PC stops, won't restart until a couple of days later....

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Woollyman

19 posts

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#76785 7-Feb-2011 00:17

Hi all,
Hope you can help with what I hope is a simple hardware issue.......
Windows Home Server had been running fine on an old'ish PC box but has started crashing.....seems to only be during a networked PC backup at about 80%.

Crazy thing is when it shuts down I can't restart it for a while....pushing the power button does nothing - if I switch off the main supply at the back then on, then hit the power button I might get a flicker of LED and half second spin of fans but then no more. Even had like a false start - brief flash of LED....nothing,,,,then a second later another spin of fan and LED without me pushing the power button the second time.
Usually it won't restart for a couple of hours....

I thought it was a typical CPU overheating issue but SpeedFan shows all temps normal, I have tried a different (albeit old) PSU and same drama.....

I'd really appreciate any help you can give me!
Thanks a lot.

>>>>>>Update on that, been running for less than 2 hours, was downloading some windows updates and she's crashed. Pushing the power button now does nothing. Is the MOBO fried? And I remember I have tried using different RAM and swapping modules around etc, same problemo.

>>>>>Following on she has started a couple of times tonight but only run for about 10 mins each time....

I bet if I leave it off for a couple of days she will run again for and hour or so!

Any ideas? Thanks!

Ragnor

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#436094 7-Feb-2011 01:24

I would suspect the power supply first, especially with the no turning on again straight away.

Ramjet007

319 posts

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#436101 7-Feb-2011 06:13

I had a similar problem and found that it was a video card problem. I removed it and put it back in.
I think it had lifted slightly.

richms

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#436111 7-Feb-2011 07:53

With the number of junk power supplies sold in junk cases over the years, and the known capacitor issues that plague cheap junk chinese electronics, I would also back the suggestion that it is the power supply.

Richard rich.ms

b0untypure1

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#436181 7-Feb-2011 11:12

id say power supply or motherboard

MackinNZ

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#436194 7-Feb-2011 11:41

I would suspect the motherboard. Bad caps was my first thought whn seeing this thread title.

See here

I've seen several cases of faulty caps recently. Two of my own PC's had the problem. If the machines a few years old then I'd be highly suspicious of the caps.

Chris.

trig42

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#436196 7-Feb-2011 11:43

Are there any capacitors on the motherboard that look like they are expanding or leaking?

I'd say Mainboard if you have tried two PSUs and get the same issues.

richms

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#436222 7-Feb-2011 12:20

IME when the mobo caps have gone, the computer will still switch on and then not work, and sometimes not even switch off if you hold it for 4 seconds, the failure to start is normally the PSU.

Richard rich.ms

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Woollyman

19 posts

Geek

#436623 7-Feb-2011 23:39

Wow, thanks for all your replies and advice!

So tonight I have tried;

A NEW power supply and removing the graphics card (still boots fine and I am running via RDP).

Nothing worked! Still the same symptoms, ran for 20 mins maybe before shutting down. I was hoping all was solved when she started straight up with the new PSU....:(
Caps on the board look fine, no bulging at all.

However....I took the CPU out and (don't know how I noticed it but...) one of the outer corner pins was bent over, hard to see but it could have been touching another pin on the inside row!!! I managed to stand the pin up and straighten it, still has a tiny kink, back in smoothly, reassembled, started fine, ran for 10 mins or so and then OFF.

Could the CPU be toast? Considering it is a server I'm only running a Socket 939 Athlon 64 3200 in it...will grab one off TM tomorrow for $20 or something and give it a whirl....what do you think?

Thanks again!

Ramjet007

319 posts

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#436640 8-Feb-2011 06:04

Could be heat (CPU) although most MB give you an alarm sound.

etl

20 posts

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#436664 8-Feb-2011 08:26

Sounds to me like a over heating issue, if it boots up fine, then switches off.
But then the non-starting again sounds like power or motherboard issues.

The new information about the CPU pin being bent was a surprise, I'm surprised it worked at all with the CPU not 100% intact.

I would almost be inclined to say its a combination of issues. I would start working on everything where possible.

You should keep a list of all combinations you try (different ram, video card etc)

I had a similar issue, but it happened after I got a new Video Card, and my PSU was not large enough to handle it, so my computer would sometimes crash out, and then not start (similar to you).
You have tried a different PSU was it newer than the original one, and did it have large wattage?

old3eyes

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#436671 8-Feb-2011 08:53

Had one of those on a NEC PC except it was about 4 weeks before we could bring it back to life. Turned out to be the mother board. We had another one with a faulty PSU so mixed and matched until we got a working PC..

Regards,

Old3eyes

gzt

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#436744 8-Feb-2011 11:42

Not familiar with speed fan but if you are currently using it to control fan speed disable it. If your bios is one which gives you silent/quiet/full fan options, set it to full on all fans. MB temperature sensors are placed to give information about critical parts but only provide tangential information about the rest of it.

You mentioned the problem occurred during network backup. Disabling the (onboard?) LAN and/or using something different might be worth a shot. If there is lots of hdd activity during backup that path might be worth a look as well. Try changing the drive port to use a different controller/port and/or use an external drive.

Even though the problem has occurred just recently investigate the exact type of ram you are using and the exact recommended timing and voltages required & check for bios updates.

This is all just for fun - like everyone else I'm picking a faulty MB. ; )

Also, monitoring/logging all voltages might give you more information about the fault type.

What is your motherboard model id?

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Woollyman

19 posts

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#437063 8-Feb-2011 22:49

Thanks guys for your continued help. Speedfan is only monitoring temps and nothing goes even slightly high to make me think it is overheating.
I was very surprised the CPU was running too!
I have another socket 939 motherboard which is a good Gigabyte in good nick and I scored a CPU off TM today for $1 so I'll do some playing around in the weekend swapping components back and forth to isolate the prob. I too think it is the MOBO, but the bent pin on the CPU is cause for concern too!
Will report back.

Cheers!

Woollyman

19 posts

Geek

#467352 9-May-2011 22:40

Apologies for never updating this topic / closing it off.
Since my last post the server PC has been running pretty much non-stop.
The problem was the CPU. It never appeared to be overheating so I don't know why it cr@pped out.
Bought an Athlon CPU from TM for $1 and she's running fine!

Thanks for all you help and advice.