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My pc won't boot. Help needed please!

S

sram

[H]ard|Gawd
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Jul 30, 2007
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I was doing some work inside my case in an attempt to lower cpu temps. The main thing I did was remounting my TRUE with a new thermal compound (Shin-Etsu MicroSi G751) instead of the original AS5. When I finished, and was ready to push the power button, the machine couldn't fully start. It turns off right after all fans start spinning and it keeps doing this in an endless cycle. It seems to me that the cpu is overheating and the machine shuts down to prevent damage to it. Maybe but it can't get hot that fast, can it?

Sounds like I did a horrible job remounting! I did it many times, so why this time i'm Q@#$%# !?

I'll admit though I put more TIM than usual. I used the spread method. I spread it with my finger because it is thick. The layer is NOT transparent. Yes I can say that.

Is applying too much paste this bad????????

The cpu is overclocked so maybe if reset everything it will be able to start and let me see how temps are? Or should I just go and remount again?

If I remount, is it a must to remove all old paste and apply new one, or can I just try to remove some of it somehow and re-spread it and try to get a transparent layer?

All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I'll admit though I put more TIM than usual. I used the spread method. I spread it with my finger because it is thick.
Click to expand...

If doing the layer method it's best not to use your finger as it's dirty (oil, etc). Use a rigid piece of cardboard (business card) or plastic.

I'd suggest trying another method. One of the easiest methods is to apply a pea sized amount of TIM to the center of the CPU, and then install the heatsink on top. The pressure from the heatsink will spread the TIM out.

Is applying too much paste this bad????????
Click to expand...

Too much paste can definitely have detrimental effects on temperature, though not so bad as to cause the CPU to instantly overheat.

The cpu is overclocked so maybe if reset everything it will be able to start and let me see how temps are? Or should I just go and remount again?
Click to expand...

Definitely. Motherboard should have a CMOS reset jumper.

If I remount, is it a must to remove all old paste and apply new one, or can I just try to remove some of it somehow and re-spread it and try to get a transparent layer?
Click to expand...

Must remove all old paste. Use high percentage alcohol (Methylated Spirits, Isopropyl Alcohol (70% or higher)) or nail polish remover on a lint free cloth.
 
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As always. Double check everything on the motherboard. You may have bumped a stick of RAM, a power plug may have come out, etc.
 
I used my finger with a plastic bag just like you see in youtube videos.

I now remounted three times. It is not the mounting. It is something else. I cleared CMOS, still nothing.

When I disconnect the 12v cpu power connector and turn on the pc, the fans keep spinning. It doesn't turn back off.

What does that should tell me?

I tried to check some of the PSU trails and they were fine. What two pins should I short on the main mobo power connector so that I can fully test the PSU?

What could it be? Bad PSU ? Bad mobo? damaged cpu? unlikely .....It won't start at all if it is the cpu....right?

My TRUE gone bad? How can a piece of metal go bad?

I'm puzzled. This is my main machine. Please help me.
 
sram said:
What could it be? Bad PSU ? Bad mobo? damaged cpu? unlikely .....It won't start at all if it is the cpu....right?

My TRUE gone bad? How can a piece of metal go bad?
Click to expand...

With a CPU, Memory or Motherboard issue it's not uncommon for the PC to power up, shut down, then turn itself back on again. A bad PSU is looking unlikely. Plus, as a future note, it's not wise to power up a machine without the CPU power plugged in :p

First thing I do in these cases is start replacing parts. Memory is generally easiest so I go with that first. If new memory doesn't fix it, then replace motherboard, then CPU.
 
like the above guy suggested.. but you could also try minimizing everything in the system.. unplug any extra hdd's you dont need.. take out extra ram except 1 stick.. see what happens.. try swapping each stick see if it boots up.. also check and make sure you didnt have any excess thermal paste that could of gotten on the motherboard its self and shorting something out..
 
sirmonkey1985 said:
like the above guy suggested.. but you could also try minimizing everything in the system.. unplug any extra hdd's you dont need.. take out extra ram except 1 stick.. see what happens.. try swapping each stick see if it boots up.. also check and make sure you didnt have any excess thermal paste that could of gotten on the motherboard its self and shorting something out..
Click to expand...

Very good suggestions :)
 
sirmonkey1985 said:
like the above guy suggested.. but you could also try minimizing everything in the system.. unplug any extra hdd's you dont need.. take out extra ram except 1 stick.. see what happens.. try swapping each stick see if it boots up.. also check and make sure you didnt have any excess thermal paste that could of gotten on the motherboard its self and shorting something out..
Click to expand...

