Computer boots then turns off every 3 seconds

[Firetrak]

Hi Guys,

Occasionally my newly built PC out of used spare parts will not boot up correctly.

I have the following.

MSI Z77 G45 MOBO
Aztec Green 500W mobo
Nvidia 9800 GT (i know old right) soon to be replaced with a Asus R9 270X
16gb Corsair XMS 1600
1TB seagate Barracuda drive
Intel I5 2320 CPU Core temp is steady at 38-42c always.

So basically sometimes the PC gets into this boot loop. The Bios wont come up it'll just turn on then off, on then off until I turn if off at the PSU.

The Z77 has this phase leds that show the stability of the 12v current and it always looks good.

Usually to fix the issue I have to take out the memory reseat it and then the PC will boot correctly or sometimes unplug the hard drive sata cable and reset it. Or reset the cmos and then it'll boot.

So I believe the memory is fine as i have about 8 different sticks i've tried and it still at some point when turning it on does this boot loop until i unplug something.

So i'm wondering if its a bad PSU or a bad motherboard.

When the PC is on its on, it doesn't blue screen, everything works perfectly fine. It even will restart fine when doing windows updates etc..

But if i leave it off for an extended time, when I turn it back on say in the morning it does the boot loop.

Any idea guys?

 

[Virgorising]

Have you been monitoring yr temps beyond the CPU? If not, I suggest it. Esp yr GPU.

I would also download the free Whocrashed and run it immediately:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/whocrashed_free_home_edition.html

 

[Firetrak]

yeah gpu this morning was 40C so well within range and mobo sensor says 27C

Also whocrashed cant help as no drivers have even been run before it reboots, thanks though thats a useful program.

 

[Virgorising]

yeah gpu this morning was 40C so well within range and mobo sensor says 27C

Also whocrashed cant help as no drivers have even been run before it reboots, thanks though thats a useful program.

K....good GPU temps. Have you looked in yr event log? I could be wrong, but I kinda got the rebooting looping is not consistent. If so, why can't U run WhoCrashed when things are more normal? Or are they almost never?

Could even be some infection or software conflict tho it feels more like hardware. First felt like overheating/shorting out, but could also be the above.

I don't suppose you have another PSU to try, do you? If hardware, that would be my first guess.

 

[Firetrak]

Hi Virgorising, thanks so much for replying.

Theres no point using whocrashed, because it just looks in what drivers cause a crashed. The reboot happens before the bios even loads. So no software is affecting it.

I dont have another PSU, but in saying that. I think i'm going to go and buy a new one tonight, because the one i have...

.. you sitting down

... you ready

... is over 6 years old...

So going to buy a new one tonight.

plus

I just got an Asus R9 270X today, so installing that as well.

If it keeps on doing it then, it'll either be the memory or the mobo.

Hope its not the mobo though.

But as you said i'm going with the PSU, thats what I think is messed up as well.

 

[Virgorising]

I dont have another PSU, but in saying that. I think i'm going to go and buy a new one tonight, because the one i have... .. you sitting down ... you ready ... is over 6 years old...

Cept when I read this my eyelashes din even move. I did not blink. I think the PSU in my now backup desktop is older. But it all works back to the individual Unit and also how much mileage is on it. Same deal with spinner drives, actually.

I just got an Asus R9 270X today, so installing that as well.

Congrats! Not familiar with that GPU cause I am not a gamer or into graphics much, so my card is as basic as cards can get. But am sure it is mega powerful. What kinda power does it draw? The new card.

I would naturally first install the new card and boot and then just observe.

Tell me, when you addressed the ram, did you do the usual drill re removing all the sticks and reseating only one, etc.?

My take is it isn't the board, but I could be wrong. Did you eyeball it and look for any distorted caps?

Is yr heatsink free of tumbleweeds? Is the fan turning normally?

I would also ask re thermal paste, cept yr CPU temps are good.

Pls report back when you've installed the new GPU!
_____________________________________________________
Edit: Did U mean ANTEC PSU? K wait...I just checked, there is, in fact, a brand called Astec....cep, WAS, cause they do not make those anymore. Now starting to look more and more like the PSU.

 

[Smoove910]

couple questions...

What is your ram voltage (1.5 or 1.65v)?? Have you verified you have correct voltage going to the ram via the BIOS? Also, make sure the ram is seated by 'clicking' it im place.

