PC wont POST

Chevens

Chevens

Chevens

Soldato
Joined
27 Oct 2003
Posts
2,958
Location
Belfast N.I
'lo all,

Turned on my main rig tonight (specs in sig) and it powered on for 1 second then powered off, 5 seconds later it turned on again for 1 second, then off agian. This pattern repeats. No warning beeps, no lights on the MB to indicate an error.

I have removed my gfx card, all peripherals, HDD's DVD drive - all thats left is the MB CPU and RAM.

I have a horrible feeling the MB has died, the fact that the fans power on when I hit the switch would lead me to think the PSU is okay.

Has anyone any advice - had a similar problem, know of a special prayer or dance to bring back my much loved rig?

Any help much appreciated, thanks.
 
Thanks for quick replies,

I have reset the cmos and even with no RAM it doesnt power on long enough to hear any beeps, 1 second and its dead.

I have never had a PC die this way before - usually its the PSU is dead so nothing works, or something with the gfx card or HDD's.

I'm not sure how to test CPU/MB/PSU seperatley without a donor pc - which I dont have.
 
Chevens said:
I have reset the cmos and even with no RAM it doesnt power on long enough to hear any beeps, 1 second and its dead.
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That isn't really good news. Normally it would beep a lot with no RAM installed, and that would indicate that the mobo and CPU were functioning.

Does it still shut down immediately with the graphics card removed? (Edit - I see you've tried that already!)

One thing I would try would be to take it all out of the case and build up the basic parts on a (non-conductive) surface. I've had more than one occasion where a system that wouldn't work in the case came back to life once it was jiggled around a bit and there was no chance of shorting.

My gut instinct is the mobo, since it's not the RAM and it's very rare that Intel CPUs die. Could always be the PSU, although the HX520 is usually extremely reliable.
 
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Yeah even without the gfx card it dies in 1 second.

I will take your advice and rebuild it on my desk, the 1 second on 5 seconds off does look a little like something shorting, possibly causing the PSU to shut off for safety, whether thats internal to the PSU or something on the mobo I'm not sure.
 
siumatfung said:
i think its the mobo but im sure you can get an RMA right?
Click to expand...

Moved house 6 months ago, no idea where the recipt is, wife probably dumped it with the rest of the crap heap from my old room.

One thing i noticed - if I plug the kettle power lead into the PSU while the socket is on there is a crackling noise - this is probably normal but im paranoid atm!

Im thinking ill have to buy a new rig - thank **** I haven't used the credit card in a while!
 
Chevens said:
One thing i noticed - if I plug the kettle power lead into the PSU while the socket is on there is a crackling noise - this is probably normal but im paranoid atm!
Click to expand...

That'll be fine - that's always happened with my systems. Bit unnerving but not a problem!

Suppose it could be the PSU that's gone, although it does seem to be providing some power... plus the HX520 is usually very very reliable, and when it does die it tends to be in a big way...
 
Mattus said:
That'll be fine - that's always happened with my systems. Bit unnerving but not a problem!

Suppose it could be the PSU that's gone, although it does seem to be providing some power... plus the HX520 is usually very very reliable, and when it does die it tends to be in a big way...
Click to expand...

Yeah, when my Q-tec (shudder) died in an old system of mine There was a fantastic blue flash accompanied with a bang that made me think the SAS where storming my house with grenades.

The system is now sitting on my desk and the same symptoms exist. As my CPU is hardly worth 30 quid I think its time for a new system.
Hopefully I can keep my PSU, wont have to shell out on a case either so theres ~150 quid saved.

Thinking back there probably where some signs last month that the MB was on its way out - I got the odd hard lock, and my usb mouse occasionally died.
 
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