Computer shuts down immediately after booting

[liamtoh1]

My system:

CPU: AMD Opteron Denmark 165 1.8GHz
MB: MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum nForce4 Ultra Athlon 64 Skt939
RAM: OCZ Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR PC-3200 Dual Channel
OCZ Platinum Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR PC-3200 Dual Channel
GPU: ATI All -In-Wonder X600Pro PCIE
PS: Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply
OS: XP Pro SP3


Symptom:
1. I power on the machine
2. It posts OK (always)
3a. 60-70% of the time it boots to the sign-on menu (user log-on screen).
3b. I try to log-on to any of the user ids'.
3c. Before it shows the sign-on menu
4. It shuts down (from any step 3). The only way to start it again is to remove the power cable for 15 sec and try again.

Actions taken so far:
5. Reset BIOS.
6. Removed / checked CMOS battery (checked battery on multimeter)
7. Tried another Power Supply
8. Tried using only 2GB (1 pair) of RAM (1st using OCZ Value only, 2nd try using OCZ Platinum only)
9. Switched HDD.
10. Tried fresh install on another HDD. but it would not complete. The PC would shut down before complete install.
11. RAM, PS and HDD works correctly in another PC.

Thinking of doing the following -
12. Swapping out to another GPU (MB does not have built-in video).
13. Any other ideas (......)
14. Re-install CPU and stock cooler (last resort)


Questions:
15. Any ideas for step 13.
16. What could cause this behaviour?

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

 

[Billb2]

5. When you reset the BIOS did you disconnect the PU from the wall outlet. Newer PSU's (last 4-5 years) suppyu a constant current to the BIOS eprom, even with the PC and PSU swirched off. The BIOS won't reset is the eprom is powered.

6. Check that the battery contacts in the battery socket are actually contacting the battery.

8. Download memtest-86, burn the iso, and test each stick separately.

13. Clean the dust bunnies out of all the fins on all the heatsinks.

 

[liamtoh1]

Originally posted by: Billb2
5. When you reset the BIOS did you disconnect the PU from the wall outlet. Newer PSU's (last 4-5 years) suppyu a constant current to the BIOS eprom, even with the PC and PSU swirched off. The BIOS won't reset is the eprom is powered.

Yes... disconnected the power supply cable from the PC for all the tests that I have done so far... including BIOS reset.

Originally posted by: Billb2
6. Check that the battery contacts in the battery socket are actually contacting the battery.

Already checked when I removed the battery for testing.

Originally posted by: Billb2
8. Download memtest-86, burn the iso, and test each stick separately.
13. Clean the dust bunnies out of all the fins on all the heatsinks.

Thanks for these tips.. I will spend some time doing these tasks and will report back.

 

[mpilchfamily]

examine the motherboard. Take a good look at all the capacitors on teh board. If any of them show any sign of leaking or are buldging on the top or bottom then you'll need to replace the motherboard or try replacing the caps. Depends on your soldering skill. Even then there may be more damage then just bad caps.

 

[liamtoh1]

Originally posted by: Billb2
8. Download memtest-86, burn the iso, and test each stick separately.
13. Clean the dust bunnies out of all the fins on all the heatsinks.

Cleaned the dust from all fins
Completed memtest86+ (1 stick, 2sticks, 4sticks in different slots) with various times (4 hours for 1 stick to more that 24 hours for all sticks in).. passed without any errors

Also downloaded ultimate boot cd and completed stresscpu test for over 12 hours and that passed too without errors.

I think there is some problem with the motherboard that I am unable to figure out.

 

[liamtoh1]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
examine the motherboard. Take a good look at all the capacitors on teh board. If any of them show any sign of leaking or are buldging on the top or bottom then you'll need to replace the motherboard or try replacing the caps. Depends on your soldering skill. Even then there may be more damage then just bad caps.

It is hard to see the capacitors near the CPU heat sink, but their top caps certainly look different than the others on the rest of the MB, so I guess the MB is shot. My soldering skill is 0.

 

[Nik]

Look different? How so? Size? Color? Are the tops bulging? Do you see liquid leaking or what would appear to be liquid stains on or around the caps?

 

[liamtoh1]

Originally posted by: Nik
Look different? How so? Size? Color? Are the tops bulging? Do you see liquid leaking or what would appear to be liquid stains on or around the caps?

Looks like a little bulged tops. No leaking or liquid stains on or around the caps, as far as I can see.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Then i suggest you replace the motherboard and the PSU. There is a chance the PSu caused or contributed to the caps failing on the motherboard.

 

[liamtoh1]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
Then i suggest you replace the motherboard and the PSU. There is a chance the PSu caused or contributed to the caps failing on the motherboard.

Thanks for the tip. I am not sure, if it makes any sense to change the MB as the only option is to buy used (no warranty for ~$50/~$70 + shipping) or brand new (exorbitant prices for old tech. > $125)

My main use for this pc was photoshop and home video editing (non-HD), but I now have HD video (that can't be played smoothly, and no meaningful editing possible).

I guess I have to upgrade the PC, unless I get a S939 board for approx. $40 shipped.

 

[Skyzoomer]

Originally posted by: liamtoh1
Actions taken so far:
6. Removed / checked CMOS battery (checked battery on multimeter)

When you checked the CMOS battery using a multimeter, that was not a valid test unless you had a load in parallel with the battery. You have to use a battery tester that has a built-in load or put a resistor in parallel with the battery and then check with a mulimeter.

For example, a weak 1.5 volt battery can show 1.5 volts using a multimeter when checked "open circuit". Then put a load resistor across the battery and the voltage reading could drop down to .3 volts.

Lacking a proper battery tester, it's easier and pretty cheap to just replace the battery.

Sky

 

[aGreenAgent]

That's a good point sky, but I don't think the battery would cause this behavior anyway.