Help Boot failure :(

[lavagirl669]

My system is running with the following specs:
P4 2.4Ghz
MSI 645 Ultra-C Mainboard
512MB DDRAM
80Gig HD 7200rpm (planning to add 2nd HD 120gig 7200rpm)
Radeon 9800PRO 128Mb vid card
Soundblaster Audigy 2ZS platinum sound card
DVD/CD RW/Rom
DVD Burner
Mid Tower Thermaltake Xaser Skull case
480w Power Supply
WinXP PRO

I have not powered on for the past 4 days being out of town.
Prior to leaving System ran fine, boot up and shutdown fine
NO problems. The most recent hardware add I did was the DVD burner install
but system has worked fine since then and burner works fine (2 weeks since install).

Now upon returning
I hit the Power switch lights come up I can hear fans running (total 7 in Xaser)
Beeps once
I see the Post screen on display
then black
then just the beginning of the WinXP pro starting up screen
and then everything shuts off!

I tried again, resetting power switch and got the same thing sometimes lasting a little
longer on the XP startup screen
sometimes not even making it there.

I suspect a Power supply problem...? This is a NEW Power Supply however.
Have heard failures can occur from leaving system off for a while (in my case 4 days)

What can I do to troubleshoot?
Should I do a Bootstrap type troubleshoot?
or
Should I just replace power supply?

I do have a backup 300watt PS that I can try, but not sure if that is enough to power my system?

Help!

Any suggestions please throw em at me....I plan to start troubleshooting tomorrow

Lavagirl

 

[amdskip]

Don't go replacing the power supply quite yet. Unhook anything that is not necessary to have for booting up. Reseat the memory, video card, and the CMOS using the jumper. If no sucess, then try the other power supply. You didn't mention what brand of power supply that is. Just because it is rated at 480w doesn't mean that is a good enough power supply to begin with for your computer. You should really use a name brand power supply with your particular system such as Antec, Enermax, etc.

 

[JK949]

The beep you hear is the answer to your problem.
A power supply problem usualy dosen't produce a beep.
I would look at other components first. as for power supply going
south because you left your computer off 4 days, not much chance of that.
Try your back up to confirm this but disconnect your optical drives first.
300 watts may not be enough to power everything in your computer
but enough to power your cpu and video card.

 

[lavagirl669]

Thanks guys, I will try that and if all else fails try the back up PSU before buying a new one.

The 480w PSU came with the Thermaltake case, so I'm not sure what brand it is.

Should I get another better one just in case?

What do you guys think of PC Power and Supply 510W ?
or should I just go with an Antec?

 

[lavagirl669]

Also, if it boots using the bare minimum components and resetting the CMOS Jumper,
then I need to reconnect everything else one at a time right? Booting up and testing each time.

Just checking....thanks again!

Lavagirl

 

[JK949]

If your backup ps works fine with just the cpu and video card then i'd rule out other
componets as being the problem. and yes you should try connecting one drive at
a time until you get a problem.clearing the cmos has no affect on the ps unless your
over clocking the cpu, memory ect......
If you nail it down to the ps don't waste your $ on PC POWER supply.
It's the best money can buy but over kill for your setup.
Go with antec or enermax. they will be more than enough for your needs.

 

[lavagirl669]

Thanks JK

I'm off to troubleshooting land now...will keep you posted!

 

[lavagirl669]

Thanks JK

I'm off to troubleshooting land now...will keep you posted!

 

[lavagirl669]

Well, reseated Vid card, reset CMOS, and Ram, tried it out and same story.

Tried the old 300W supply and bare components work, so sounds like it is the PSU.
Guess the one that came with the Thermaltake was a piece of..... 😛

I have to order one now and I'm also getting a CMOS battery low too, so I might as
well replace that too.

Let me know if the above sounds correct. Thanks!

 

[lavagirl669]

I removed/disconnected ALL components and drives first and leaving
only the Vid card, Memory stick and CPU attached to PSU.

On test boot, system did the same thing with just booting up for about
a minute and shutting OFF.

Tried switching to a spare 300W PSU and system booted up and stayed running.
So it sounds like the PSU is the problem right?

I ordered a better quality Antec PSU. I don't want to run the 300W as it is not enough to handle all of my devices (plan to add more too).

Question though, while reinstalling one of my cards I noticed that a small
metal pin type attachment had come off the Mobo apparently because
I saw 3 other ones just like it in one area with what looked like one missing. Tried to reinsert it there, not sure how successfully.

Is this something critical? I have since reinstalled my Sound and other PCI cards waiting for the new PSU, but perhaps I should remove them and test the bare bones system again with the 300W PSU to see if that little piece coming off affected something?

Hope this doesn't affect my MOBO. I do want to upgrade my MOBO and CPU, but not just yet $ wise! 🙂

Any advice on a good MOBO for P4's. I wanted to get a P4 with the HT.

One last question...I currently have one stick of 512DDR Ram. How much more is it safe to add? Does it have to be 2 identical sticks? ie 512MB & 512MB, 256MB & 256MB, or could you add a smaller stick with the 512?

Appreciate your help

 

[JK949]

As far as the pin, i really wouldn't know because i can't see your mother board from my
computer screen. if it had nothing plugged into it before than i wouldn't worry too much.
As for memory you can install as much as you want or as much as your MB will take.
512 is fine for normal day to day stuff. you don't need to have matched modules
unless you are running dual channel ddr memory. about a new mother board,
you need to post a new topic for that one. i have amd mother boards and can't
give you any info on P4 boards.