How do find the faulty component - machine cannot start up?

vergnaud

vergnaud

vergnaud

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Joined
14 Jun 2009
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5
Out of desperation I have decided to post in every single section of this forum, with a bit of luck either someone will have some information OR overclockers will bother replying to my messages or phone calls.

I bought the system (all built by Overclockers) in July last year. The system has been working perfectly until few weeks ago when suddenly, for no reason (no software upgrade, no hardware upgrade, no moving of the box) the system purely and simply hanged and never came back.

So actually what is happening:
1) turn ON
2) electricity seems to reach all components, the 3 fans starts, the POST indication 0.1, then 8.3 and get stuck at 9.9

then

3) less than 5 secondes after that everything shut down (all fans stops) and the machine tries to start again (POST restart at 8.3 etc.)
4) The system will continue looping for ever unless I turn OFF the complete power.
*** nothing ever appear on screen as there is not sufficient time for the power to start any components ***

-----
What did I do to check/test?

1) remove the memory one by one and do the test again, try them all independently (in case one was faulty), but none of that changes anything. Actually even without any RAM, the system does the same thing!

2) checked every single connection of every component. No change

3) unplug some of the components to test (hard disk first, no change, graphic card, no change etc.)

4) CMOS reset (change the jumpers back and forth). That's where it is more interesting:
if in position 2-3: then same problem
if in position 1-2: as expected message CC (CMOS clear) so need to change the jumpers back to try starting
if no jumper at all: then all fans etc. starts but nothing is displayed on screen and nothing much more than fans running seems to happen

...
I have tried to raise RMA (never any response)
I have tried to call the various numbers and manage to talk to one non technical asking me to call the technical! and get a RMA before sending back anything...

I really don't know what to do, I cannot confirm which component is faulty but there is certainly one.

PLEASE HELP!!!!

Even if I need to pay to get that fixed by Overclockers I am ok, as long as that WORKS again!

Please transmit to their team if you have better luck than me.
Regards
Raphael
 
Spamming the boards is just gonna get you in trouble, A single post in General hardware would have sufficed. Also there's a customer service section to the site too
 
Agreed. This should bring it to there attention. If they carry on not sorting it and its in warranty then only option is to contact trading standards.
 
iamTakeo said:
I'm not even going to give the slightest attention to your problem, don't spam =/
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That's a bit uncharitable :(

All advice here is given on the understanding that I am not intimately familiar with the warranty caveats of OcUK prebuilt systems - so don't do it unless you know it won't affect the warranty...!

Have you tried removing everything bar CPU, VGA and RAM and seeing if it gets further [that includes fans - personally I'd unplug the CPU fan too in case it's broked, the ten seconds it will take to post woulnd't cause a problem...]?

Also, I'm not sure how this would affect the warranty as it sounds like a prebuilt system, but what about taking the mobo out of the chassis and starting it on a [dry, non-conductive for goodness sake!] surface like a kitchen work top, outside of the chassis, to rule out a short circuit on the back of the mobo in the chassis. It would also let you see if something metallic has got behind the mobo.

With just the mobo, CPU, RAM, VGA [if required] and PSU hooked up
on a non-metallic surface, it will boot unless one of those components is knackered - at least then you have narrowed it down to four or five components. Then you start swapping them around with known good components.

If it does work, then put it back in the case, try it again - if it doesn't work, then that would be odd, but it could be something shorting, be it the standoffs for the mobo, or possibly something EMF related. Do you mount yoru PC on a monster superconducting magnet :cool: ;)

If it does work with that bare config in the chassis, add one thing at a time till it won't boot again. You've found the problem.

Either way, I'd suggest someone techy at OcUK give Raph a call - even if it's just out of courtesy/recognition and treat him nice, and ideally arrange to do the above for him - assuming that he hasn't exaggerated the timings/contact attempts, obviously ;) I'm sure that the OcUK lot are aware of that of course...

Just my 2penneth...
 
What memory are you using, and is the dram voltage set up in the bios to correspond to the manufacturers recommended figure? Sometimes the bios defaults to a lower juice than the memory requires.(especially after a CMOS reset).
 
bazacop said:
the guy probley thought this was his last option tho, got to feel sorry for him or her
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Concurrance - I've spent years in customer service, this is the online equivelant of walking into a shop and screaming for the manager in the middle of the shop floor, and IME it takes a lot for someone to do that, as opposed to just grumbling/moaning at the desk staff/grunts on the shop floor.

Hence my friendly suggestion that OcUK should use kid gloves - no point winding Raph up further, it doesn't help Raphs blood pressure, or OcUKs reputation as a retailer*.

So glad I don't work in customer service any more, especially when I'm a fairly empthic/sympathetic person - I don't like upset customers, it feels like a bad reflection on me personally if I can't sort them out there and then :(

[*which with me is fine, but I know a few people who talk about 'horror stories' that they heard about OcUK from a friend of a friends second uncle twice removed who they've never actually met but.., etc :rolleyes:]

Quick note Maloney, but it sounds like it's not completing a POST, so would it even be possible to get into the BIOS?
 
he menioned he treid without the RAM it should beep if the mobo is alive and kicking, my ramapge screams through the specker if you do something like that.
 
StevenRaith said:
Quick note Maloney, but it sounds like it's not completing a POST, so would it even be possible to get into the BIOS?
Click to expand...

Yes just re-read the OP, not even getting to post :) PSU wise he's pulled most peripherals and still no joy, don't know if you could try the psu in another computer.
 
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Hi Gents, I realized that could have been perceived as spam but well, when you have exhausted all option what do you do?

Even if the box is under warranty I have been told not to send the machine without RMA that I could not get...

And for those who read in details, I did try all possible combination, I even lastly replaced the CMOS battery but same symptoms. I read the manual from A to Z, got the POST stopped on every values!

If I reset CMOS, I manage to boot and get the system to run normally. If I stop the machine, I am back to the same situation, double beep at boot, nothing displayed on screen or worth loop trying to boot

Anyway, thanks for the understanding one in the thread; I got Don on an other forum that propose to help in the end and allow me to send the box back...
Hopefully I can get it send back asap

note 1: I will not comment back on the useless comments, as indeed, this is further irrating

note 2: for the first time I manage to get support getting back to me so I guess that worked, I got the attention I was looking for

note 3: I don't believe I abused anyone in language or question and 5 posts does not sound like spam to especially since I don't the cause of the problem and need to pick a forum so if you guys have sent 6,000 post to complains about other, you may want to look at who's spamming or who's actually contributing in a useful way to the forum.

Cheers
 
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