far more serious tech help

[Sarah]

So, I was setting up my new computer and have done something terrible to it.  Here's the story:  As I was customizing this and that, I came upon a feature that allowed me to have the on/off button put the computer into sleep mode instead of turning it off.  For some reason, this appealed to me, and I went ahead and made the change.  A bit later, when I went to eject a DVD, I hit the on/off button by mistake.  And now I can't get the computer to wake up, because until one makes the changes that allow this to be done with the mouse and/or the keyboard, the only way to rouse the thing is by powering it up--which can't be done because the on/off button now puts it to sleep.  Since I also couldn't turn the computer off, I eventually did so by unplugging it (an action that tech support confirmed was correct to try).  Now, of course, it can't boot, because the on/off button just tells it to sleep.   

Any ideas on how to yank my poor computer from the endless Catch-22 loop in which it is caught?

Note 1:  I don't have a backup disk.  The computer did not come with one, and when I tried to make one, as is strongly urged, the DVD drive would not recognize the DVD-RAMS I have (Panasonic LM-AF120LU5, which should be fine).  This was disconcerting even before the other crisis blew up, because it suggested there was something wrong with the drive. 

Note 2:  The computer isn't even connected to the Internet yet, so remote fiddling isn't possible.

[yesno]

hold down the power button for a while. like 30 seconds.

[fonpr]

I can't get the computer to wake up... it can't boot, because the on/off button just tells it to sleep.   

Any ideas on how to yank my poor computer from the endless Catch-22 loop in which it is caught?

Coffee and loud music?

[Sarah]

hold down the power button for a while. like 30 seconds.

Gateway suggested the same thing.  Unfortunately, that maneuver turns the machine off, but it goes right back into sleep mode when I try to turn it on again.  Any other ideas?

[yesno]

Does the computer go through a normal boot process and then go to sleep? I mean, I imagine you were fiddling with a Windows setting, which can have no effect on the computer before it actually loads Windows.

Is the DVD still in the drive?  It could be freaked out by that, rather than asleep.

[Gilly]

Is it a laptop or a desktop? If it is a desktop there is a way to reset all your bios settings by opening up the computer and switching the blue jumper on the motherboard.

http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-Your-BIOS


Edit: I didn't see that it was a new computer. I wouldn't open up the computer, just bring it back. Although, that 2nd step might work.

[Bryan]

Does the computer go through a normal boot process and then go to sleep? I mean, I imagine you were fiddling with a Windows setting, which can have no effect on the computer before it actually loads Windows.

Is the DVD still in the drive?  It could be freaked out by that, rather than asleep.

Yeah, I don't really understand how it goes into sleep from "off". With Windows machines, normally during boot up, you see a logo with the motherboard's logo on it, and it tells you to press F2 (or something) to go into BIOS. Maybe if you do that, you may be able to boot into safe mode and then change the relevant settings from there.

[Sarah]

Does the computer go through a normal boot process and then go to sleep?

Nope.

Is the DVD still in the drive?

Nope.

Is it a laptop or a desktop?

It is a desktop.

If it is a desktop there is a way to reset all your bios settings by opening up the computer and switching the blue jumper on the motherboard.

I am scared of messing around inside my computer.  I did open it up this morning, but I just looked in, had no idea what was what, and closed it back up again.

Yeah, I don't really understand how it goes into sleep from "off". With Windows machines, normally during boot up, you see a logo with the motherboard's logo on it, and it tells you to press F2 (or something) to go into BIOS. Maybe if you do that, you may be able to boot into safe mode and then change the relevant settings from there.

Yes, I've been thinking it isn't going directly to sleep mode, because it's certainly not booting up.  When I press the power button, a light on the tower starts blinking, but nothing happens on the monitor (which says it's not getting a signal.  I think it's a lemon and I need to exchange it.  But I have to go through various dances before I'm given authorization to do so.

[Sarah]

Thank you all for being so gentle with me, by the way.  I'm feeling incredibly dumb right now.

[Martin]

I feel your pain, Sarah, and I hope things work out.

[Gilly]

Look at that second step on the link I gave Sarah. There might be a way to reset the bios by just flipping a switch on the back of your computer.

[Sarah]

Unfortunately, my computer has no such switch.

If I could find a schematic showing the layout of the inside of the case, I'd feel a lot more comfortable fooling around in there.  I tried to find one today, with no luck; maybe tomorrow I'll have more success. 

[fonpr]

I am scared of messing around inside my computer. 

[Gilly]

I wouldn't have opened up the case in the first place in fear of warranty issues (did you break any stickers), but now that you have there's not that much damage you can do unless you pull things out which you don't really need to do. I can't believe you'd have hoops to jump through to return a brand new computer. Anything within 30 days should be a no questions asked return.

[Sarah]

The hoops appear to have been of my own imagining (I am such a sporadic shopper, I don't know the routines, so I just assumed it was my duty to try to do everything I could to get the object I received to work before deciding to return it.)  I'm going to try to return it.  I just hope I haven't done anything that causes Newegg to balk at agreeing to make the exchange.

This is just what I want to be dealing with right about now. 

Thanks to everyone for your advice and sympathy.  Let's hope I don't have to turn to you again any time soon.