Troubleshooting a Computer That Refuses to Start Without a Little Warm-Up

If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of a PC that fails to power up without some unconventional coaxing, you’re not alone. One user recently shared their story about a recurring issue where their computer requires a bit of warmth—achieved through a hair dryer—to start after being turned off overnight. Here’s a closer look at the situation, the hardware involved, and possible solutions.

The Setup

The user’s system is equipped with the following components:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
• Motherboard: Asus PRIME B350M-A (latest BIOS installed)
• RAM: 16GB (2x 8GB HyperX FURY at 2400MHz)
• Power Supply: Thermaltake 600W 80 Plus White Smart Series

All components are relatively new, ranging from 1.5 to 2 years old, and there haven’t been any overclocking attempts or voltage adjustments that may typically lead to instability.

The Problem

The main issue arises after the PC is powered down. The following morning, it will not boot unless heat is introduced to the system, specifically by using a hair dryer. Once the temperature is raised, the computer operates normally for hours or even days.

Despite reassuring results from various stress tests—such as Prime95, Memtest86, and OCCT—there is no indication of hardware faults. The processor was tested for nearly nine hours, reaching a peak temperature of 89°C without any errors, yet this peculiar boot issue persists.

With the user residing in a tropical climate with consistent temperatures ranging from 24°C to 32°C and high humidity year-round, environmental factors could be contributing to the problem. Unfortunately, the user lacks spare parts for direct testing, which makes diagnosis trickier.

Additional Findings

In a recent update, the user noted that the computer once again failed to start after being turned off, requiring another warm-up session. This time, they exercised caution by redirecting the warm air away from the power supply unit (PSU) and towards other areas of the case. Remarkably, after heating for around four to five minutes, the system booted up, leading to the hypothesis that a faulty connection on the motherboard might be to blame.

An additional quirk has been observed with the system clock, which continuously falls behind despite being set to auto-update with the correct timezone. A