Have you tried removing your videocard and running with onboard?

 

[Firetrak]

Cept when I read this my eyelashes din even move. I did not blink. I think the PSU in my now backup desktop is older. But it all works back to the individual Unit and also how much mileage is on it. Same deal with spinner drives, actually.



Congrats! Not familiar with that GPU cause I am not a gamer or into graphics much, so my card is as basic as cards can get. But am sure it is mega powerful. What kinda power does it draw? The new card.

I would naturally first install the new card and boot and then just observe.

Tell me, when you addressed the ram, did you do the usual drill re removing all the sticks and reseating only one, etc.?

My take is it isn't the board, but I could be wrong. Did you eyeball it and look for any distorted caps?

Is yr heatsink free of tumbleweeds? Is the fan turning normally?

I would also ask re thermal paste, cept yr CPU temps are good.

Pls report back when you've installed the new GPU!
_____________________________________________________
Edit: Did U mean ANTEC PSU? K wait...I just checked, there is, in fact, a brand called Astec....cep, WAS, cause they do not make those anymore. Now starting to look more and more like the PSU.

Sorry Antec i meant, The board visually looks perfect.

I did seat the memory in different slots and they seem to work fine, i did have a set of two cheap shit sticks i felt iffy with so i just threw them away, just in case.

I'll let you know once i have the new card in.

BTW the entire system is totally clean, no dusk or gunk anywhere all fans working fine.

couple questions...

What is your ram voltage (1.5 or 1.65v)?? Have you verified you have correct voltage going to the ram via the BIOS?

Have you tried removing your videocard and running with onboard?

Yeap, but honestly not long term, starting to think it could be a combo of the psu and the card, regardless i got a new card and getting a new psu tonight anyway.

Funny thing was i was trying to build this PC cheaply and instead its just ended up costing what i usually spend anyway.

Honestly i do not know the voltage of the ram and have no checked it, i will though tonight.

I hope its not the memory as its actually the most expensive part of the entire build.

 

[inachu]

Sounds like a family member kick the power plug out of the wall socket and he is running off battery power. I mean that would present the same issue.

 

[Firetrak]

Sounds like a family member kick the power plug out of the wall socket and he is running off battery power. I mean that would present the same issue.

Thats exactly what is was...

 

[Firetrak]

Sounds like a family member kick the power plug out of the wall socket and he is running off battery power. I mean that would present the same issue.

Just messing with you, that wasn't it.

I dont have a UPS but I should.

 

[ArisVer]

So basically sometimes the PC gets into this boot loop. The Bios wont come up it'll just turn on then off, on then off until I turn if off at the PSU.

Windows 8?

 

[denis280]

Nvidia 9800 GT (i know old right) soon to be replaced with a Asus R9 270X

thats probably it.the 9800 gt is very power hungry.

 

[Virgorising]

Just messing with you, that wasn't it.

I dont have a UPS but I should.

Now that......was HILARIOUS.:biggrin:

 

[Virgorising]

thats probably it.the 9800 gt is very power hungry.

U mean like the Koch Bros? :whiste:

But Denis, if it's the existing GPU overloading, why didn't the reboot looping start much earlier? My take is, the reboot looping is kinda new.

 

[Virgorising]

Funny thing was i was trying to build this PC cheaply and instead its just ended up costing what i usually spend anyway.

Ahah! Then Denis, hardly for the first time, could be right about the card. See, I MISSED this was a new build!!!!! Sped right by it.:|

So we are back to: install the new card and observe. Assuming it doesn't draw as much power as the old card, if the reboot looping stops, you will be good to go.:biggrin:

 

[Virgorising]

Where do people go????? Firetrak install the new GPU?????

 

[Firetrak]

Ok back guys.

So I got a new 600W PSU and the Asus R9 270X last night and no more relooping issues.

BUT.... two other weird issues.

When I initially reinstalled windows, (as it was a new build I just wiped the drive and redid the install) the PC BSOD as right after the "windows is setting up your desktop" message on a memory management issue, but never BSOD's again after that.

I had to reinstall windows twice and is happened again in the same place and once again never again.

Reason I had to reinstall windows twice was Win7 SP1 would just not install either, followed every possible fix, eventually got it to work, then another update locked up the PC.

Not sure if at this stage its the OS version which is Win7 ULT 64bit or the mobo.

