Computer shuts down after a few seconds

[Dogsbody]

Computer worked great in the evening, has problems the next morning.

The computer starts to power up, it accesses the hard drive and DVD, then shuts down. The whole process takes three or four seconds. Then it's dead until I turn the power supply off and on again.

I put this system together a week ago and it was fine until now. It's an ASUS P5KPL-CM motherboard with an Intel E5300. The power supply is an Antec Earthwatts 500W that's about two years old.

Would appreciate any help.

Thanks!

 

[yh125d]

Just turn it on, let it do its shutdown thing, then don't touch it. Chances are it will turn itself right back on after 5s or so. 90% of threads like this are just that little self test motherboards do nowadays


But of course there could be something actually wrong, but we need to rule that out first since that's a common "problem". People see it shut down and immediately fiddle with it, when if they just let it be it'd probably power right back on like intended

 

[Marinski]

could be the cpu isnt seated properly. That would one thing I'd check along with PSU.

 

[Dogsbody]

I'll give it a try when I get home. I think I did that the first or second time it did this, but I can't remember. I was working on a couple of computers at the time, and might have just shut it down immediately. I know the first week I had it up, it never did this, but I'll certainly give it a try tonight! Thanks.

 

[mfenn]

Is there any output to the display?

 

[Dogsbody]

No output to the display. The monitor stays in standby...

 

[Nitemare]

No output to the display. The monitor stays in standby...

Not getting a video signal then. I take it you are getting no beeps since you didn't mention it. You might want to clear your cmos to restore it back to factory defaults.

Do your fans on the video, cpu and power supply turn on?

 

[Dogsbody]

OK, I tried leaving it alone after it quit, but nothing happened.

When I turn the power supply on with the switch, the green light on the motherboard lights up. When I press the power button on the computer, the fans come on, the hard drive led lights up as normal, and the light on the DVD comes on as normal. No signal to the monitor. After about two to three seconds, everything shuts down, but the green light on the motherboard stays on. The only thing in the system is the hard drive and DVD. It's using the onboard graphics.

As I mentioned, I put this system together about a week ago, and everything worked fine. Then one morning I turned it on, and this happened.

I thought about clearing the CMOS, but don't see anything in the manual on how to do it on this motherboard. Could pop the battery out, I guess??

 

[21stHermit]

Check that your P4 connector is seated properly. I left it off recently and got these symptoms. No P4 - no CPU - no boot.

 

[lxskllr]

I'd try swapping the PSU. If that doesn't work, I'd suspect ram.

 

[Dogsbody]

Checked the P4 plug - no help.

Don't have another PSU that will work, I think I'll order one. I need a spare anyway.

I'd suspect the RAM, but like I mentioned it worked fine for a week. I'll try swapping out the RAM anyway.

 

[Athadeus]

Always good to have an extra PSU. I'd suspect something with the CPU though.

 

[Dogsbody]

I should have the new PSU today. Yeah, I'm beginning to think it's the CPU or the motherboard.

I did try replacing the RAM - no help

 

[Marinski]

did you check to see if the power switch on the case is bad?? disconnect from motherboard and manually jump the pins with a small screwdriver.

 

[Dogsbody]

Never thought of the switch - I got my new PSU, so I'll try that and the switch as soon as I get home.....

 

[Dogsbody]

Well, it's not the PSU or the switch. I pulled the motherboard out, and it looks like the fan wasnt' seated properly. I've probably built 20 systems (older), but this is the first one where the fan attaches through four holes in the mothrboard. For the life of me, I cant get it to clamp down. The manual just says to push down on two diagonal sides, then the other two, but it just won't lock down. Don't know what I'm doing wrong!! Very frustrating.

 

[Marinski]

ya, i know what your talking about, I have an Intel like that. I think it makes a click when its in place. If its not going then take it off and check that the CPU is seated properly.

 

[Dogsbody]

The CPU is seated properly, but I just can't get the fan to clamp down for some reason.

 

[lxskllr]

Those things are a PITA. Keep trying, and make sure you have the "screws" turned the right way to start it(I think, it's been awhile). I had that issue on one of my builds, and I bet it took me 15 minutes to get 1 stubborn screw to stick. I highly dislike that design, and it's probably worth going aftermarket just to avoid it.

