Help badly needed - system constantly trying to reboot

G@rethf

G@rethf

G@rethf

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Joined
20 Dec 2006
Posts
105
Location
West Sussex
Hi,

I could really do with some help with this problem as am rapidly running out of ideas.

I have a Compaq desktop PC (not the 1 in my sig) which was running perfectly a week ago which is now turning itself on and off constantly. It doesnt get as far as posting before it cuts out, then tries to restart and cuts out again and that cycle continues til I remove the power lead. I have scanned the machine for viruses, spyware/malware, updated the bios, updated drivers, but still have the problem. It literally powers up for a couple of seconds then cuts out!!

Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this??

Thanks,
G
 
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Thanks for the quick response.

Funnily enough that was my next port of call, gonna try another PSU in it tonight. Have never seen a machine do this before! The strange thing is that sometimes the PC does actually start and runs normally, then it goes back into its on/off mode!
 
Really do still need some help with this problem. I swapped out the PSU last night but the machine is still continuously powering up/down. I'm really not sure what is causing this, I was convinced it must be the PSU. Does anyone have any other suggestions???
 
The only hardware added was funnily enough a couple of 1gig sticks of ram but I kinda discounted that as they were installed about a month ago, & the machine has only been powering up/down for the last week, prior to that it was running fine.
 
Really could do with some more help with this problem as am really out of ideas now & need to find a solution. I've now swapped the ram around & no matter how many sticks are installed & which slots they are in the machine is still constantly powering up/down. I've also checked all connections on the mobo & problem remains. I've never seen a problem like this before.:mad:
 
Thanks for the replies.

Kralz - No, machine not overheating, I have started the machine uo after its been off over night and it still powers on/off constantly so it cant be heat related. Fans are working and Bios reporting CPU temp around 50 when the machine does actually run normally.

Idleman - Machine is a stock bog standard offf the shelf Compaq desktop, no oc, really basic Bios so no ram timing options

Any other suggestions???
 
Yeah, tell me about it, all the usual suspects basically! I've tried them all so far other than replacing the mobo which is obviously a last resort!

Gonna try booting it with ram & all drives completely removed & see if that kicks it back into life, but am starting to suspect its gonna be the mobo.
 
Bledd - Thanks for the reply but its not the machine in my sig that I've got a problem with, its a bog standard Compaq desktop ;)
 
Thanks for the replies guys. Still not got this sorted.

Idleman - The Bios is very basic, there are no ram settings/timings to check unfortunately.

bledd - No worries m8. Already updated to the latest bios & yeah it was a bit hairy but did get it done:p

shannowdr - Already put a replacement PSU in the machine & have same problem so it cant be that.
 
Bluntwrapped - Yeah did wonder about shorts, do you mean just tighten everything uo with a screwdriver or can I use 1 to detect a short somehow?? Electrics are not my strong point!!
 
Nice 1, thanks for the advuce guys, I'll try whipping the board out and booting it up as you suggested. Hadnt thought of that so cheers. Yeah its is a really weird one!

Curio - Yeah it is an old Nforce board. None of the capacitors look any different to normal to me, but then I'm no expert either:)

Will post back & let you know what happens.

Cheers again for all the help
 
After hours of messing about swapping power supplies, updating dricers/bios etc, swapping sticks of ram around, checking cables etc, the problem turned out to be a tiny bit of fluff stuck in the connector thats on the rear of the power button!!!:mad: Cant believe it! Its now working fine!

Cat_J - You're not wrong mate, ** **** it was, it'd be the last place on earth I would personally buy any PC from!

Thanks to everyone who posted suggestions.
 
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