Not sure if this classes as a Hardware issue or not, apologies if not.

My PC works absolutely fine on the whole, but for some time now (as long as I can remember, in fact) when I press the power button nothing happens on screen, but the PC itself audibly comes to life. I then hold down the power button to turn off, PC shuts down, press power button again, and voila, everything comes on fine. This happens everytime I need to turn on my PC, works everytime too.

Was wondering if anyone could shed any light on why this may happen, and if I can solve this minor irritation?

Thanks in advance.

Check your BIOS Setup Menu settings. Many BIOS menus let you change the function of the power button. Examples include:

Momentary push = reset
Momentary push = hybernate
Momentary push = power off
4 second push = power off

Thank you for your reply. Before I delve into my Bios settings, is it really likely to be that, as I would have thought if it was due to the settings assigned to the power button, it would be consistent in it's function? Currently, as described before, I press it once and hold down until it shuts down, and then press it once and it comes on fine.

As Digerati stated, see what the current setting for the power button is in the bios.

Also check your Power Options (Control Panel). The system may be going into either Standby or Hibernation to effect this scenario.

If you have an add-in Display card (PCI or AGP) as opposed to onboard display, reseating it once or twice certainly can't hurt. (With the system off of course.)

I press it once and hold down until it shuts down, and then press it once and it comes on fine.

Which is consistent with a common BIOS setting - I think you will find you must hold it for 4 seconds.

Yeah, I thought of that too upon initial reading of the post, but;

"I then hold down the power button to turn off, PC shuts down, press power button again, and voila, everything comes on fine"

made me think he's doing it correctly. From the totally off state, a quick press is all that's required.

Which leads us back to a problem with the monitor and PC's graphics not communicating correctly, rather than a power switch setting.

@tebthereb - I think you need to ensure the card (if not onboard) is seated correctly. Doing as Dan suggests (with computer powered off AND UNPLUGGED from the wall) ensures a good connection and scrapes clean the contacts in the process. Then ensure all cables are securely fastened. If okay, the I think you should try another monitor to determine if the problem is in the monitor, or the PC's graphics.

If a person isn't wearing an ESD grounding (wrist) strap, it's actually better to leave the power cord connected. This effects a static bleed-off point to ground, reducing the risk of ESD damage to components. A person invariably touches the frame of the system when working inside, thereby discharging any difference in static potential between themselves and the system.

http://www.d-a-l.com/articles/library/72.html

I am sorry Dan, but that article is no longer correct for all cases and needs to be updated. It USED to be fine for the old AT standard, but not with the ATX form factor standard. The problem is, with ATX power supplies, the standard calls for +5Vsb (standby) voltage to be applied across many circuits on the motherboard, even when powered off. This is to accommodate such features as remote power on (which is what happens with the front panel power connector) but also Wake on LAN, Wake on Modem, Wake on Keyboard, Wake on Mouse. This is precisely why many motherboard makers put LEDs on motherboards, to remind users to unplug before removing PCI and AGP cards, and RAM modules.

However, there are exceptions. Some, not all, but some PSUs have a master power switch on back. In those cases, the power cord can remain attached, as long as the master power switch is set to off (or O).

I agree a wrist band is best because it prevents the build up of static. But it does so by removing the difference of potential between the user and the case, just as if touching the case does. But, of course, touching discharges already built up static.

Another problem with leaving the cord attached is that it assumes the PSU is functioning correctly, and to assume a device that has the potential to kill is functioning correctly is unwise.

The BEST course of action is to remove the cord but attach a grounding strap between station ground (called Earth in some countries), the workbench, and the PC case. And then use a wrist band attached to the case. This ensures the PC, bench, and user are all at the same potential and grounded.

Just to add further speculation:

I have one computer with a similar condition. It is usually a 50/50 coin toss whether the BIOS POST will turn on the monitor but if I let it run Windows will eventually turn it on.

I had been told this was a monitor issue and or perhaps the fact that the DVI cable was not recognized by the BIOS (that it depended on Windows drivers) but as I say 50% of the time there is no problem. I have also tried a VGA converter plug which made no difference.

If the initial Power On does not bring up the monitor then the Reset button always will. Anyway this is something I've lived with on this particular computer and I don't know if it adds any ideas or not to this problem.

Just a curious similarity and observation.