Constant rebooting on startup

Mase83

Mase83

Mase83

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Joined
31 Oct 2009
Posts
9
Just thought as a last resort, before sending this back to be looked at, I'd post here to see if anyone has come across my problem before or knows what could be the issue.
My brother just bought OcUK value barebones system. It included the following:

Gigabyte GA-P43-DS3 LGA775 mobo
OCZ ModXStream Pro 700w Silent SLI Ready modular power supply
Antec 300 case
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 processor.

We've since added:

Brand new 4 gig 800mhz ddr2 memory (2x2 Gigs)
Brand new Palit Geforce 260 pci-ex graphics card
his old 160 gig hard drive.

The problem is in the title! The system just keeps rebooting on startup. Doesnt make it to windows XP loading screen just reboots before that, whilst it's on the mobo screen.
What I've done so far is tested his brand new graphics card in my machine, his hard drive, his memory and all worked fine in my computer. I tried my equivalents in his and it would still constantly reboot. After phoning overclock support they said to update bios. So I've done that and its gone from F8 to F10 and its still no different. I've also cleared CMOS with jumper and took battery out for 20 mins, still same problem of it rebooting.

I can only guess now that mobo must be faulty, anyone else any ideas before i send it back tomorrow?
 
Does sound like the mobo is faulty. Tried disconnecting the hard drives and opticals? and just letting the motherboard say theres no bootable media?

You say hes just got the system, but you are waiting for the XP logo so it must have worked at some point to install the OS. What have you changed since then? Sorry, might be the hang over stopping my brain from reading properly.
 
I think we've found the problem, if it was installed on an old computer it has all the drivers and registry set up for the previous hardware. It can work sometimes but more times than not you will need to reinstall the OS.

Seeing as you have 4GB of RAM I'd suggest you get a 64bit OS.
 
hmmm makes sense. But how does his hard drive then bootup fine on my computer without my own one also? Is it just pot luck? Do you think if i wipe his hd it could work? I've put so much time into it these last couple of days i dont know if i could cope with another false hope! lol
 
Id say its probably the problem. Put the OS disc in, go through the install and find out!

Its worth a shot, like I say, Im fairly sure that will be the problem. If it boots in to the pre installation environment off the CD then you know there's a good chance hardware is OK.
 
Are you sure the BIOS is set properly to boot from the CD?

If it does keep restarting Id say that the mobo is probably cream crackered.
 
yeah it is. If i press "end" or summit in startup it gives me boot menu. i try to boot cd from there too and it just restarts :(
 
Ok, Im out of ideas then. The only other thing Id suggest is take it all apart and rebuild it. Something might be shorting out/have a wonky connection.
 
Been there, done that lol. Thanks for your help man, much appreciated. Looks like it will just have to go back for the pro's to have a look at.
I feel bad coz it was me who persuaded him to buy a barebones system and do it up as its cheaper and you'll make a far superior machine for your money. But maybe i shoulda just let him buy one already built and tested!
 
Yeah, it happens though. No factory has a 100% reliability.

Someone may come by this thread with more knowledge or another idea.
 
i used both a usb and serial keyboard.
CPU temp is 20-30 degrees, so the bios says. My computer gets by on 50 so i know 20-30 is bloody good lol. Maybe power supply is faulty...its 700 watts ocz so its well enough power. Only 2 things I havent got spares of is motherboard and powersupply to test them. And i sure aint ripping my machine out for the sake of it! its still under warranty and even the 7 day returns distance selling thingy so am sure the overclockers people will find the fault. Just so inconveniant going to the bother of sending it back and waiting for word etc lol
 
Had a similar problem 3 times, each and everytime it ended up being the mobo. Guess i'm not so lucky when it comes to mobos.

Also all 3 of the Mobo's was Gigabyte mobos.

PC would turn on, fans would spin for a second then the system would reboot. This would happen in a complete loop. Only way to stop it was to switch off the PSU.
 
yeah i've taken out ram one by one, tested my own in it also and still no different.
Just received the computer last week and yes its always had the rebooting problem since the very first day i added the graphics, hard drive memory, connected it up etc to the already partly built bare bones system.
 
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