System hang on startup issue Help plz!

[adam61]

I've been having a weird issue for about a year but it feels like it's getting worse lately. When I restart my computer it often hangs for a second, and then restarts on it's own in one of two places. Either right after the PCI device listing but before the windows loading screen, or after the windows loading screen comes up and the blue bar will freeze near the end of its first trip through the bar. If it gets past this point it loads as normal and works fine. It can take 2-15 restarts to actually start and nothing seems to make it better or worse. Safe mode will always boot fine but I don't wanna use safe mode.

Here's what I've tried to fix it so far...

1) Ran a virus/trojan checker
2) Ran ScanDisk to check hard drive
3) Ran MemTest to see if memory was bad
4) Reinstalled windows incase it was corrupt
5) Formatted AND reinstalled from scratch incase there were filesystem issues
6) Flashed the BIOS incase there was an issue there
7) Double checked the device manager for any conflicts and updated drivers where appropriate

Really not sure what's causing this but here's my system specs if this helps at all. I don't overclock at all or do anything outlandish.

I run a...

Athlon 64 3500+
Asus A8N-E Mobo
1024MB (2x512MB) of DDR400 Crucial RAM
ATI x800XT Video Card
Seagate 200GB HD
On Board Audio

I'll give you any other details you need. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[wpshooter]

Good job of troubleshooting, but have you considered a intermittant problem with P/S ?

P. S. - One of the first things I would consider trying is to turn the on-board sound off on the motherboard (preferably via jumper) or by BIOS if there is no jumper and see if problem persists.

 

[adam61]

I don't think it's the power supply unless I'm not understanding what you are saying. It only hangs on that ojne part of the bootup. Doesn't just intermittantly die, once it's up it's rocksolid. I'll definitely try the Audio thing though, cause if I remember correctly it usually dies within a second or so before the speakers make their little noise like they are coming on at startup.

 

[wpshooter]

Maybe I'm not exactly understanding problem but remember that during bootup is probably when P/S is going to be taxed to the greatest extent.

 

[VanTheMan]

Sounds like PSU to me. I'd check it with a multi-meter during and after startup to see what it's doing.