My Computer won't start up =( [Solved]

[imported_lostsoul]

Hello everyone,

I having a big problem with my desktop PC. It was working fine last night until this morning when I woke up, the LCD Screen was off and the PC was on. This had never happened before, so I just restarted it and the computer just keeps restarting on it self and wont show up anything on the monitor. The LCD_Poster of the motherboard just shows DET_DRAM and then restarts and never shows anything on the monitor

I know I don't post much here but I am more of a reader on the forums. The last time I posted on Anandtech was around a year ago when I asked for desktop config advice. My configuration is:

Intel Q9550
Asus Maximum II Forumla
OCZ PC2 8500 Reaper Ram 2GB x 4
XFX GTX 260
OCZ Power supply ( ~650W ? )
The boot drive is OCZ Vertex 120GB SSD and I have some 5 more internal HDDs

So far I have tried this:

-Cleared the CMOS
-removed all the hdds
-removed all the usbs except keyboard & mouse
-removed all the ram sticks and tried one by one

and no luck . I love this rig, been using it for over a year and never gave me any problems and now just at the end of my last semester it just died.. Can anyone help me out and guide how to fix/ troubleshoot it? I would really appreciate that

EDIT: I just changed the CMOS battery, and now it doesnt show up the DET_DRAM but keeps restarting, no POST ...

 

[ch33zw1z]

That error "det dram" points directly at RAM as the issue. Are you getting any audible POST errors? Have you pulled all the RAM and then booted? Have you tried removing/reseating the VGA?

 

[imported_lostsoul]

Thanks for the reply ch33zw1z.

I changed the CMOS Battery and after that no DET_DRAM error. I disconnected everything, even the hdds but still no POST :S. But now the LCD poster only shows "Welcome" and after I press the power button, the fans turn ON and then turn off and lcd poster reports " Power Off"

I am confused.. and yes, I did reseat the grafix card..

EDIT: no audible post errors.

 

[imported_lostsoul]

Some progress. What I did was I took off the power cords from the HDD's except the SSD and two other hdds and then the PC works fine.. but If i plug any of the hard drive then it wont Post.. the hard drives are fine, as I can access them from external enclosure and data is still there..

so, whats up with this now ? *confused* power supply problem ? sata problem ?

EDIT: The computer failed to post again.. so I removed all the Hard Drives except the bootable SSD. Turned on the pc and windows booted normally. but after the windows was up running, the computer just turns off.. :S If I move the mouse or try to do anything, it just turns off and wont post again :S

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Did you try running a live cd of ubuntu? Probably won't work either but it's worth a shot.
Did you have any lightning last night? Power outage? Sounds pretty wild like something got fried possibly the mobo. Use 1 stick of ram and try it in different slots. Have you tried un plugging everything non essential to it running including front panel stuff? Even try a different videocard. Don't rule out anything being the cause of the issue.

 

[imported_lostsoul]

Well I am in Florida and weather has been a bit wild since past 2 days. As I was sleeping at night I am not sure if there were any lightnings.

Yes, I have un plugged everything. Just only one SSD, keyboard and mouse are plugged in. It did turn on and logged into window and after few seconds turned off and wont post again, unless i take out the power cord and wait for few minutes.

I will try to place the videocard in the other PCI-e slot just to make sure.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

You don't have another stick of ram from another computer?
Run a live cd. Wonder if your ssd flipped out?

 

[imported_lostsoul]

You don't have another stick of ram from another computer?
Run a live cd. Wonder if your ssd flipped out?

nah, i have only one desktop. I tried the ram in all slots one by one and same thing.

And I am also having that same thought about SSD..

I have a 1.5TB HDD coming in today. I will try to install OS on it and see how it goes

Thanks for the help

btw; how do you run a live(ubuntu) cd? download ubuntu and write on a cd, then boot from CD rom ?

 

[imported_lostsoul]

I changed the ram to another slot and plugged in all the HDDs + SSD and it wont turn ON.

un-plugged all the HDDs except SSD and the computer works :O. I used the windows, did some stuff and all fine..

Is there a possibility that the sata controllers have any problem on the motherboard? I mean i knw my hdds are fine.... just can't figure out what to do...


EDIT: Just for a test, I used the sata cable which was connected to SSD and plugged it into one of the HDD, and the computer doesnt turn on...

wht the hell is wrong :S, when HDD is connected it wont POST... I am out of clues now :S

EDIT2: plugged in all the ram sticks, and no hdds connected and the computer does POST. once I connect the HDD it just keeps restarting and never displays anything on screen.....

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Get past the bios and when it's loading windows plug your drives back up. See if you can access the drives once in windows.

 

[imported_lostsoul]

^^

OK I tried it, but as soon as I plug my other HDDs in, the computer shut downs

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Maybe your power supply is bugging out and you're overloading the rail that is powering your hard drives. You have some other hook ups on your power supply to feed them?

 

[imported_lostsoul]

Maybe your power supply is bugging out and you're overloading the rail that is powering your hard drives. You have some other hook ups on your power supply to feed them?

Oh MY GOD ! I can't thank you enough OILFIELDTRASH ! It turned out that due to a power grid problem yesterday in our County/Area we are getting less power at each outlet ! that was the bloody reason ! because I have not changed the power strip setup for more than a year !

Anyways, so I plugged the PC into the other Power strip which only has my printer attached and Baam it LIVES All hdds connected, all usb stuff plugged in and all ram sticks in place and the beast is running again

Thanks a lot once again, else I had my finger on the core i7 setup cart @ amazon lolx...

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Schwweeett!
Although i7 is nice

 

[imported_lostsoul]

Schwweeett!
Although i7 is nice

yeah, will sell my current stuff first and then order i7

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Well I am in Florida and weather has been a bit wild since past 2 days.

Oh MY GOD ! I can't thank you enough OILFIELDTRASH ! It turned out that due to a power grid problem yesterday in our County/Area we are getting less power at each outlet ! that was the bloody reason ! because I have not changed the power strip setup for more than a year !

Anyways, so I plugged the PC into the other Power strip which only has my printer attached and Baam it LIVES All hdds connected, all usb stuff plugged in and all ram sticks in place and the beast is running again

Thanks a lot once again, else I had my finger on the core i7 setup cart @ amazon lolx...

a battery backup is better idea.. 1 for monitor..one for comp..

 

[imported_lostsoul]

a battery backup is better idea.. 1 for monitor..one for comp..

yep highly considering a surge protector.

 

[ch33zw1z]

yep highly considering a surge protector.

Glad you found the issue. I felt the need to chime in here and suggest NOT a surge protector, but a UPS Battery Backup unit. Surge protection would not have helped with your problem, but a USP would've...and more than likely given you some power in/out readouts.

 

[imported_lostsoul]

Glad you found the issue. I felt the need to chime in here and suggest NOT a surge protector, but a UPS Battery Backup unit. Surge protection would not have helped with your problem, but a USP would've...and more than likely given you some power in/out readouts.

Thanks for the advice. UPS Battery pack it is, as long as it can protect my Desktop