an extension cord to get power from another room. If that doesn't help, do you have a neighbor that lives close enough to run a long extension cord to their home? Or could you take the computer and ALL peripherals to a friend's or relative's to try an replicate the problem.

From what you describe, absent any other information, I'm inclined to think it's a power supply problem.

Remove the left side panel and tell us the power supply make and model please.

Was this built by your current computer Guru - asking only, nothing to suggest he is anything but honest but if he built then he would understand all the components that much better perhaps.

As he suggests, listen for the POST beep - only one hopefully - and also watch the LED activity light. This will flash on and off with no particular pattern as the drive is being read.

As this happens right from the press of the start button it would seem hard to suspect the software, hard drive or other component besides the power supply.

How much 'stuff' do you have connected to this computer besides the normal keyboard, mouse and speakers? If other stuff then unplug it all and try again to see if these are taking too much power indicating the power supply is too small or simply a cheaper unit not capable of handling the load.

I did not take anything to the repair shop except my computer so I did use his mouse, keyboard, monitor etc.

"AND has this happened more than once?" Yes - the computer has not turned on with my first attempt for most of the past few weeks.

I have not noticed anything unusual with the power in my house. My house is 60 years old with the original wiring except for a minor kitchen remodel 4 years ago. I suppose the wiring could be a problem since it's so old.

I will try your suggestion of using another circuit in my house. If that doesn't work I can connect to a neighbor or go to a family members home with my stuff.

Thank you so much for explaining this possible explanation. I will try the circuit breaker idea in a couple of hours - running out now.

Ginny

OK to remove the cover with the computer turned on?
Ginny

Power Supply is Sparkle Power Int'l Ltd. FSP 250 60GTV.

My "computer guru" is not the man that built it. I've used this "guru" for years with good luck.

Plugged into this computer is 6 year old keyboard and mouse, 9 month old monitor, new small speakers, 2 year old Brother laser printer.

I will turn the computer off shortly and listen for the beeps and watch the lights closely.

Ginny

It's important to troubleshoot with all the components of the "computer." While somewhat uncommon it could be one of the peripherals is the culprit. You can test that, as I previously suggested, by taking EVERYTHING to a friend's house.

I should have added that it's important to plug your computer into a grounded receptacle. Bad grounds can cause all kinds of weird electrical problems and when you have odd problems that don't have a probable explanation start looking for an improbable explanation. :-)

Just got off the phone with the electrician that worked on my kitchen 4 years ago. I'd forgotten, but at that time they put in a "dedicated circuit" for my computer. I am sure that receptacle is grounded as are the kitchen ones. I'm about to turn this off, look and listen to the lights and beeps as I turn it back on and then plug it in in the kitchen.
Ginny

do you by any chance have your pc stuff plugged into one of the power strips that you can turn off and on the power surge type? IF so take it out of the equation! or try a new one, those do go bad and can cause weird things to happen sometimes.

My computer guru had me buy a new power strip from him a couple of weeks ago.

I just re-started my computer twice and no problems. Maybe the problem is gone for now. If it returns I'll keep good notes, watch the lights and listen for beeps and most definitely get back to this forum before I take it in yet again, to my computer guy.

I am so grateful to you on this forum for helping me understand this problem and how to try and fix it. I forget that I don't have to just "take it in to be fixed" but that I can learn about possible causes and possible fixes - with the help of my friends at GardenWeb!!

Thank you so much!

Ginny

Good, that should eliminate any electrical problems except for something like unusually high or low voltage, although with the former you'd be going through bulbs.

I think the next step is to take EVERYTHING back to your computer guy and see what happens. On second, thought, you said you tried a different mouse and keyboard? How about a different monitor? Even if you have an old one.

Another, somewhat random, thought is to re-seat any cards, especially the video card. Then tend to be a bit heavy and might be ever so slightly loose.

Sparkle do not make the best power supplies by a long chalk and 250 watts is barely enough. That size is what mass producers use but they also know the capacities of all the components in the machines they build.

I have never used less than a 350 watt in the last 15 years or more and I use a better grade P/S too.

Enermax, Corsair, OCZ, Thermaltake, Antec among others are high quality power supplies and I would look for 350 watts or more though more is not necessarily needed for this computer perhaps.

I just turned my computer on for the first time today, Tuesday. The first time the hard drive light stayed on for a second and turned off. The second time the hard drive light flickered 3 times and then went off. The third time the hard drive light came on solid and then flickered 3 times and then the black screen came up saying "We apologize for the inconvenience but Windows did not start successfully....." But then Windows proceeded to load and my computer is now working. I do not hear any beeping sounds.

I'd appreciate any more ideas you have with this information. I am taking a video of the lights blinking with my iPhone which makes it easy to remember what happened.

Thanks,
Ginny

It turns out the problem appears to have been a bad capacitor or two on the mother board.

Ginny

so did you get those repaired or get a new motherboard?

leaking capacitors that are on their way out can cause all sorts of very strange things to happen. Glad you figured it out. Let us know what you did

My computer guy replaced just the capacitors, not the motherboard. It's worked fine ever since - $500 later and 4 visits............not good!

Sorry it took so long for me to find my way back this question.

Ginny

You never said how old this computer is but if it is running good then all is well. Perhaps by this time a suitable replacement motherboard may not have been available. Pity he had not thought to suggest another gig of RAM while he was already in there working.

Glad to read that everything is working well.

Yow! $500 would buy a new computer! Well, live and learn. Glad it's working for you now. Next computer, follow owbist's advice and get a larger power supply.

This computer was built by a local man in March 2004 - that makes it 7 years old.

I'm planning to switch to Apple when I need to replace this. I understand they are much easier to use and since I'm over 60, easier sounds good.

It's suggested they install my current XP onto their computer which I plan to do.

I will miss chatting with all of you.

Ginny

I had something like that happening years ago.. took the computer in to the shop & it was fine.. brought it home & nothing. After several trips back & forth he had me bring EVERYTHING in..everything was fine till the mouse was plugged in & it went black. I bought a touch pad with no drivers & have used it since. Computers can be a real pain :0)
Dar