Strange problem with my PC - help please

[Jasseh]

I upgraded motherboard and processor last week then installed Windows 8.1 onto it. I tried out overclocking but it seemed to be causing the computer to freeze so I reset everything to stock.

The freezing problems continued at stock speeds so I researched a bit more and found that the cause may be an incompatibility issue between Windows 8.1 and Start8. I decided to switch back to a fresh Windows 8 install as I don't want Windows 8.1 without Start8 working.

I cleared the bios settings and loaded defaults before attempting to install Windows 8 on my SSD (with HDDs disconnected from the board) but after formatting the SSD my PC powered off and refused to power back on, no lights on the motherboard were lit up.

After disconnecting everything from the motherboard for 10 minutes I finally got some power back into the board but it wouldn't even attempt to post. I then disconnected all but RAM, CPU, monitor and keyboard which allowed me to get into the bios but here is where the strange problem I have never seen before started showing up:

When I power off the PC (from bios, no OS installed) all the fans and lights in my case stay powered on. I have to switch the power supply off at the back to turn them off. After turning the PSU back on if I press the power button once it will turn on the fans and lights, it requires a second press to turn everything else on now (never happened before). I have not attempted to install my OS again as I'm not sure what is causing the current problem.

Any suggestions for a fix? Have I got a hardware fault that will need me to RMA something (if so, any ideas which part(s)?)?

Things I have tried:

• Disconnect all cables for 10 minutes then reconnect
• Power on with only required items connected: RAM/CPU/monitor/keyboard
• Clear CMOS, first with the clear cmos button, then by removing battery
• Re-flashing the same bios onto the board (X02)
• Bios switch on board to boot with version F4

I do not have any spare parts to swap anything out for testing purposes. My previous board and cpu were MSI H77MA-G43 with i3-2120.

Edit: Just checked and the optical drive is still powered on too.

 

[wazza300]

Try clearing the cmos?

Running win 8.1 and start8 just fine here so can't see it being that

Maybe reflashing the BIOS might help to reset it fully

 

[Jasseh]

Try clearing the cmos?

Running win 8.1 and start8 just fine here so can't see it being that

Maybe reflashing the BIOS might help to reset it fully

I've tried clearing the cmos multiple times but will try again.

Also already tried re-flashing the bios, will try a different version.

A thread on Stardock forums had people complaining about that combination causing this problem and removing Start8 also got rid of the problem for them. I decided to just switch back to Windows 8 instead.

I switched to this board/cpu last Wednesday, installed Windows 8 then on Friday upgraded to 8.1 and OC'd my CPU and RAM, had the freezing problems since 8.1/OC (switched back to stock speeds on Saturday).

 

[Jasseh]

Tried clearing cmos again, no change.

Tried flashing bios to F6, no change.

Here is a photo of the problem:

 

[wazza300]

Does it turn off completely using the motherboard onboard power button?

 

[Jasseh]

Does it turn off completely using the motherboard onboard power button?

Nope, same problem with the on-board button.

I've been searching for possible causes of the problem and found something about cmos reset with PSU still powered on causing some problems (although no specifics were listed). I'm fairly certain I switched the PSU off each time I reset it but maybe I didn't allow enough time for the board to power down? I really hope this can be fixed .

 

[Jasseh]

Getting my old board and cpu back temporarily to check if it is a problem with the PSU. If it works fine with the old board does that mean it is RMA time for the new motherboard?