Computer help

Had something similar.

When I started my computer it would fire up then shut itself down (not reboot as you describe)

It was the power supply. Just a thought

Regards

Macca

That was really my last resort, I have another power supply in an old PC, but not sure if it has Sata connections, will have to check.

Somehow I don't think thats the issue tho...

If you recently installed a high end graphics card John, the PSU really could be the culprit. It might not be 'bad', but simply inadequate for the demands being made on it. Other possibilities sound like they've been covered.

Thx Doc.

The four most likely issues, in order of severity:

1) Short in the reset button or cable.  Easiest to test, just unplug the reset button from the motherboard.

2) PSU.  If you have a spare one lying around ('cause everyone does, not just me, right?), swap it out, see if that helps.

3) CPU.  Most likely due to overheating.  Could be a cooling issue, or the CPU isn't working properly, and is freaking out.  Check that the heatsink and fan are seated properly, maybe apply some thermal paste.

4) Motherboard.  Trickier to confirm.  Basically, rule everything else out, and if it can't be anything else, it's probably the motherboard.

John... if you have a relationship with a local PC repair shop, maybe they'll let you test these possibilities through them... like a new PSU?

lol... I am the local PC repair shop... or so it seems...

Thanks guys, Ill try those suggestions Rosco, sounds like solid advice.

John,

Look at the capacitors on the motherboard and see if any of them are bulging and/or leaking.

Found these pics that may help you identify.

That'll do it.

Good call.  You might also be able to look at the capacitors in the power supply.  It's a little harder to see them, but it might also point to the issue.

Nice one, Phoon.

yeah but after looking at the pics of that mobo I don't believe it has that type of capacitors.

Here's something that may help. Hirens BootCD has just about everything you need to run diagnostic tests on everything. I've used it for viruses and malware. You can probably take advantage of all the other stuff it offers much better than I can.

INFO

DOWNLOAD

Excellent resource, Noah.

it could be a rootkit you know they like to install them-self's before the boot up screen and logon screen

That is exactly what I did. Cost me $60.00 AUD to have a new one fitted.

Cheers

Macca

Well, tested another PSU, doing same thing...

Cant even get the bios to come up now, just keeps cycling thru logo screen, I hit delete to go into Bios, it goes black, then restarts back to logo screen.

You're sure the HDD is ok?

Send out a help call to yrag.

Thought yrag may ave answered...

could it be the battery?

Unplug the machine, press and hold the power button for 15-20 seconds, remove the CMOS battery and wait 20 minutes. Reinstall the battery and restart the machine and try getting into BIOS again. ( That should reset the BIOS, you will need to set the system clock)

After completely removing the motherboard, removing ram, removing CPU and cooling fan\sinks, cleaning, vaccuming everything, tightening all screws, connections... also removing\replacing battery, and replacing PSU..

Its booted....

Now, will it stay booted...

The great wait begins..

30 mins and counting..

*Fingers crossed here*

The worsening intermittent reboot is usually caused by fluff or dust in the system somewhere and completely cleaning everything - including the back of the motherboard - usually fixes it.

I have a friend who keeps one of her pc's in a very dusty place despite my protestations. Every six months when it starts to reboot by itself she gives it to me to "defluff."

A couple of weeks after the last time though, the bearing in the graphics card fan had finally had enough (dust) and consequently the gpu fried. When she brought it here I told her that she should just take it to the local shop, buy something cheap and cheerful in a graphics card and have them install it while she was there. But a day later she rang to tell me that the tech had informed her that the computer was "dead" and had sold her a new pc which she was picking up that afternoon. I asked her if I could have the old one and she said sure.

Put a new graphics card in it and now I have an extra pc.

Her hubby hit the roof.

If there was a lot of gunk in there John, heat might have been the problem.

Starting to look like it may have been CMOS battery.... and I say that, as it has gotten progressively worse over past couple of days, as if battery was on last legs... Possibly also the PSU, as i did replace it, but before i reset \ replaced battery, nothing changed.

Perhaps combination of bad PSU and confused bios...

Possible?

could also have been dust related.

1 Hour and counting.