New computer start-shut down looping before post screen.

[Daverino]

Built a new computer last night:

Mother board: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz
Power supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W
GPU: SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770

No real issues putting it together. Posted with no problem and installed Vista Home Premium. The HD is 1T so I set it up to format and went to sleep. Got up this morning and computer was fine and drive was formatted. Installed Kaspersky. Installed BIOS software from Gigabyte. Went to take a shower during the final restart for the Gigabyte software and when I came back the computer was off. I hit the power switch and the mobo lights come and on the fans spin for about 2-3 seconds and then it powers off. This continues in a loop, with the computer trying to start for a few seconds and then shutting down. I cleared the CMOS with a jumper and restarted but the same issue occurred. I can't get anywhere close to a post screen.

I have two guesses: First is a problem with the PSU. That seems odd, though, because it was running fine for 12 hours straight. The second is that something I installed from the Gigabyte software caused this. I've read a number of posts around the internet about issues with Gigabyte's software, and that was the last thing I did before it died. I'm considering pulling the battery to really reset things. I haven't found anything specifically like my problem, though, with it constantly starting and stopping like this. One thing I could think of would be a bad temperature reading, and the mobo was shutting down thinking it was overheating. I think if I had any real thermal issues, though, they would have been discovered when it ran overnight.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

 

[mpilchfamily]

What Gigabyte BIOS software? You don't need anything like that unless you have a need to update the bios. There is a chance the Bios software you loaded ran and messed up the BIOS. In which case you have messed up the motherboard. BUt before you go and RMA it make sure that everything is plugged in correctly. It would also be a good idea to try clearing the CMOS to see if that may clear things up.

 

[Daverino]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
What Gigabyte BIOS software?

The CD that came with the mobo. It included the LAN and audio drivers, monitoring software, etc. There was an 'easy install' option which I chose and at one point I got a 'Please wait. Do not press any keys on your keyboard' message which gave me the impression that it was updating the BIOS.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Do not update the BIOS unless you need to. Very often BIOS updates can go wrong thus bricking the board.

 

[Daverino]

Update: It gets stranger. Pulled the power supply and put in a SeaSonic 600W PSU from my main computer. System started up fine. Put the Corsair back in and it looped on startup again. Problem solved, right? Had to be the PSU. I did the paperclip test on the Corsair PSU and the fan turned on and stayed on. Still and all, I figured it must be the PSU because the computer is working now. I start playing with the new computer, installing some more programs and then Windows crashes hard. I have to turn it off from the power switch. I turn it back on and, guess what, it is looping again. . . Everything turns on for about 3 seconds and then shuts back down, only for it to repeat over and over.

I *guess* it has to be the mobo now, but I've never heard of or seen a problem like this before. The BIOS on the board is the factory default, I reset it when I was able to boot back up again. If anyone has heard of a problem like this, I'd love to know. But I'm going to RMA the mobo one way or another.

 

[dmh1167]

Secure your mobo with fiber washers under the screws or you may get all kinds of misc issues that will drive ya nuts sound popping, video card not recognized, looped boot bla bla bla ect ect . If you dont have the fiber washers any pc repair place will have them dont ignore doing this , if you have the little red buggers put them in.