Some of them also have a box-cover-shut switch, some have cpu-cooler-rpm
sensors, and some may have airflow sensors elsewhere. Often, these things
require some logic to be powered up to detect the condition, hence the
ok-lets-go-oops-lets-not-go stutter-step.

> From: Dave McGuire <mcguire@neurotica.com>
> On August 5, Nino Margetic wrote:
> > I wonder if anyone can advise on the following: I have acquired an
> > AlphaStation 250 4/266 but I have problems to power it on.
> > 
> > When I connect the keyboard, mouse, net, monitor and mains cables and
> > press the power switch the system (and the lights) comes up for about 2
> > seconds and then everything powers off. When I press the power switch
> > again (to switch the system off), again the lights briefly come up (less
> > than a second) and then it dies again. I have tried to power it on without
> > the keyboard and mouse and I get the same behaviour.
> > 
> > Is there anything I can do make this work or should I just take the bits
> > out and forget about it?
>
>   Dunno about this particular machine, but a friend of mine has an
> AlphaStation 200 4/166 that exhibited the *exact* same symptoms.  The
> problem was the chassis fan was disconnected.  Apparently it's got
> some sort of sensor that won't let the machine power up without the
> fan.