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Boot problem

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M

mavromatis

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Feb 24, 2008
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I am unable to boot my pc, I must try many times sometimes wait for some hours and try again to get it started. Generally after it starts it restarts at Vista startup but sometimes it works for hours without problem then restart.
Specs:
Asus M2A-VM
VData 1GB 800Mhz x 4
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Ati Radeon HD3850
Nec DVD writer
Seagate 320GB
Samsung 120GB USB
OCZ 500W
Any idea why this is happening?
 
Turn off automatic reboot on BSOD to see if you are hitting one of those (and then we might be able to debug the code too). Also have you tried a different OS before to see if it is s/w or h/w?
Jason
 
I don't get a BSOD, it just freeze. And I tried Xp x64 and Xp x86 too but using Vista x64 to get sound and ram working. The main problem is that the pc won't start at most of times, no POST, no video, hard disk activity, only the fans working. And when it starts, if it starts, it generally hang in less than a minute, sometimes at POST. So I think the problem is hardware based but with the restarts of Vista at the boot I think that it also have a minor software problem too.
 
Run memtest to check the ram. Get it from http://www.memtest86.com/ . Click on free download on the left hand menu. Download it, burn it to disk and let it run for at least 8 hours. If it comes up with any errors that is at least part of the problem. And if it does find errors, and you have more then 1 stick of ram in your pc, then re-run the test with only 1 stick of ram installed at a time. Post the results.


Easy
 
i dont know why but my friend had this same problem the other day and simply switching the ram slots fixed this nvm just read ur using all four slots
 
could just be the mobo, try a differient one the non post at times means its core hardware problem cpu/mobo/ram/video do you have a pc speaker hooked up to the mobo (or does it have an onboard?) and when it does not post does it beep or anything?

it should if the mainboard is operating correctly. or have some sort of LED display on the board itself to read
 
I tested with memtest each module one by one, then the whole and saw no problems.
Switched the modules tried 1, 2 and 3 modules at a time.
If I hear the beep the pc starts but can freeze soon, like in post or bios; and if there is no beep simply nothing happens. But the green led is always green, it stays green for at least 10 secs even after I unplug the system.
 
I would realy try a new mainboard or CPU, if i had to bet i would put my money on the mainboard though. sometimes you just get a messed up board out of the box.
 
Has this pc ever run properly, or is this a new build with problems? Are you overclocking at all? Was the heatsink properly installed using good thermal paste? Have you installed the latest bios and Motherboard drivers? The latest video drivers? Are all the components seated properly on the motherboard? Was the mobo new, or used, or possible an open box?
Sorry about all the questions but the more info we have the more we can help.

And just to clarify. You can do a fresh install of any version of windows and the problems begin right after that??? Or do they began after you start installing drivers and other software?

It may well turn out the mobo is the problem like frito suggested, but then again, maybe not!

Help us out with as much info as possible.


Easy
 
Easy Duzit said:
Has this pc ever run properly, or is this a new build with problems? Are you overclocking at all? Was the heatsink properly installed using good thermal paste? Have you installed the latest bios and Motherboard drivers? The latest video drivers? Are all the components seated properly on the motherboard? Was the mobo new, or used, or possible an open box?
Sorry about all the questions but the more info we have the more we can help.

And just to clarify. You can do a fresh install of any version of windows and the problems begin right after that??? Or do they began after you start installing drivers and other software?

It may well turn out the mobo is the problem like frito suggested, but then again, maybe not!

Help us out with as much info as possible.


Easy
Click to expand...
New Build. No. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. New. Problem is there with every windows (Xp and Vista) and many linux distros (Ubuntu, Fedora, ...).
 
Have you yanked everything out of the case and stripped it down to bare minimals? It sounds like I would be looking to RMA something. Do you have another CPU to rule that out (very rare)?
Jason
 
I tried another cpu too Athlon 64 X2 5600+. I also tested it with nothing except one ram module and cpu using onboard vga.
 
Well assuming everything has been correctly set up in bios, I guess it's time to return the mobo :(

Easy
 
By the way after when the computer starts bios says that there has been a boot problem and ask me if I want to change anything in bios. And I just noticed that there is a high pitch noise when I "scan for artifacts" on atitool.
I think I have some more info on this problem, I just installed speed fan and it says that cpu is moving 49-58 celcius and the mobo 38-45 celcius. I rechecked the thermal paste and the fan and they seem ok. Can this be a mismeasurement or I'm having overheating problems. I tried to check manually but didn't felt too much heat.
 
Bumping because of new information additions. I hope this isn't against rules, I'm bumping this since I saw no rule about bumping. Please warn me if there is such a rule.
This is a screen shot of hmonitor.

hmonitorkn6.jpg
 
Although that's a little high for a cpu at idle, it's still well within specs. It's definitely a hardware problem though, and since its unlikely that a few different cpu's are all bad, and since you checked the ram, and also tried a minimum boot configuration, all with the same results, that really leaves the mobo or the psu. Since the psu is new, one would have to figure its the mobo. It would have been nice to see the rest of the voltages in that picture though, because even though you have a new PSU, it could actually be bad right out of the box. It could also be a Hdd with some bad sectors. Might not cause any problems until you do something that needs to access that area of the disk. Something like SpinRite to check the drive would give you a definitive answer. Assuming that its not any of the above, well.... all thats left is the mobo.

One other thought. Something so simple we all take it for granted and rarely ever think of. Have you tried different cables? That would be the last thing I tried before swapping out the board.

Easy
 
Yup, the Hdd cables. I think it's time to return the board. :(
Let us know if a differnt board solved the problem.

Easy

EDIT*
Just an after thought. Here's a decent trouble shooting guide for building a pc.

1 Nothing but the power supply, CPU,installed on the motherboard, plug your power cord in and turn power on.
2 You should hear a series of long beeps & all your fans should be turning.
3 The board is looking for memory.
4 That tells you your 'board, CPU & power supply are working.
5 Unplug power cord and press power button on PC once to discharge capacitors. (very important since an ATX power supply always has power to it when the cord is pluged in).
6 Install 1 stick of RAM in the first bank, it should be marked either 0 or 1
7 Plug your power cord in and turn your power on.
8 You should get 1 long and 3 short beeps. It will be looking for the video card.
9 That tells you your PS/'board/CPU/RAM are working.
10 Unplug power cord.
11 Install your video card and plug your monitor into your video card.
12 Plug your power cord in turn your power on.
13 You should get a power up test which is 1 short beep.
14 You should see your CPU/RAM/video reconized on the screen.
15 You will get a disk boot failure because you have no drives installed. In this case every thing you have installed is working.
16 Shut machine down and unplug power cord.
17 Install all your drives, set your BIOS up and install your operating system.
 
I tested as you said but the problem seems to be random.
I also get this on startup if the computer starts up :
"Warning! - Your system maybe Overclock fail or post interrupted.Please enter setup to load default and reboot again."
Another new information, it seems that north and south bridges are overheating, they are too hot to touch but not according to sensors.
 
Bumping for new information:
I'm getting random BSOD's about tcpip.sys, ksecdd and ntfs.sys.
 
The problem is solved by changing ram.
Seems that I can lock it myself.
 
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