Help diagnosing problem please

ant2k50 · 6 Dec 2010 at 23:58

Last Thursday when I switched my pc on in the morning, it got to the loading windows screen before just powering off completely. I tried switching it on several times and kept getting the same problem. I initially thought it might be a problem with my hard drive - I have an old Western Digital Raptor 76gb that's about 6 years old. I bought a new hard drive (Samsung eco-green) and installed windows, but I kept getting the same problem - the pc would just power off as windows was loading. It shut down several times as I was loading windows onto the new hard drive. I then thought it was a problem with my psu, so I got a new Corsair TX650 but the problem has got worse - the pc now powers off just after the ASUS BIOS screen appears. Has anyone got any idea what the problem with my pc is? I'd greatly appreciate any help.
System: Asus P5Q Pro motherboard, Q6600 @3.2, GeForce 9800GT, 4GB Cosair Dominator PC8500, Samsung ecogreen hd, Corsair TX650

benj3 · 7 Dec 2010 at 00:04

hmm, check your cpu it maybe overheating, reapply some thermal paste and try again if you can, can you get in to the bios to check what temperature your cpu is running at?

ant2k50 · 7 Dec 2010 at 00:10

It won't let me into the Bios anymore - it gets to the stage where I press delete to enter Bios, then is says "Marvell Adapter - Bios version ...." Initializing
and then it just powers down. Maybe it is a problem with cpu overheating, I've got an artic cooler 7. The pc hasn't been moved or anything recently to cause it to be unseated but I'll check it now.

RJC · 7 Dec 2010 at 07:29

Might be worth trying CMOS reset just in case the BIOS has thrown a wobbler.
Also remove one memory module and then try the other just in case one of these is faulty.

ant2k50 · 7 Dec 2010 at 11:46

This morning I took off the heatsink, cleaned it and applied some new thermal paste. The problem has now changed slightly. The pc is now not powering down and instead starts to boot up, gets to the Asus Bios page, then gets stuck at a screen saying
Marvell 88SE61xx Adapter - BIOS version 1.1.0.L70d
Initializing._
It won't go past this screen to let me into the Bios when I press delete either. Should I go for a CMOS reset? Could someone please tell me exactly what I need to do?

ant2k50 · 7 Dec 2010 at 11:50

Ignore this post.

Liampope · 7 Dec 2010 at 12:37

There should be a clear CMOS jumper on the mobo that you have to move for 10 seconds or so then move back. And/or remove the BIOS battery for a little while and reinsert. That should do the trick.

ant2k50 · 7 Dec 2010 at 12:50

Thanks - I've resetted the CMOS, I tried just moving the jumper as it states in the manual but that made no difference, so I removed the battery as well. After putting it back together (jumper in correct place etc), it's still the same. I cannot get past the screen that reads:
Marvell 88SE61xx Adapter - BIOS version 1.1.0.L70d
Initializing._
Anyone know what else I can try?

Liampope · 7 Dec 2010 at 13:24

Hmmm sounds like you have a problem with this Marvell controller (or a device on it). If I'm correct (could well not be) this provides IDE and an additional SATA port on your mobo. If you've got anything plugged into these ports (optical drive in IDE for example) could you try taking them out and seeing what happens? This could be the problem. If nothing like that works the problem could be the controller on the mobo itself. You should be able to go into BIOS and disable it - but sounds like you cant - hmmmm. A quick google showed someone saying they were stuck at this screen not forever, but for 2-3 minutes then it booted fine. See if that works, then you maybe able to get into BIOS/windows and try sorting from there (updating BIOS/disabling this marvell thingy etc etc). Hope that helps.

benj3 · 7 Dec 2010 at 13:43

may sound silly but unplug any storage devices u may have plugged in and check if you have a cd in the drive.

if liampopes post doesnt help try removing each stick of ram one at a time to see if the rams a problem.

ant2k50 · 7 Dec 2010 at 14:27

After trying everyone's suggestions I seem to have solved the problems. I think the initial problem was caused by my old hard drive. The system got stuck on the
Marvell 88SE61xx Adapter - BIOS version 1.1.0.L70d
Initializing._
page because I'd forgotten to connect the DVD drive to the power supply - it got stuck because the DVD drive is in the boot list for installing windows etc. I'm glad it appears to be sorted, though I've bought a new psu for no reason and I've lost my overclock, but hopefully I'll be able to use my old settings I've got written down somewhere. Thanks to everyone who contributed and hopefully I'll be okay from now on.