Troubleshooting starter
- Overview of the problem
(brief "Cliff Notes" description of the problem)
Press power button, mobo splash screen shows up, freezes, eventually a few horizontal lines appear near the top of the screen. Happens frequently but not 100% of the time.
- Full description of the problem and symptoms
(give the "big picture." Describe the problem and its symptoms in detail.
This is a computer which I built in January 2007 and worked wonderfully until about 3 weeks ago (early October 2008). I sold it to my aunt, who can only perform basic functions on a computer (surf a few websites, type in Word, can barely check her e-mail), at the end of August 2008.
First the computer just took longer to start up. It got worse and worse and finally it started occasionally freezing on the motherboard's splash screen. If you let it sit frozen long enough (a couple minutes about) a few horizontal lines appear near the top of the screen. This has become more and more frequent during the past 2 weeks. The computer will boot up normally every dozen tries or so and, from what I'm told, works perfectly when it does.
- Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
It worked wonderfully from January 2007 to August 2008. I wiped the hard drive before I sold it and it was in perfect working condition when I left it in late August. This problem started in the beginning of October, after being owned by my aunt for just over a month.
- Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
According to my aunt, the % of times when it fails to start up properly has been growing over the past couple weeks. I looked at the computer yesterday and it froze just like she had described the first time I turned it on. I looked around inside and didn't see anything unusual. It proceeded to boot up properly the next five times, so I left. Today she said it took her a dozen tries for it to start up properly.
- I already tried these steps:
(list any troubleshooting steps you've already tried, along with any results you got. Be as specific as you can.)
First I unplugged everything but the power cord and turned it on with the side of the case off to look/listen inside while it was running. I did not see or hear anything unusual.
I shut it down and turned it back on with the monitor plugged in. It booted up perfectly.
I shut it down and turned it back on with the monitor and the USB dongle for her wireless keyboard/mouse plugged in. It booted up perfectly.
I shut it down and plugged in everything else (ethernet cable, usb cable to printer, usb cable to usb hub on the monitor). It booted up perfectly.
I told her I don't know what was causing the problem, but since it worked for all but my first attempt I left.
- My software:
- Windows XP Pro SP3
- Antivirus - Nod32
- Firewall - windows firewall
- My hardware
- System brand & model, if it?s a pre-built system such as a Dell, HP, Gateway, etc. If it?s not, fill in as much of the information below as you can.
- Motherboard - Asus P5B Deluxe Wifi-AP
- CPU - Intel E6600, not overclocked
- Video card - Nvidia geforce 8800 gts 640 mb
- RAM - Corsair XMS2 2X1GB, pretty sure it's the 6400C4, 2.1v
- Power supply - OCZ gamexstream 700w
- Case - Antec p180b
- Hard drive - Western Digital raptor 150gb
- System brand & model, if it?s a pre-built system such as a Dell, HP, Gateway, etc. If it?s not, fill in as much of the information below as you can.
- Other information that might be relevant
(any other information that might be related to the problem)
I forgot to plug the speakers back in when I was doing my test boots. They're just simple stereo speakers and I doubt they have any effect on anything, but every time the computer booted they were not plugged in. I am not sure if my aunt plugged them back in or not.
I'm going to tell my aunt to try booting without the USB devices plugged in and see what happens.