power supply ?

[Scott]

Hi Betty,

Do you open the case up and clean the dust bunnies out with a can of air 
once or twice per year?  If not, then a buildup of dust is likely 
preventing the internal fans from running.  The power supply has a fan 
as well, it's easy to see if you look on the back of the computer behind 
the grill.  There's probably a large buildup of dust within the power 
supply.  This can cause problems as well.  A can of compressed air costs 
$2-$6, while a whole new power supply can run you three to six times as 
much.  Maybe I'm wrong and it's just the power supply connector to the 
motherboard is loose somehow.

-Scott

betty wrote:

> preface: gui user.
>
> recently i had to move my computer to another room, when i turned it 
> back on, i had to 'push the button' about 8 times to finally get it to 
> click 'on'.  (it would make a little clicking noise, but not the 
> whirring noise that means it is starting)
>
> to make sure i wasn't just being stupid about how long to hold in the 
> button, i tested it again later in the week by turning it off then 
> trying to turn it on again. same thing. it is running now, but i am 
> afraid to turn it off, not that i need to , but at some time in the 
> next ten weeks i'm going to be moving it back to my office and will 
> need to turn it off then, and what if i can't get it to restart,,,, or 
> what if the power goes out..... etccc.
>
> does this sound like a power supply issue?
> i have been running this same system with redhat for about 5 years now 
> and rarely shut it down (once a year? maybe).
> if it's a power supply thing, can anyone recommend a reliable, cheap, 
> QUIET new one that i could get at fry's elec.???
>
> thanks for any help.