If it is the memory or the video card. Shouldn't it just beep?

All Hdd's are unplugged now.

What could happen if it is powered without the cpu power?

Thanks.
 
Thanks for the help guys ! I removed one of the ram sticks and it worked!

Does that mean it is an entirely bad stick? It was seated correctly.
 
Try that stick in all the other slots and check if its the ram or the slot that's not working. Occasionally the actual slots themselves die.
 
Both memory sticks are working. All memory slots are working! It is only when I install both sticks, the pc won't start.

What gives? I hate these kinda of probelms.
 
Got a spare set of memory lying around to try out? That way we can find out whether it's the motherboard complaining about having two sticks installed, or the memory itself.
 
Machine keeps changing its mind! It didn't boot one time with one of the sticks inside one slot.

There is definitely something wrong with the slots. I now got it to work with both sticks ! but not a dual channel configuration !

no spare memory.
 
Do you have a Memtest CD lying around? It will be handy to see more of what's going on.

If you don't, one can be made in a few minutes :)

Memtest download: http://www.memtest.org/download/4.10/memtest86+-4.10.iso.zip
Free isoburner download: http://www.freeisoburner.com/FreeISOBurner.exe

Download the Memtest .iso, then use Free ISO Burner to burn it to a blank CD. Then you simply boot up with this CD in and it will automatically launch Memtest. Memtest will one through a dozen or so tests on your memory checking for errors.

Test each stick. Let it run for a whole pass. If a stick is faulty Memtest will either report an error or your PC will simply reboot during the test.


The likely culprit right now is Motherboard and/or RAM. It's hard to determine one or the other unless you A) Have a spare set of RAM, or B) Have another PC to test the RAM in.
 
Indeterministic said:
Do you have a Memtest CD lying around? It will be handy to see more of what's going on.

If you don't, one can be made in a few minutes :)

Memtest download: http://www.memtest.org/download/4.10/memtest86+-4.10.iso.zip
Free isoburner download: http://www.freeisoburner.com/FreeISOBurner.exe

Download the Memtest .iso, then use Free ISO Burner to burn it to a blank CD. Then you simply boot up with this CD in and it will automatically launch Memtest. Memtest will one through a dozen or so tests on your memory checking for errors.

Test each stick. Let it run for a whole pass. If a stick is faulty Memtest will either report an error or your PC will simply reboot during the test.


The likely culprit right now is Motherboard and/or RAM. It's hard to determine one or the other unless you A) Have a spare set of RAM, or B) Have another PC to test the RAM in.
Click to expand...

Will do. I'll let it run overnight. But I don't think it is ram now. I have a feeling it is the mobo acting up.
 
I'll let it run overnight
Click to expand...

Hmm, it'd be better to keep an eye on it at this stage, as you don't know what may happen. A full pass should take under 30 mins.

I have a feeling it is the mobo acting up.
Click to expand...

It's possible the motherboard was on it's last legs/had a fault and that re-seating the CPU heatsink was the final keg to make the party.

As a personal rule, after a decade of building PCs, I try to minimize how much I mess with a PC (except for major upgrades, cleaning, fixing known problems) after it's been running for a year or so. :p
 
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Indeterministic said:
Hmm, it'd be better to keep an eye on it at this stage, as you don't know what may happen. A full pass should take under 30 mins.



It's possible the motherboard was on it's last legs/had a fault and that re-seating the CPU heatsink was the final keg to make the party.

As a personal rule, after a decade of building PCs, I try to minimize how much I mess with a PC (except for major upgrades, cleaning, fixing known problems) after it's been running for a year or so. :p
Click to expand...

Okay my friend....Will do it now and let you know what happens. I thank you very much.

(I didn't bother looking for my many old memtest cd's......burning a new one is faster) That's what they call laziness.^_^
 
Okay. Two passes and no errors so I should conclude that my sticks are fine ! right? Damn you gigabyte for selling me such mobo! I paid good 300 dollars for it.

I also restored my 3.555 GHz at 1.536 Vcore overclock. And load temps went down by a whopping 10 degrees. So remounting did its magic(I also replaced the original fan with an ultra kaze for my TRUE)! I knew I was an expert on it. If it wasn't for this funny problem. I would have been a much happier man by now.

I'm back to normal now except for the dual channel configuration. Thanks for all the help!
 
Your mobo is probably still under warranty, I'd RMA it asap.
 
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