Computer won't start at all. Advice please?

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Asmodeus

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#68845 29-Sep-2010 12:57

Hi guys, as mentioned my htpc will not start at all. I turn it on, hear the case fan start up and what sounds like spinning drives. Nothing comes on the screen, not a flicker or anything, completely dead. After 5 or 10 seconds the pc then shuts down and then immediately starts up again. Still no flicker on screen. I can then hear one of the HDDs doing a repetitive "chugging" sound for a few seconds then nothing. The case fan stays spinning but nothing else. Interestingly (maybe), the reset button does not appear to work and I have to hold the power button down.

There are no beeps from the mobo, nothing at all on screen so I can't get into bios or safe mode or anything. I tried booting from the windows disk but it acted like there was no disk. I can't get into the bios to change the boot priority anyway.

I figure it's one of many things: mobo, boot drive, RAM, CPU, graphics card, PSU (although there is some power getting through at least) but my intuition leans towards motherboard at this stage???

What are your thoughts and how would you start trouble shooting this?

All replies much appreciated as I'm back to the standard sky box (not MySky) and can't record or do much at all.

Cheers!!!!

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162 posts

Master Geek

#385830 29-Sep-2010 13:09

Hi there.
Have you added / removed any parts from your PC recently?
Do you get ANYTHING on your screen? i.e do you get the no signal input message?
Is your PC overclocked?

My far fetched guess is one of the mobo ground pins isnt contacting correctly.

rscole86

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#385832 29-Sep-2010 13:10

Start by disconnecting everything, and just have the mobo powered. Even remove the ram. And then start building up component by component, and see what breaks it.
Trying RAM in different slots is recommended, incase its just one stick, or one slot thats faulty.

wallop

367 posts

Ultimate Geek

#385838 29-Sep-2010 13:20

My pc did this a week ago. At first I thought the earthquakes had stuffed it. Anyway I pulled the video card, put it back in and all has been running fine since then. Glad it came back to life as my last backup was a wee while ago.

Asmodeus

1015 posts

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#385895 29-Sep-2010 15:08

powerforce: Hi there.
Have you added / removed any parts from your PC recently?
Do you get ANYTHING on your screen? i.e do you get the no signal input message?
Is your PC overclocked?

My far fetched guess is one of the mobo ground pins isnt contacting correctly.

I added a new storage drive but that was a 3 or 4 weeks back now.

Absolutley nothing on screen

Not overclocked (it's my lounge htpc so no need)

I haven't opened it up yet as it's actually a mission to extract it from my theatre setup (not to mention you have to undo 10 hex bolts to get into the case!)

I guess I'm up for a disassembling mission

Asmodeus

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#388138 5-Oct-2010 11:52

OK, I took everything out including RAM and still seem to get these weird "restarts after 5 seconds then nothing" episodes. Therefore I am assuming it is my motherboard that has the issue (or possibly my CPU?).

What would you suggest as the best step to trouble shooting this? How can you test/diagnose a motherboard?

EDIT: I see there is another thread just like this, perhaps we can come up with something together?

powerforce

162 posts

Master Geek

#388153 5-Oct-2010 12:20

did you check the screws that hold the motherboard to the case?
they must be secured properly and make contact correctly or else you will get a short.

Asmodeus

1015 posts

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#388393 5-Oct-2010 17:56

powerforce: did you check the screws that hold the motherboard to the case?
they must be secured properly and make contact correctly or else you will get a short.

No, will do though. Do you think that could be the issue?

What else can be done to diagnose a mobo?

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mm1352000

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#389015 7-Oct-2010 03:45

Hmm. Could it be your CPU's over-temp protection kicking in? Are your fans all spinning (ie. not choked up with dust)?

I concur with the theory to strip it back to basics. No RAM, no video card... nothing except CPU connected. Even take out USB connections etc. Make sure you have a buzzer/beeper speaker plugged in so you can hear post beep codes. If still nothing, first try pulling and reinserting the power cables for the mobo. Next step is to try clearing the BIOS. Process for doing this will be mobo dependent. Sometimes it will simply be a button to push (high end overclocker boards), but more usually it involves taking out the battery and moving a jumper then waiting for ten minutes. Or something like that. Google or your mobo manual is your friend for this.

Humorous story: when I built my first PC I threw in the CPU, RAM and video card (to check they were all going to work before I put them in the case) and tried to boot the computer without a heatsink on the CPU. Almost fried my CPU straight out of the box!!! Point is that after about 5/10 second the over-temp protection kicked in and turned off the PC. Sorta sounds like what you're describing. If nothing else that is suggested works then try re-seating the CPU as your last resort...

CdTDroiD

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#389985 9-Oct-2010 21:19

Would check the graphics card first, then the memory. PSU could be faulty also. last one i had that done that was a faulty PSU just went into a loop restarting.

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Regs

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Snowflake

#390009 9-Oct-2010 22:39

my money is on the PSU. i had virtually the same thing happening with my HTPC until i replaced the PSU.

memory doesnt usually die *after* it has been inserted and left alone. GPU could burn out from over temp, but the PSU is the most common thing to deteriorate

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CdTDroiD

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#390026 9-Oct-2010 23:58

i agree definatley more common issue

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tdgeek

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#390027 10-Oct-2010 00:06

From what u said I pick the board. Assuming the speaker is connected you would get beep codes if the memory or video had failed. A restart with no lights (did you say no lights?) shows the board may have failed but is still alive so as it jiggered it restarts. It s not actually restarting, it is actually a failed start, 5 seconds means the POST failed.

If you can borrow a PSU from another PC thats a quick test. Disconnect all connected cables from the old PSU. Without installing the test PSU, connect the motherboard cable, connect power and turn on. If you get video on the monitor you are in business, hoping that notthing else is damaged.

Asmodeus

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#391323 13-Oct-2010 13:45

Thanks guys. Anyone know where to buy an internal pc speaker here in NZ? My case & mobo doesn't have one

rscole86

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#391333 13-Oct-2010 14:02

Assuming its 5v? you can pick up something small like that from jaycar, or just rip one out of a childs toy if you have one lying around?

Asmodeus

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#391393 13-Oct-2010 16:17

rscole86: Assuming its 5v? you can pick up something small like that from jaycar, or just rip one out of a childs toy if you have one lying around?

I rang Jaycar and the guy there reckoned they didn't sell these. Rang PBTech too and they said the same thing. Couldn;t see one on Ascent's website but it's a bit of a pain browsing on my phone

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