 

[Virgorising]

Sorry, in a rush, double posted....

 

[Virgorising]

Ok back guys.

Good!

So I got a new 600W PSU and the Asus R9 270X last night and no more relooping issues.

Excellent. So, it was the obvious first guess: the older PSU. Wut brand is the new 600W one?

When I initially reinstalled windows, (as it was a new build I just wiped the drive and redid the install) the PC BSOD as right after the "windows is setting up your desktop" message on a memory management issue, but never BSOD's again after that. I had to reinstall windows twice and is happened again in the same place and once again never again. Reason I had to reinstall windows twice was Win7 SP1 would just not install either, followed every possible fix, eventually got it to work, then another update locked up the PC.

Now may be the time to run WhoCrashed.

Not sure if at this stage its the OS version which is Win7 ULT 64bit or the mobo.

Were I you, I would run SMART diagnostics, and if not positive, then, run in depth diagnostics on the Seagate. How old is it? I think we need to rule out the drive first.

 

[Virgorising]

Afterthought: is everything at stock settings in the bios? If you haven't please go there and check.

If everything is, then, as I mentioned, I would check the Barracuda and determine its health.

 

[Firetrak]

Good!



Excellent. So, it was the obvious first guess: the older PSU. Wut brand is the new 600W one?



Now may be the time to run WhoCrashed.



Were I you, I would run SMART diagnostics, and if not positive, then, run in depth diagnostics on the Seagate. How old is it? I think we need to rule out the drive first.

Its a thermaltake rr2 600w. has mixed reviews so we'll see.

The seagate drive is brand new.

I got SP1 to install at last, i'll run whocrashed at the end and see what caused it not to work.

And yeap everything is running at stock entirely until after all updates are applied.

 

[Virgorising]

G

Its a thermaltake rr2 600w. has mixed reviews so we'll see.

OK.....some reviews are worthy, others not so much. Think optimistically.

The seagate drive is brand new.

Good to know.

I got SP1 to install at last, i'll run whocrashed at the end and see what caused it not to work.

Good....and yes, do run WhoCrashed....dying to see the report.

And yeap everything is running at stock entirely until after all updates are applied.

Good....I would chill and keep troubleshooting before overlocking anything. Not that I personally evah do anyhow, jus sayin.
__________________________________________
Edit: Just did warpspeed perusal of reviews for yr new unit on Newegg. Boy, U right: mixed. Cept seems it is individual unit specific: most people luv it....cept if it bursts into flames. O M G. Since yours has not yet....invest in optimism.
__________________________________________

Addendum: Seriously, when did hardware become a crap shoot re individual units? Was I sleeping?

 

[Firetrak]

G

OK.....some reviews are worthy, others not so much. Think optimistically.



Good to know.



Good....and yes, do run WhoCrashed....dying to see the report.



Good....I would chill and keep troubleshooting before overlocking anything. Not that I personally evah do anyhow, jus sayin.
__________________________________________
Edit: Just did warpspeed perusal of reviews for yr new unit on Newegg. Boy, U right: mixed. Cept seems it is individual unit specific: most people luv it....cept if it bursts into flames. O M G. Since yours has not yet....invest in optimism.
__________________________________________

Addendum: Seriously, when did hardware become a crap shoot re individual units? Was I sleeping?

ah crap, so i ran whocrashed and wouldn't you know it, i deleted the dump file this morning.

So if it crashes again i'll run it to find out.

 

[Firetrak]

G

OK.....some reviews are worthy, others not so much. Think optimistically.



Good to know.



Good....and yes, do run WhoCrashed....dying to see the report.



Good....I would chill and keep troubleshooting before overlocking anything. Not that I personally evah do anyhow, jus sayin.
__________________________________________
Edit: Just did warpspeed perusal of reviews for yr new unit on Newegg. Boy, U right: mixed. Cept seems it is individual unit specific: most people luv it....cept if it bursts into flames. O M G. Since yours has not yet....invest in optimism.
__________________________________________

Addendum: Seriously, when did hardware become a crap shoot re individual units? Was I sleeping?

Honestly i've bought $40 PSU's that lasted 10 years, bought $120 PSU's that lasted maybe a year.

SO we'll see, only issue right now is that i'm keeping the PC on during the day so i can remote in. So if the PSU catches on fire there is nothing i can do about it.

Time to renew that rental insurance.