Puzzling Power Cycling - Help!

rnelson

Junior Member
Oct 28, 2004
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I recently purchased a TigerDirect Systemax computer based on an Intel D865GLC motherboard and a 3.2 GHz P4. The system operated normally for a few months. Further configuration details are probably not too relevant, but the system has 1 GB installed memory, a single Seagate ST3200822A disk, and runs under Win XP Pro with SP2.

For some months I've been experiencing a strange problem that I can't analyze. Your help would be appreciated. Here's the behavior:

On applying power to the unit (the boot button has not been pushed yet), the system enters into a power on / power off cycling mode. That is, the machine appears to begin the boot process with fans starting up, brief indication of mouse power, etc. Then the power is removed. This cycle repeates in a perfectly regular way with a period of about 1.5 seconds until the actual boot button is pushed, at which time the computer boots normally. The computer operates normally after booting.

The problem first appeared about 3 weeks after installing a second case fan in the computer; this fan is powered only through the motherboard connector (I'm not suggesting a cause/effect relationship, but merely noting that I did install a second fan and that's how I powered it). At first the behavior was only observed after the computer was thoroughly warmed up, but over time this slowly changed so that now it occurs at all times and in all conditions.

While I can't imagine what software cause would account for this behavior, I did check this by reading back in an early disk image, i. e., one dating to a time that I know the problem was not present (this image preceeded installing SP2, so that's not the cause). As expected, this had no effect. My conclusion was that the problem is definitely associated with the hardware.

Any help the group could give would be greatly appreciated.


 

o1die

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
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After reading your post again, I would try a special adapter for the extra fan you installed, to run it directly off the power supply. I would also clear your bios, using the jumper or by removing the mobo battery a few seconds.
 

rnelson

Junior Member
Oct 28, 2004
2
0
0
olde,

Many thanks for the tip. I too am beginning to think the matter is associated with the fan power in some way.

The BIOS Power settings shows "Last State" (this is an Intel BIOS), as opposed to "Power ON" and "Stay Off". Neither of the latter states solved the problem, but Power On altered the behavior, of course. I kinda had hopes that "Stay Off" would solve it, but didn't. Looks like your suggestion is next.

I'm not really aware of what results from "removing the mobo battery for a few seconds". Does it merely result in Win XP redetecting and configuring the hardware elements? Could you educate an old dog on such matters?
 

o1die

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2001
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71
All removing the battery does is reset the bios to the default settings, which can also be done by using the cmos jumper.