# Help my computer to be lovable again. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918 "2001-10-02T05:06:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/1 "2001-10-02T05:06:42Z")
AMD Athlon 1.2GHz processor, Windows ME. Since I bought it, if you press the Power button on the tower (the circle with the line that glows green when on), nothing occurs. Hold it, nothing occurs. It’s really annoying…when my computer freezes, the only way I can reset it is to frickin’ unplug the tower from the wall and bonking my head on the desk corners. C’mon…it’s a power button. It should involve cutting the power flow or something. I got it preassembled from Gateway, I don’t see why this does nothing. Should it cut the power when I need to? If no, why is it there? If yes, how can I make it work again? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/2 "2001-10-02T05:12:04Z")
Assuming you are holding it in for least 10 secs and it still does nothing, per your description most likely either the jumper connecting the button’s contact to the MB is not connected or the buckle spring of the contact has failed. ---
**Author:** ![cw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@cw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cw)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/3 "2001-10-02T05:18:35Z")
My gateway comp. has a option list somewhere in the control panel (I think) that lets you choose what the power button does. I think that the factory setting is just to turn it on, nothing else. When it freezes, have you tried Ctrl+Alt+Del twice to restart it instead of unplugging it. ---
**Author:** ![cw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@cw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cw)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/4 "2001-10-02T05:22:21Z")
Yeah, the option for the power button is under start–\>Settings–\>control panel–\>power options—\>advanced in windows ME. You can set it there to shut down, restart, or hibrinate. ---
**Author:** ![MattTheCroc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/5 "2001-10-02T05:37:53Z")
New motherboards (I think it’s the motherboard) require the power button to be held down for 5 seconds… are you holding it down that long? ---
**Author:** ![MattTheCroc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/6 "2001-10-02T05:49:06Z")
And this is what I get for replying about half an hour after opening the thread… I must refresh before replying… I must… ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/7 "2001-10-02T05:58:25Z")
The CMOS settings also have an option for controlling what the power button does… try checking that… ---
**Author:** ![Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/8 "2001-10-02T06:12:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cw \* > \*\*My gateway comp. has a option list somewhere in the control panel (I think) that lets you choose what the power button does. I think that the factory setting is just to turn it on, nothing else. When it freezes, have you tried Ctrl+Alt+Del twice to restart it instead of unplugging it. \*\* Aye, I did the Control Panelly thing you said, now it works. 🙂 I’ll always do Ctrl+Alt+Del, but when my computer actually freezes, it gets no input from the keyboard, and so naturally nothing works. And other folk, yes, I did hold it for about thirty seconds straight before…but I just tested it, the button now will turn it off. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/9 "2001-10-02T14:21:51Z")
Some of them also have a master power switch on the back of the machine on the power supply. That one is important too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/10 "2001-10-02T15:17:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Assuming you are holding it in for least 10 secs and it still does nothing, per your description most likely either the jumper connecting the button’s contact to the MB is not connected or the buckle spring of the contact has failed. \*\* Astro has the answer - it takes 10 seconds - I finally had to call Dell to get this answer because I got sick of unplugging mine. On the one hand, this is really stupid. Was Dell thinking that their computer would never lock up? With Microsoft products on them?? It is to laugh. Har dee har har. On the other hand, you could accidentally hit the button, I suppose. And Dell service is fast and accurate, per usual. ---
**Author:** ![aramis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@aramis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aramis)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/11 "2001-10-02T15:54:02Z")
Mine does that too. I think the logic is that you shouldn’t press the power button to do a warm reboot. There should be another button on the face of the machine, usually labeled _Reset_, try that instead. ---
**Author:** ![DarkScooterPie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b3f665/32.png) [@DarkScooterPie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkScooterPie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/12 "2001-10-02T16:41:35Z")
With Dells and Compaqs (no experience with others), you can go into setup (either F2 or F10 as the computer is booting up) and change the purpose of the “power” button. It can be set to act as a “real” on/off button or as a sleep/awake button. If you have a software hang and it’s not set as a “on/off” button, nothing will happen. Check the setup menu. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/13 "2001-10-02T21:53:42Z")
There’s no Reset or anything on the front except the drives and the big glowing power button. To get to the back of the tower is an inch from where I unplug it, and I see no buttons back there either. I dunno. The button works now though. It didn’t before I assume because it was set to make it Sleep, and Sleep in general was deactivated from the computer because half the time when it would Sleep it would never wake up. ::shrugs:: It works now, so I’m happy. If it stops working I’ll look for something better. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/14 "2001-10-02T22:20:13Z")
Ooh. My stupid eMachine did the same thing. I just went in and changed the settings in Control Panel like y’all said. There’s only the one button on the front, and it pisses me off. I miss the Reset button. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/15 "2001-10-02T22:21:03Z")
Toaster, are you sure the manual has nothing to say about it? ---
**Author:** ![Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/16 "2001-10-02T22:40:03Z")
I have no idea where the manual is…my father takes all the manuals for all the computer stuff for all the computers and hides them someplace. I’d ask him but he’s kinda out of town. And I just checked the back of the tower, no extra buttons except a switch that I think is to let you open it up…nasty nasty nasty little buttons. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/17 "2001-10-03T02:31:10Z")
My computer has a little recessed reset button right next to the top usb port. Push it with a pin or something similar and it restarts. Every time. Cool 🆒, huh? It also automatically runs First Aid and fixes whatever I messed up. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/18 "2001-10-03T14:25:04Z")
Well toaster, how about looking for a manual at [gateway.com](http://gateway.com) ? ---
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/19 "2001-10-03T16:13:36Z")
why don’t you try Win 2K. You’re comp will never lock up again. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2001, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918/20 "2001-10-03T16:42:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HomeSlice \* > **why don’t you try Win 2K. You’re comp will never lock up again.** If only that were true. Granted 2000 is much better than any of the 9x products since it is based on NT technology. With any luck XP will also be stable, I suppose that I’ll find out, I just installed XP on the new computer that I built. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-computer-to-be-lovable-again/84918.md?page=2)