 

[mfenn]

Well, it's not the PSU or the switch. I pulled the motherboard out, and it looks like the fan wasnt' seated properly. I've probably built 20 systems (older), but this is the first one where the fan attaches through four holes in the mothrboard. For the life of me, I cant get it to clamp down. The manual just says to push down on two diagonal sides, then the other two, but it just won't lock down. Don't know what I'm doing wrong!! Very frustrating.

Remember that the pushpins should be fully rotated against the direction of the arrow for installation.

Fully rotating the pushpins with the arrow is for removal. The pins will not lock in this position.

EDIT:
Also remember that the thermal interface material that is pre-applied to the heatsink is one-time use only. You will need to clean it off (rubbing alcohol works well) and apply some aftermarket compound.

 

[21stHermit]

No matter how badly the HSF is attached, it will NOT cause the shutdown in a few seconds. The CPU would have to overheat to cause a shutdown and that would take many minutes or more.

I'm still suspicious of the power to the CPU. Since it is not the P4 connector, then the MB seems most likely. This is getting to be a giant PITA for the OP.

 

[lxskllr]

No matter how badly the HSF is attached, it will NOT cause the shutdown in a few seconds. The CPU would have to overheat to cause a shutdown and that would take many minutes or more.

I'm still suspicious of the power to the CPU. Since it is not the P4 connector, then the MB seems most likely. This is getting to be a giant PITA for the OP.

I'm not so sure about that. I think they can overheat pretty quickly if it doesn't have any(very little) heatsink touching the cpu. I'm not willing to try it on my box to prove it though :^D

 

[mfenn]

No matter how badly the HSF is attached, it will NOT cause the shutdown in a few seconds. The CPU would have to overheat to cause a shutdown and that would take many minutes or more.

I'm still suspicious of the power to the CPU. Since it is not the P4 connector, then the MB seems most likely. This is getting to be a giant PITA for the OP.

You'd be surprised, the CPU itself has very little thermal mass given its heat output. Let me dig up that old Tom's hardware video that shows what happens.

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxNUK3U73SI

 

[Fayd]

OK, I tried leaving it alone after it quit, but nothing happened.

When I turn the power supply on with the switch, the green light on the motherboard lights up. When I press the power button on the computer, the fans come on, the hard drive led lights up as normal, and the light on the DVD comes on as normal. No signal to the monitor. After about two to three seconds, everything shuts down, but the green light on the motherboard stays on. The only thing in the system is the hard drive and DVD. It's using the onboard graphics.

As I mentioned, I put this system together about a week ago, and everything worked fine. Then one morning I turned it on, and this happened.

I thought about clearing the CMOS, but don't see anything in the manual on how to do it on this motherboard. Could pop the battery out, I guess??

hold the power button in for 5 seconds (force OFF), release it, and then try again.

EDIT1: i've had the EXACT problem you described. this always worked for me. it might take 2-3 tries, or it might do it first try. but first time booting up after being plugged into power would always cause this somewhat finicky behavior. as long as the motherboard had power between the last time it was soft-offed and starting it up, it's fine. but as soon as you remove it from power, you gotta go through this behavior again.

EDIT2: i also found it was more likely to do it the more stuff i had plugged in in the back. when i was smoketesting with the case open and nothing plugged into it in the back, it'd always start right up. but as soon as i'd get it into place, with everything plugged in, it'd do this. as i said, power button in for 5 seconds, release, then press it again.

 

[Absolution75]

You'd be surprised, the CPU itself has very little thermal mass given its heat output. Let me dig up that old Tom's hardware video that shows what happens.

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxNUK3U73SI

That is a P3 running Q3 though. Sitting idle in BIOS with modern power saving features (reduced core voltage/reduced multiplier - though are they active in bios?? who knows, but regardless) isn't going to overheat your CPU that quickly.


I'm going with dead motherboard or PSU. It is also possible that the MB is shorting out. I'd RMA the MB and hope for the best, but before I sent it, I'd try the build on a cardboard box.