Systel PC doesn't power on every time. No consistent pattern.

[Rodolfo.]

Hello,

Here's the things. I've resorted to this page because it has helped me in the past and I'm having a bit of a hard time determining this issue.

Where I work we have these Systel military grade computers, very rugged, which are supposed to withstand harsh conditions, from dust and vibrations to heat. We need them to because they are installed in Logging trucks that go to oil wells in remote locations. As of lately we've been having this issue where the computer won't power on every time. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. As simple as that. There's no pattern on consistency to it.

On regular conditions I would open it up and check the Motherboard or Power supply, but like I said there's no consistency. I've already checked the wiring, the UPS, the different power sources in the truck (Generator and Home wiring), etc etc etc. I haven't been able to find a pattern, so I've come to think that it is indeed something to do with the computer's hardware, perhaps capacitors in the power supply. The point is that as of right now I haven't open up the case for fear of altering the variables.. I wanted to ask for your advice first.

The computer is more or less like this one:
https://www.systelusa.com/products/rugged-rack-mount-servers/2u%20rugged%20rack%20mount%20servers

Give or take a couple hard drives in a RAID arrangement.

So what exactly do you think could be causing this issue? Has this happened to any of you in the past, even if (obviously) on a regular computer? Your input could help me pin the problem faster once I open the case.

Like I mentioned before, I can't find a tangible pattern except the fact that it won't power on today, and after several attempts it will finally turn on, then the computer turns on just fine each and every time for the next week or two.

Thank you very much for your attention. Please let me know if I've skipped any piece of necessary information.

UPDATE: Do you think it's possible this problem could be caused by a poor cmos battery ? I've been reading online and some people seem to describe a similar issue which they apparently fixed by getting a new battery. My online doubt is that they don't precisely describe whether they computer started but was stuck somewhere else other than windows, or if they machine didn't do anything whatsoever. Let me know. Thanks.

 

[burt007]

Changing the cmos battery is something you can try also cmos chip if it is removable you can remove several times and insert back also remove ram clean the contacts and re-insert them do the same with all the parts that are removable and hope that it is fixed. Post the results, that is the only think I can think of rightnow.

Hello,

Here's the things. I've resorted to this page because it has helped me in the past and I'm having a bit of a hard time determining this issue.

Where I work we have these Systel military grade computers, very rugged, which are supposed to withstand harsh conditions, from dust and vibrations to heat. We need them to because they are installed in Logging trucks that go to oil wells in remote locations. As of lately we've been having this issue where the computer won't power on every time. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. As simple as that. There's no pattern on consistency to it.

On regular conditions I would open it up and check the Motherboard or Power supply, but like I said there's no consistency. I've already checked the wiring, the UPS, the different power sources in the truck (Generator and Home wiring), etc etc etc. I haven't been able to find a pattern, so I've come to think that it is indeed something to do with the computer's hardware, perhaps capacitors in the power supply. The point is that as of right now I haven't open up the case for fear of altering the variables.. I wanted to ask for your advice first.

The computer is more or less like this one:
https://www.systelusa.com/products/rugged-rack-mount-servers/2u%20rugged%20rack%20mount%20servers

Give or take a couple hard drives in a RAID arrangement.

So what exactly do you think could be causing this issue? Has this happened to any of you in the past, even if (obviously) on a regular computer? Your input could help me pin the problem faster once I open the case.

Like I mentioned before, I can't find a tangible pattern except the fact that it won't power on today, and after several attempts it will finally turn on, then the computer turns on just fine each and every time for the next week or two.

Thank you very much for your attention. Please let me know if I've skipped any piece of necessary information.

UPDATE: Do you think it's possible this problem could be caused by a poor cmos battery ? I've been reading online and some people seem to describe a similar issue which they apparently fixed by getting a new battery. My online doubt is that they don't precisely describe whether they computer started but was stuck somewhere else other than windows, or if they machine didn't do anything whatsoever. Let me know. Thanks.