Computer won't boot past BIOS/Post Screen!

[aleckz]

Dell Studio, Not sure the number.
Intel Q8200
6gb of DDR2 (2x2gb, 2x1gb)
Not sure of the mobo...
ATI 4670
300 Watt PSU (Generic from Dell)
640gb SATA Hard drive (not sure of brand)

It went down last night in the other room, woke up to it cycling through booting up to the post screen then restarting. Checked each stick of RAM, each one booted. Went and switched to one stick of the 2gb and did the Dell Utilities check offered through the BIOS/Post screen (F12) and the utility found no errors for the memory nor the CPU. I don't know whether it could be a motherboard issue or if it is the PSU. Also I have a thought in the back of my head that it could be something with the SATA connection to the HD, yet everything still registers in the BIOS (both the HD and the DVD-ROM).

What I don't have:
-PSU tester (I know I know)
-Another computer to test components on
-Lots of money (I'll take some if you want to give though )

If you have any insight I would greatly appreciate it!

P.S. : I don't see any blown capacitors or burn spots.

 

[aleckz]

24 views! No one?

 

[daniel49]

24 views! No one?

Power supply seems a little anemic..kinda suspect it. you could probably snag another for 30 bucks?
if it were the HD seems like it would have told you , that It couldn't find an OS on post.
You could try switching cables just for fun tho?

 

[mlc]

when you say each stick of ram "booted" .. do you mean it posted into/past bios, or the machine booted fully into windows?

If you are getting reboots with no BSOD's , then it could be a hard drive issue, or cable connecting to it.. Try running a checkdisk to scan for errors..

If you continually are looping during the post into bios, and can't get to the windows boot screen, then it could be a weak psu, or insufficient/erratic voltage regulation by the motherboard....

 

[aleckz]

I think I'm going to pick up another PSU.

I did try each SATA port with the cable attached to the hard drive, but I did make sure the connection was snug. Each time it registered the hard drive in the BIOS setup.

Each stick of RAM booted and went to post screen, but then like I said it would restart then cycle through the BIOS/POST screen and then restart again. I tested one stick (2 gb) and it passed the diagnostics test offered by the motherboard.

 

[dr.tikitimes]

All has been good advice. Just another shot at this. I have hade several motherboards with this issue in the past and it turned out to be bad capacitors. Check the caps for any indication of bulging.

 

[dr.tikitimes]

"Not all broken capacitors will bulge, swell and burst, however. They can fail and you would never know by looking at them. If there are no physical signs, an oscilloscope--a device that displays how a voltage or current signal varies over time--may be used to examine the voltage on the capacitors."


Not my quote. Exerpted from Michael Singer Staff Writer, CNET News