computer crash

GreatWaves · 17 Oct 2012 at 03:51

it's a e6550 on a p5k mobo.

it just shut down all of a sudden. I tried replacing the psu. After replacing the psu, it's starts to reboot a few seconds after pressing the power button, but then shuts down again in the middle of rebooting. There are no errors displayed or anything. The power simply shuts off.

Could it be just something dodgy in the wiring that controls the power switch? Or is it more likely something like bad RAM?

Any ideas appreciated. Getting this computer working again is VERY important.

I tried removing and replacing the cmos battery. I don't know at the moment where the cmos reset switch is, but I doubt that cmos is the problem becuz the first time that it tried rebooting I got the option on the screen to reset bios.

Thanks for any help!

GreatWaves · 17 Oct 2012 at 04:20

PROBLEM SOLVED

looks like it was due to something dodgy in the wires coming from the front panel (pw, rst button, leds). I removed all of those wires and shorted the power button connection manually. It started rebooting promptly and power did not shut off again.

So I guess over time something in the power button has degraded.

I am SO relieved. I have some important stuff going on on this computer. Needless to say, I'm backing up key files at the moment.

Cheers

Idleman · 17 Oct 2012 at 04:42

See if you can get the power button out, might be a wire come loose and shorting. If you can`t repair it, they are cheap enough to replace.

GreatWaves · 17 Oct 2012 at 04:51

Correction: problem not solved yet (altho comp is running)...

I think it might be something other than the power button afterall...

This is REALLY weird. When I got the comp to reboot and stay running, I had it lying on it's side. Then I decided to turn it right side up again, it SHUT DOWN in the middle of me turning it right side up!!! Then of course I stopped trying to right it and set it back down sideways and as I was doing that it shut off and turned on again TWICE. What?

The psu that I put in is brand new Antec. None of the front panel wires are currently connected.

How can that happen?? So there's apparently a "loose connection" on the mobo somewhere? I've never heard of that happening and don't see how that could happen.

This is very strange. It's currently running lying on it's side.

Cheers

Idleman · 17 Oct 2012 at 05:08

Whilst it is still running you could try jiggling some of the connectors. Like the mobo and cpu power connectors to rule them out. Also have a closer look at the mobo for anything unusual.
Maybe, try lifting it slowly upright, whilst looking inside to see if anything moves.

GreatWaves · 17 Oct 2012 at 05:21

Idleman said:
Whilst it is still running you could try jiggling some of the connectors. Like the mobo and cpu power connectors to rule them out. Also have a closer look at the mobo for anything unusual.
Maybe, try lifting it slowly upright, whilst looking inside to see if anything moves.

Thanks for input. Yep I'll check the mobo connectors when I'm less tired. I guess I'll have it booted to the bios setup when doing that. By the way, when I changed the psu to a new one, I had to remove the mobo and when doing that I saw nothing loose flying around underneath the mobo.

Whatever it is, it's something that is very sensitive to the slightest movement becuz when I was turning the case right side up, I was doing it gently and slowly. Strange issue.

Edit: Also the comp has not been moved at all or bumped in anyway. This sudden shut down issue just came out of no where.

Cheers

Idleman · 17 Oct 2012 at 06:04

Definitely strange. But there is something loose or not connected properly.
Check event log and see what that says.