Troubleshooting a PC That Refuses to Boot: The Hair Dryer Technique

Have you ever encountered a situation where your computer remains unresponsive despite no apparent errors? This may sound familiar to those dealing with a peculiar phenomenon: a PC that only starts up after being given a gentle warmth from a hair dryer.

The Hardware Breakdown

The setup in question includes:

• CPU: Ryzen 5 2400G
• Motherboard: Asus PRIME B350M-A (with the latest BIOS update)
• RAM: 2x HyperX FURY 8GB 2400Mhz
• Power Supply Unit (PSU): Thermaltake 600W 80 Plus White Smart Series

All components are around 1.5 to 2 years old, with no modifications such as overclocking or voltage boosts.

The Issue

As the title suggests, the PC refuses to power on after being turned off overnight. The only way to initiate a boot is to apply heat using the hair dryer. Surprisingly, once the computer successfully starts, it runs perfectly for extended periods without any issues, even under stress.

Testing methods have included:

• Reassembling the system multiple times
• Using only one memory stick
• Disconnecting non-essential components

Stress tests such as Prime95 for nine hours revealed no errors, although the CPU temperature reached approximately 89°C. Additionally, memtest86 and OCCT CPU testing yielded the same outcome: no faults detected.

Given the tropical climate, where temperatures fluctuate between 24 to 32 degrees Celsius and high humidity is a constant factor, one might wonder if environmental conditions play a role.

The Lack of Spare Parts

Unfortunately, the owner does not have access to spare parts, such as an alternate PSU or motherboard, for further testing.

Update on the Situation

After another shutdown, the PC once again required a session with the hair dryer to boot up. This time, the approach was more cautious, avoiding direct heat on the PSU while targeting the front and top of the case, which houses the micro ATX board.

After a few minutes of warmth, the system responded and powered on, leading to the conclusion that there might be a poor connection on the motherboard. An additional detail of concern is the Windows clock, which continues to lag behind even though it’s set to auto-update and the correct timezone is selected. A manual sync temporarily resolved the issue, but inconsistencies remain, with the time