System keeps resetting during boot, every 3 seconds

[sygyzy]

I spent the last two days setting up my system (click here) and as I was about to reboot to image the drive for backup, I was playing with the Gigabyte Easy Bios program in Windows. I set the throttling to cruise, then back to disabled (what it was originally) and exited.

When I restarted, the bios went into some sort of recovery mode and said "restoring bios from hard disk" then it completed and restarted but wouldn't post anymore. I reset the cmos after unplugging the power by shorting the pins for 30 seconds. When I tried to power on, it'd turn on, off, on, off. I know it's getting power because all the lights, DVD-ROM light, and fans are on. But after 3 seconds, before there is any video, it powers off, then repeats.

Clearing the CMOS longer, by placing a jumper on the pins, yielded the same results.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[dfuze]

Hmm, maybe you could try to flash the bios?

 

[sygyzy]

I cannot flash the bios because I cannot even POST.

 

[Niv KA]

did you disconect your PC from the Power outlet before trying to clear cmos?

 

[n7]

Remove CMOS battery for a while w/ power to PC off.

By a while i mean over a few minutes.

Sometimes the jumper method doesn't clear it for some reason

I see i posted earlier in your building thread, & i really do hope that you just need a CMOS reset to fix your issue.

It'd be a very sad irony if it was indeed a crapped out mobo.

 

[sygyzy]

I did indeed remove the power before clearing. I tried removing the battery too but maybe not long enough. I'll try again Everything was going so well!

 

[n7]

Hmm, i also just thought of the RAM issue.

What's default vdimm for your Patriot?

I might try just one dimm at a time in the correct single-dimm configuration slot too.

 

[sygyzy]

I thought about that too but let me tell you why I eliminated it. Well at least why I think it's not. First of all, my bios version on the board was quite old. Something like F3. They just released F6. When I got it, I put everything in and it boot up first try. No problems at all. I flashed to the latest BIOS and then restarted, and of course no problems. If it didn't have a problem then, I don't expect a problem now.

The Patriot memory is rated at 1.8V

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220095

Just curious - what is the behavior of a system that has memory with too high a default VDIMM?

 

[stevty2889]

Try holding in the insert key while powering on the machine. I've seen that get past some bios errors that reseting the CMOS didn't.

 

[sygyzy]

I'll try the insert key trick but first I have to find a USB to PS/2 converter. I only have USB keyboards and I read the trick only works on PS/2.

 

[sygyzy]

Tried the insert key with a usb keyboard with ps/2 adapter. No luck And tried removing the battery for half an hour, with it unplugged. No go as well.

 

[Engineer]

Sounds like your BIOS is hosed. Might try writing Gigabyte and checking on the cost of a new BIOS. I just wrote Asrock and they only wanted $15.00 shipped for a new BIOS chip. The DS3 costs too much not to try (unless you can RMA it which is a touchy subject on BIOS flashing).

Good luck sygyzy!

 

[sygyzy]

Engineer, how do you replace a bios chip?

 

[oc newbie]

I had the exakt same problem (reboot-loop), only with my brand new motherboard paired with equally unused components! also a 6400.. So I think you should be able to get a new board from gigabyte for free, since it seems to be a common problem. I'm still waiting for mine, the shop received it 9 days ago don't know whats taking so long!
I don't think it has anything to do with you flashing the bios, I've read on these forums that some people get the problem randomly or that it appears all of a sudden and then stays constantly..

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: oc newbie
I had the exakt same problem (reboot-loop), only with my brand new motherboard paired with equally unused components! also a 6400.. So I think you should be able to get a new board from gigabyte for free, since it seems to be a common problem. I'm still waiting for mine, the shop received it 9 days ago don't know whats taking so long!
I don't think it has anything to do with you flashing the bios, I've read on these forums that some people get the problem randomly or that it appears all of a sudden and then stays constantly..

Thank you for your support. I sent it back to the vendor and not to Gigabyte directly. Who did you send it to? All my components are brand new, purchased at the same time.

 

[oc newbie]

i sent mine back to the store. the store sent it back to gigabyte. now it seems that was an unnecessary mistake from the stores side (they thought I hadnt sent back all the cds and manuals which I actually had). They apologized and promised to send me a new board.
Now gigabyte promised to look into whats up with my board that the store sent them, they sent my question from their online feedback to "the right person". They apologized for the inconvenience too, but it took a week for them just to reply to my mail, and the fact is they've had my board for over 20 days now so I'm not too happy about that.

I'm hoping the store will pull through and that they put my new board in the mail the day they said they would. In that case I should get it today. Fingers crossed. Who knows, maybe gigabyte will later send me one too...