
I have a very peculiar problem that I can't seem to solve :
Everything works perfectly (with Windows11 or Linux), except when I try to restart it or switch it on before it has completely cooled down, which usually takes about 5-10 minutes.
If I try to restart before that time, it lights up the blue power LED, spins the cooling fan, but goes black.
If I don't switch it off, it stays in this state permanently.
And when it's like this I can't switch it off using the power button: it switches off the blue LED, stops the fan and seconds later switches the LED back on and starts the fan, but with a black screen. Then all I have to do is unplug it and wait for it to cool down. Then it restarts normally.
What I've already done:
- Changed the thermal paste on the processor (which wasn't old)
- Cleaned the RAM contacts
- Tested the RAM with MemTest (2 and a half hours of testing! )
- I removed the glue residue left by the backup battery that was attached to the motherboard (I saw on the internet that this could be interfering)
- I checked the voltage of the backup battery (OK)
- I removed it from the mini-cabinet and thoroughly sanitised the motherboard with isopropyl alcohol and a lot of brushing
- I checked the BIOS settings and turned them back to "Default"
- I reset the BIOS using the CMOS reset button (I held it for 10 seconds without power).
- Tried another monitor
- Changed the HDMI cable
- Tried booting with ethernet on RJ45, without connecting peripherals (keyboard, mouse)
What I haven't done yet but think I can do:
- Reinstall the BIOS?
- Reflow the processor?
- Check the motherboard capacitors (this will be a bit difficult as the board will have cooled down by the time I remove it).
But I'd be very grateful if anyone could give me some advice.