Complete failure

Hmmmm, anyway you could use your parents pc to get windows install onto a usb stick? Then try and boot from that.
What about a bios update? Clutching a bit here.
Is it definitely running in AHCI mode and not IDE? Have you tried both?
 
Yes I have tried both IDE and AHCI, neither worked. It's currently in AHCI. Parents is a good half hour drive away. I've spoken to a local PC repair firm this morning and although it's against my normal practice, I may take it into them. I'm at the point where I'm a little beyond my ability and mobo/processor/PSU need testing. They'll diagnose for free, but said it wouldn't be in their interest now they know I'm a self builder, if I'll just take it away and replace the broken component myself. I may therefore swallow the £30 cost of replacing a motherboard for example just to get this machine repaired as I'm not keen on buying replacement parts 'in case it's that bit'.
 
Morph3ous said:
I've tried to boot from the disc a few times, it just hangs on the starting windows screen.
Click to expand...

I once built a SFF machine and this behaviour turned out to be due to a poor connection with the heatsink unit and CPU.

May not be your issue but I would try re-seating the heatsink and check the fan is working to rule this out.
 
Th0nt said:
I once built a SFF machine and this behaviour turned out to be due to a poor connection with the heatsink unit and CPU.

May not be your issue but I would try re-seating the heatsink and check the fan is working to rule this out.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I've got some paste left, so I'll give it a try.
 
No mate. I realised I didn't have any ipa to clean the CPU with and I got to the point where I just wanted it sorted.

I'll update with their findings in a couple of days.
 
An update.

Repair shop broke the system down so the only remaining parts of mine were the mobo and CPU. The system still wouldn't boot off a hard drive or Windows disk. They therefore came to the conclusion we suspected - mobo problem. Whilst on the phone to me explaining all this, he then suddenly said, "Hang on. I've just noticed you're missing two screws which hold the motherboard to the case? They're earth points and it won't be doing the board any good at all". How embarrassing. Now I can't remember if I ran out of screws or whether there weren't enough securing holes in the recycled Mesh case for the mATX board, but either way it's a shame this breakdown may be due to my own failings in my first PC build. I guess you live and learn!

So I've done a quick bit of research and replaced it with an ASUS P8Z77-V LX board. I gather these newer chipset boards offer me the benefits of both the P67 and H67 which I had to chose between when I first built the system upon release of Sandy Bridge. I think I'm right in thinking I can now make use of the onboard graphics of the 2500K whilst also delving into the world of overclocking to get a little more performance out of it. I've never overclocked before but I'll be doing some research to find a reasonably 'safe' level that'll give me a bit more punch without too much stress on the system.

The repair shop will fit this new board for me, and the total cost of the whole job will be only £30. Not too bad considering they've worked on it for 2 days I thought.
 
Dunno about the screws comment, it would be different if a screw was loose and wedged somewhere possibly shorting but anyway glad you have moved on - £30 isn't the end of the world.

Are you getting the board back or are they keeping it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom