I tried turning off my audio dedicated PC yesterday from sleep and the button jammed . I took apart the right side, the top and front to see if I could unjam it, which I could but it still is stuck on one side and I need to unjam it every time. At the bottom on the floor of the case I found a little plastic thing (see photo) that seems to match a twin on the other side of where it seems this was previously.

I bought some compressed air and contact cleaner. I was thinking to blow out the button zone to see if a little plastic bit broke off and is keeping it from depressing on the the part of the button not going down.

Is this a good first step to try or not?

 

I would try this: first turn off the computer on the power supply, then get some clean cloth and soak it with alcohol (vodka or tequila can do, too ), clean the button with it, especially the edges of it and its casing. "train" the button a little while it's wet until it turns on/off smoothly. That usually does it. Compressed air is not of great help as this is most probably sticky grease from fingers that collected on the sides both on the button side and the casing of the button side. It is sticky and prevents the button from working normally. That happens more often than you think.

Hope it helps! Cheers!

p.s. if you can't reach the greasy dirt with the cloth, you can use ear cleaning tips, or use a toothpick with a bit of cotton wool.

 

Last edited: Jun 21, 2025

Power Your PC On With A Screwdriver
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/w4KBy_laYLw

How to bypass power button on a desktop computer

Time for a new PC case?

 

I didn't see the picture when I replied. So the little plastic button holder broke. You will most probably have to pull out the whole plastic cover, which is the button in fact, and use the real button inside to turn the PC on. Yeah, it won't look great, but it will work. However, maybe cleaning it the way I described could work, too, but I doubt it. The little plastic holder is pretty important for the button to work properly.

Let us know how it goes, mate. I'll be here for the time being. Drinking red, writing lyrics and making some tunes later... the standard Saturday night procedure.

 

The comment above is correct. Remove the plastic from the button and just use the real button beneath to turn it on. I hope your outlets are properly grounded, because that might start giving a bit of a electric shock depending on the type of button they used in the case.

I highly recommend getting a new case, there are many inexpensive cases that are high quality nowadays. Take a look at Phanteks and Lian Li cases.

 

If the problem stay unresolved ordering an external Power Button could help
It's cheap

 

You can start the PC with a screwdriver. Just short up start pins on the motherboard (Google it)

 

All the power buttons I've ever seen, even in blade servers, are made from hard plastic (for this very reason), so grounding shouldn't be a problem. It's a good practice to check it, anyway, of course. Thanks!

 

i'd buy a new case if cannot be fixed easily

 

Cases are fairly cheap these days. While I get that it seems extravagant to buy a new case because of a piece of broken plastic, sometimes, the quickest solution can be the better, versus the time trying to fix something that may not last post-fix.

 

Try turning it on and off again.... oh shit nevermind sorry Lois Lane

 

Those wonderful Saturday nights, eh? Saturdays rule. Enjoy!

 

Guessing from the pic alone i could not make any thing it looks like a clip or lock of a component that broke apart, they usually like push in lock kinda thingy. A little more detail of the the situation could be useful. And also the make or model of the unit.
If everything fails, i Would go with external power button. There are other accessories can can be installed like a dvd rom or the fan controller, but its unnecessary, and its the cheapest simplest way.
https://www.amazon.com/power-button-pc/s?k=power+button+pc

 

Here is the best fix. Forget about screwdrivers and such... Simply open your case and plug the thin PWR cable into the RESET port. often located on the lower-right hand side of your motherboard. From then on, your reset button will be your power button. I'm sure you don't use the reset button on your case anyway. Who does?

 

Hi, I had the same problem 2 years ago and bought an external power button (5-6 euros) that usually comes with 1,5-2 m cable. I placed the button on the desk so I don’t need anymore to lower myself under the table to turn on the pc. You’ll need to find a place to pass the cable inside the case (from the backside is easy).

 

Sorry for not being so present in my own thread, I've been...preoccupied with...stuff.

Thanks for all the replies as well as some welcome giggles. I guess I'll go with the external power button workaround. I'm not the guy that can swap out a case and would most probably fuck it all up, no, definitely. The case is kinda big and mostly empty looking like a big cave with modern archeological artifacts strewn around. I guess it works for my need of total silence as the PC is sometimes at most just 50 cm away from a condenser mic frequently capturing quiet sources.

Again, thanks for coming to the rescue.

 

Hi @Lois Lane, here is a video with useful tips.

Add a PC Power Switch ANYWHERE! - Outside Your Case

With this product you get a 2 meter long cable:

Mechanical power switch for desktop computers: LED on/off button extension for motherboard boot
- Package includes: 1 x magnetic computer power switch ON/OFF with 2 m cable; 1 x 1 to 2 splitter; 1 x adhesive sticker; 1 x installation instructions
www.amazon.com/Desktop-Computer-Power-Button-Switch/dp/B0BYZYQL9F/

 

Last edited: Jun 22, 2025

That can't be delivered to where I lived...or where you live.

 

Oh...! I can still see this one, it probably comes from China, so it might take a while to arrive.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/38718547204...WPi/vrIK+pGiGzlb8DI+DpQcgzVj|tkp:BFBM0KWW-fJl