My sons COMPUTER (HP Pavilion a1101n) has experienced a problem that when turned on the fan runs on high then slows down and will not boot. I have switch the power supply with his brothers computer (exact MATCH) and this did not solved the problem. I also switch hard drives thinking it may have been a windows issue (windows xp) but with no luck either. If I try the on off switch many times it will boot one of those times, but only after many pushing of the on off button. When it does boot up the fans all run at a high speed. I am at a total lost and would like a little guidance on this. I forget to mention that the inside of the unit when we opened it was extermely dusty. I know that this is not a expensive unit and I am just trying to FIX it cheaply to keep my son happy.

Thanks
A Puzzle Daddo not SWAP harddrives, that will NOT work. also, buy a can of compressed air and clean that comp out. and yes, you have to buy air, the air that comes out of your lungs is full of moisture and will possibly damage some of the comps components. another thing to try, is to unplug all the cords coming from the power supply and going into the motherboard. clean the contacts with a dry cloth.

it might also be the power button itself, see if you can get a replacement.Another cheap easy fix you can try is to replace the CMOS battery...bout the size of a dime and located on the motherboard.
Available at any RADIO Shack/computer store.
Take ESD precautions and make sure the power supply is unplugged from the wall.

patio. 8-)