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Computer suddenly shut down, now it won't start...

J

JaX_Ryko

n00b
Joined
Jun 13, 2004
Messages
13
I just finished building a computer and have had problems from the beginning. First, I got all the parts and everything into the computer without much trouble, but when I went to turn the comp on and load Windows, it would boot for about 15 seconds, and then the loud, 2-tone European Police siren would come on until I turned the computer off. I had had some trouble with the heatsink, so my first guess was that it was telling me the processor was overheating, which it was. I messed with that and finally got it set right and eventually no alarm went off when I turned the comp back on.

After that, I first went into BIOS and configured a few things, but didn't touch much because i'm not overclocking and I didn't really know what most of it meant. So then I put in a Windows XP disc and restarted the computer. It boots to the Windows setup and gets to the screen that says "Press Enter to install Windows" or something like that. Well it changed to the next screen, but before I had time to read anything, the computer just shuts off out of nowhere. When I try to turn it back on nothing happens. The power supply seems to be working because the green light on the motherboard is still on whenever the computers off.

If anyone has any idea what could be the problem, please tell me. I just happened to look at me temps in BIOS before installing Windows, and the comp temperature was 28C and the CPU temp was 61C. I know the comp temp isn't too high, but is that too high for the CPU?

Here is what I have:
ABIT IC-7 MAX3 Advance Motherboard
Pentium 4 3.2 GHz
Kingston 1 Gig (2x512) PC3200
Radeon 9800 Pro
Onboard sound
POWMAX 450W PSU (I know the POWMAX's suck, but I am planning on getting a new one after I get the comp up and running)

Any help will be very appreciated...
 
Think i can help you here. Make absolutely sure that your shiny new radeon card is plugged into its auxilary power plug, and that the plug is actually giving it power, hopefully that will solve your prob. Oh, also make sure your memory is all seated. If that doesn't help it may indeed be your cpu, but normally on reboot it will say something like "cpu overheat" or something like that, after giving you a beep error code. Btw, caution range for a pentium 4 is about 65c, and then the cpu should just slow down, not shut off.
 
No i'm pretty sure it's not the graphics card. I did check it like you said and everything was plugged in fine. When the comp would originally turn on, the fan on the graphics card would start spinning, so it's getting power too. As of right now i'm thinking the motherboard shorted out or maybe it's the PSU, but besides that i'm not sure.
 
So when you press power absolutely nothing happens now? Or does the psu come on? If the psu comes on I would think its the motherboard.
 
When I press the power button, nothing at all happens. No fans twitch, nothing happens. I'm not sure what you mean when you say does the psu come on. The green light on the mobo is always on when the psu is on and plugged in, but besides that nothing whatsoever happens when I press the power button.
 
First test the PSU. Connect a fan or another kind of load, short the green wire to a black one, then use a multimeter to test the voltages. Use another PSU with the system just to be certain. If still nothing happens, even though the PSU is fine, then the mainboard is the culprit.

BTW, wasn't there an issue with ABIT mainboards disliking PSUs with lots of noise on the rails? It would make sense if the mainboard refuses to play nice with this PSU because the latter can't produce clean enough power.
 
Sometimes when you mess around you need to reset the CMOS. I think I've had PC's play dead, but then revive when I did that!
 
so does it turn on at all? if it doesn't turn on at all... check the power plug that goes from your case power button to the motherboard. if it does turn on... try resetting CMOS and re-seating your power connections.
 
Make sure the motherboard is not shorting against the metal case. If you can, use paper washers when you screw the mobo into the case. Then make sure your power supply is powerful enough. If it is, then see if you can test with a different supply.
 
As of right now I don't have another psu to test with my computer, but i'm going to try and get one later today. I should just go ahead and order one from newegg, but it won't be here in time for me to do anything with it because i'm leaving on Sunday. Does this for sure sound like the power supply is the problem? Like I said it was working fine for awhile and then last night just suddenly turned off and now won't come back on.
 
JaX_Ryko said:
I'm not sure what you mean when you say does the psu come on. The green light on the mobo is always on when the psu is on and plugged in, but besides that nothing whatsoever happens when I press the power button.
Click to expand...

Your PSU seems to be working (how well I don't know - see Elledan's post). When you press the power button on your Tower do your case fans or fans on the motherboard (if you have any) spin? If not, check that the jumpers are properly in place - specifically the one that connects the power button to the motherboard. Also try resetting the CMOS as Rustynuts suggested; this has worked for me in the past too.
 
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