My computer Turns itself On and Off. I noticed this several years ago. The computer will turn on, then right before it gets to the splash screen, it turns off. This loops and goes on and on for hours and hours on end. Occassionally, it loads up Windows and I can use it, but most, not. When it finally stops, you cannot thurn the computer on. You hit the power button or short it and nothing happens. It is a Gateway Performance 733 with Windows XP Pro and stock Hardware. We had this problem for several years before we gave in to buying a new computer (because, afterall, it WAS old) but I use this computer for all the menial tasks in my computer business. I find that if you turn the computer on manually (hitting the power button) then it stays on, but when you turn it off through Windows OR Hardware, it turns itself on and off. When I am done, I unplug the computer. This can get annoying sometimes, so I would like an answer, if possible. P.S. I've tried several possibilties. I have tested the power supply, but no problem. I have unplugged the power button from the inside, and that does keep it off. ? William E C I AM WEC!!!

And you put up with this condition for years? If your want to try correcting this why don't you use the Gateway restore CDs to return the computer to the factory state. If you need personal files from the computer copy them prior to restoring.

If the computer turns itself on, even in a completely off state, it may be a power supply problem, or there may be a problem with the power button or the pins it connects to. Compaq Presario 5365 AMD K6-2 450 Mhz 128 MB RAM Windows 2000 Professional

"I have unplugged the power button from the inside, and that does keep it off." If you are saying that you have disconnected the leads from the startup switch to Motherboard header and that solves the problem then you have your answer. The switch itself is faulty. It is obviously creating an intermittant contact state that is causing the startup/shutdown cycle. Goin' Fishin' (Some day)

Thank's for all the replys! OtheHill: I have tried re-installing everything from drivers to the operating system (Until I updated from 98se to XP Pro) and that hasn't helped. TrentM: "P.S. I've tried several possibilties. I have tested the power supply, but no problem." I have taken it up to Gateway AND a small, town known company who have tested it and said it was okay. I have also tried replacing it with a new one, but that didn't help, either. (My computer business consists of just repairing hardware and software issues, then selling the computers, but I usually just replace the hardware. That's why I didn't do it.) Richard59: I have tested the switch and found no problem, but I can test again. I think that this may be the problem, too. I have tried replacing it before, but I can't find anything that would work because Gateway wouldn't find the part for me. Any quick fixes? William E C I AM WEC!!!

If your Power Supply has it's own power switch, disconnect the front power switch from the mobo and use the power supply's switch to power on the computer. If there is no problem, there is a problem with either the switch, the switch's wireing or the pins on the mobo that the switch connects to. Compaq Presario 5365 AMD K6-2 450 Mhz 128 MB RAM Windows 2000 Professional

Well, I don't have a switch on the back of the power supply, so I can't try that way, but is there any way I can mod the switch to work better? Could I try cutting the power button off the mobo, but then short the two wires to turn on? Would that work? William E C I AM WEC!!!