Bought the machine a few years ago so nothing on the PC is current except Win 10 (which was an upgrade but worked fine).

 

If the PC has been off for a reasonable period, it refuses to boot fully on first switch on (the boot splash screen goes away but the text remains "press F2........". Resolved normally by pressing reset button which goes back to boot splash screen and then loads normally. Any ideas on the cause?

 

Side case fans not working - connected to wiring with 2 pin- molex connector (to a switch on the case side which controls the two side fans) and one of the cables has popped out (stripping the copper). Struggling to remake it as the wire is that thin. Anyone know where I can get a 2 pin-molex?

 

 

Try maplin

Do you have any USB devices plugged in? My PC has a regular issue where it won't recognise the SSD if there is a USB device plugged about 50% of the time.

 

I'm not sure if USB stuff can sometimes make the voltage drop on the bus to cause a problem. I'm guessing but it is an odd one. I should really build a new PC but I'm lazy.

Sounds like you might have a dead or dying Bios Batery. When this happens the system wants you to set the date and time .  This would only be the case though if you are switcing the power off at the socket, not just on the base unit.

21 hours ago, kilted said:

If the PC has been off for a reasonable period, it refuses to boot fully on first switch on (the boot splash screen goes away but the text remains "press F2........". Resolved normally by pressing reset button which goes back to boot splash screen and then loads normally. Any ideas on the cause?

 

When the PC is off, do you unplug it from the mains / switch it off at the back? If so, it sounds like you have a dead BIOS battery - this is a round button battery that will go into your motherboard.

 

21 hours ago, kilted said:

Side case fans not working - connected to wiring with 2 pin- molex connector (to a switch on the case side which controls the two side fans) and one of the cables has popped out (stripping the copper). Struggling to remake it as the wire is that thin. Anyone know where I can get a 2 pin-molex?

 

I'm not sure what you mean by 2-pin molex - could you attach a photo of what you mean?

 

19 minutes ago, Aspman said:

I'm not sure if USB stuff can sometimes make the voltage drop on the bus to cause a problem. I'm guessing but it is an odd one. I should really build a new PC but I'm lazy.

 

Dodgy USB devices can cause all sorts of problems, in my experience. In your specific scenario, I'd guess that it points to a PSU which is slightly over-stretched...

Don't unplug the PC - just switch it on and off at the front.

 

The lead I am looking for is a molex connector on one end (which fits to the main wiring ) which has a 2 pin connection on the other which operates a switch for the fans). What I might do as I can't find the 2 pin is simply get a molex to three pin and bypass the switch or try to find the fan controller on the MB and fit cables to that.

16 hours ago, kilted said:

Don't unplug the PC - just switch it on and off at the front.

 

That is strange. What does the prompt say when it prompts you to hit F2? Does it give any indication as to what's happened? If it says "configuration reset" or something similar, I'd still be tempted to swap out the BIOS battery...

 

16 hours ago, kilted said:

The lead I am looking for is a molex connector on one end (which fits to the main wiring ) which has a 2 pin connection on the other which operates a switch for the fans). What I might do as I can't find the 2 pin is simply get a molex to three pin and bypass the switch or try to find the fan controller on the MB and fit cables to that.

 

Ahhh, I understand now. I'm not sure I've seen a standard 2-pin connector in my travels - maybe it's something bespoke for the fan switch? Either way, it should be straightforward enough to find the system fan connector on the motherboard and plug into that - although I imagine it only has one connector, so you'd still be down a fan. Might be worth investing in a new fan controller? I can't imagine that they're too expensive...

Maplin is not reacting to Molex or plugs . Have you thought of RS . Postage a bit steep from one time I ordered ,but they let you collect in store . Problem for you is that nearest one is in centre of Glasgow . ( M8 J15'ish, FROM THEIR MAP).

If you don't mind fan running all the time PC is on , and you have a spare hard drive lead from PSU, then connect fan to this .

Edited 24 August, 20178 yr by VWD

I've had a similar problem - pc not booting on restart but going straight to BIOS - it was a failed bios battery - this is first one I had go for years and this particular PC (my UTM) is on all the time.  If it uses the CR2032 lithium battery IKEA are the cheapest source (8 for 95p).

 

EBAY is a good source of plugs etc - although most of them come from China and cost pennies - they just take ages in the post. Might be easy to get a whole new fan?

 

Edited 24 August, 20178 yr by io1901

Kitchen scale uses these and I've found £ shops OK. Will prove it one way or the other for £1.