Computer did POST, now won't --just revs for one second and stops

[bovinda]

Problem: computer will no longer POST. It did and was, several times. I put in the Vista DVD, exited it to find some drivers for the hard drives since it couldn't seem to install Vista on to either of them, and hit the reset button.

It turned off. I hit the power button to start it up again. All the fans revved on for a sec, then it went silent, about two one second later. It stayed off for a couple seconds, then revved the fans up again for one second, and stopped. It repeated this several times, 'til I turned the PSU switch off for 30 sec.

I opened up the side, turned the PSU power on, and turned on the front power again. It did the same thing, but now it doesn't keep doing it. The fans all rev up for one second, then it dies.

I opened up the side. When I power the PSU back on, the mobo's POST led flashes "2" for a sec, then goes to "0.1". When I power it on on the front, it flashes to "8.3" as the fan revs for one second, then goes to "9.9", then back "0.1" when it stops. It tries once more (same cycle of events), then stops; tries once more but the CPU fan just barely moves, then stops and rests at "0.1".

I have no idea what to make of this. I had it on for about twenty minutes, and was looking at the CPU temp; it was hovering around 22-24 C, with system in the upper 20s, and "PWM" around 39. I have no idea what to do now.

Anyone, please help! This is my second computer build, never had a problem like this before. Here are my specs:

Abit IP35 Pro mobo
Q6600 with Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme (arctic silver 5 for paste), Nexus 120 mm fan
2x2 GB OCZ DDR2-800
EVGA 8800 GT Superclocked
Corsair 620HX PSU
Antec P182 case
2 x Samsung 500 GB
2 x Lite-On DVD Burner
Rosewill Card Reader

 

[robisbell]

okay, disconnect power from the wall, then disconnect all power cable going to the board. jumper the clear cmos jumper and press and hold the power button for a 10 count, reset the jumper, and reconnect the 24pin,4 (or 8 pin) 12v rail, and any other power connectors to the board, and if the video card requires one, make sure it is snug. reconnect the power to the outlet/UPS/surge protector, and see what happens now.

addendum: how much thermal paste did you use on the processor?

 

[bovinda]

Thanks Robisbell, clearing the CMOS seemed to do the trick. I also noticed that I had reversed the polarity on the reset switch, which may have started the problem? Anyway, I really, really appreciate the help! I'll post back if there are any more problems, but hopefully it will be smooth saling from here. Thanks again! :beer:

 

[robisbell]

no problem

 

[bovinda]

*sigh*...It appears I spoke too soon. The same cycle of events occurs now whenever I go to edit the BIOS and select "Save Settings and Exit." I get the same set of errors, and sudden starting and stopping of the fan.

The only way I can seem to get the computer to start successfully is clearing the CMOS. When I do this, it starts up and POSTs, then says at the end of the POST screen that there was a CMOS error - hit F1 to continue to DEL to enter set-up. I have to hit F1--if I try to enter the BIOS and save my changes, it goes right back to the same cycle, and I have to clear again.

The only thing else I noticed is that the front LED lights flicker on for a second after I exit the CMOS, then a few seconds later the LED light on my card reader flickers, but then nothing. If I try to hit the power button, it revs up the fan twice, as described in my original post, with the same set of errors.

So how can I get around this? Is this a hardware problem? A settings problem? I noticed on the POST screen that it says my memory is DDR2-667, I think, but it's DDR2-800...? The BIOS seems to recognize it correctly when I go into there...could the memory have anything to do with it?

I've installed Vista Home Premium 64, Office 2007, and Kaspersky 7.0. Everything seems to run fine when I go start it up normally, but I want to be able to adjust BIOS settings, of course, especially since I'd like to try overclocking after I get everything up and stable. If anyone has any suggestions, I would immensely appreciate it!

 

[robisbell]

okay, you'll need to pick up a new CR2032 battery from walmart, replace the one on your motherboard with the new one.

 

[lenjack]

Polarity on reset switch does't matter.

 

[robisbell]

it can, cause the system to stick a constant reboot cycle.

 

[bovinda]

Originally posted by: robisbell
okay, you'll need to pick up a new CR2032 battery from walmart, replace the one on your motherboard with the new one.

That seemed to do the trick! I've restarted several times now, and each time it works--no more problems! Thank you so much for the help Robisbell, I never would have known how to approach this. Hopefully this will be the last you'll hear from me! On to testing for stability, and then hopefully my first OC!

 

[robisbell]

not a problem, sorry I did not see that it was the battery from the beginning. I'd be extremely careful and ask yourself why are you overclocking your only PC.

 

[bovinda]

Oh, it's not my only PC, I've got two others, one I've built and an older one that is store-bought. But I've never OC'd, and it seems like it would be a fun challenge, even if it's just a tiny boost in performance to be attained. Do you think it's not worth it?

 

[robisbell]

okay, I never could see running hardware more than it was for a few extras fps or a extra clock cycle, when you were cutting it's life expectantcy in half, I am glad it's running smoothly now tho.

 

[bovinda]

Will it really cut the life expectancy in half? Say the Q6600 I got--what would I normally expect from it, and what toll will OC'ing take? I figured it would still be good for 4-5 years or so with a moderate OC. Do you think that's unreasonable? I don't have a sense for this yet.

 

[robisbell]

well, I do know it put extra strain on the hardware, and I've seen system s that should have lasted a while fail due to that.

 

[bovinda]

Got it...well, your opinion is duly noted! I'll give it a shot, but I won't push it too hard--I do need this system to run and be stable. Thanks again for the help, Robisbell!

 

[robisbell]

not a problem.

 

[bovinda]

Argh...it started up again! I went into the BIOS today to check some settings, but didn't change anything. Just out of habit, I hit Exit and Save BIOS, and it went into the exact same cycle as before, revving and then stopping, same messages on the CMOS screen, only resolving by resetting the CMOS switch.

This is AFTER replacing the CMOS battery. That had seemed to do the trick for awhile. Could something be draining the battery somehow in the mobo? I only just replaced it!

Does anyone have any ideas what else to try? All I had done today was create a 10 GB partition on my second internal drive and put a swap file onto it. Then I went into the BIOS, saved, and exited.

Any ideas, anyone? I really want to resolve this so I can start trying to OC this weekend!

 

[robisbell]

how old is this motherboard, it sounds like the board is bad and every time you d anything in the bios it triggers this problem.

 

[bovinda]

The mobo is brand new, I just got it from ClubIT ~ Nov. 20th. Yeah, it's weird...it only seems to happen when I enter the BIOS and then select Exit and Save Changes. If I don't make any changes and still select Exit and Save Changes, it still won't restart. I have to exit without saving changes, then it's fine.

I did get it to restart once last night after I'd made the adjustments in the BIOS so it would recognize my memory correctly (upped the voltage from 1.8 to 2.1), and then I got lucky and it restarted, so I just haven't touched it since. I don't know what else to do. Should I just give up on the idea of OC'ing it? It seems like it runs fine if I just don't do anything with the BIOS. Can I possibly OC it from within the OS by using Abit's uGuru? It has something for OC'ing in it, I think. *sigh*...I just don't want to really go through the hassle of taking the whole thing apart to try and replace a mobo that works fine otherwise (hopefully). I don't know...what do you think?

 

[robisbell]

I'd not try OCing it, I'd leave well enough alone, and new boards can be defective. I'd be happy with a stable and running system, myself, I'd love to have a decent system again.

 

[vanvock]

Have you checked manufacturers site for component compatability & the latest BIOS version?